Why all the high rez?

[xSOSxHawkens]

So, I really want a steam deck. But I really dont want to buy hardware from a company I cant call for support. I have been looking at allot of the alternatives, and it seems like all of the competing products have a single thing in common that the steam deck tries hard to resolve.

More Pixels than Processing Power.

Valve has already stated that the lower rez of the Steam Deck is here to stay with it being confirmed same rez likely for the deck 2. Frankly, I find this genius. The rez is suitable for the screen size, the device is a gaming device first and computer second, and with the actual usable GPU brunt on hand the rez chosen is useful and not overbearing on the performance on tap.

The result? A surprisingly usable and decent mini (and for base model entry) gaming rig.

Similarly, when I recently went about giving away a PC with a less than ideal GPU, but one still usable. I gave the user a 1600*900 screen. Could the GPU have pushed more? Yes. But for the screen size given, at that rez, and for games specifically, the user was better off with a nice native 900p panel than they were trying to push 1080p native, or 900p on 1080.

But now as I look for new mobile gaming options, be they mid range laptops, or competing products to the steam deck, I find they are all running 1080p or even higher rez panels. In the laptops, if they had relevant powered GPU's at that price tier, maybe it would work. But they cant within price. With the result being most competing products (both full-fat laptops and steam-deck-style mini's) have much lower GPU brunt : Pixel ratios. Meaning lower FPS and lower settings in games.

Now, for a laptop meant for more than gaming I can get the argument for a better rez screen for daily use. But for the laptops in the entry-mid that are literally designed and targeted at gaming, I don't get why its not even an option to get a screen relevant in rez to the gpu/igpu/apu at hand. And for handhelds that are again specifically for games (think steam deck twin stick clones) which already have tiny screens, why do we need to try and push full HD and kneecap our literal game potential?

It all just seem like a massive oversight... And this is from a 4k is better than 1440p user. I get that the rez is nice. But in something meant to game only, and which has no relevant GPU increase or upgrade path, wouldn't you rather more playable frames at some point?

Maybe an 800 buck RTX 3050 machine with a 13-15.6in 1600*900 120hz screen?...

Discuss?

[CZI]

If you look for unified platform, I think Switch is still decent.

If you look for hardware advantages, I'd avoid portable devices.

[Guydodge]

you answered your own question in your last paragraph.

[76561198343548661]

Despite the native resolution of the laptop you can set the game to run at 720p , in general . 800 bucks can get you a good laptop with RTX 3050 or faster . But consider a desktop ! 800 bucks can get you a good gaming machine .

for instance
CPU: Intel Core i3-12100F 3.3 GHz Quad-Core Processor ($101.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: Gigabyte B660M DS3H DDR4 Micro ATX LGA1700 Motherboard ($109.99 @ Amazon)
Memory: Silicon Power GAMING 16 GB (2 x 8 GB) DDR4-3200 CL16 Memory ($40.97 @ Amazon)
Storage: Silicon Power A55 1 TB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($43.99 @ Amazon)
Video Card: MSI ARMOR Radeon RX 6600 8 GB Video Card ($259.99 @ Best Buy)
Case: Thermaltake Versa H17 MicroATX Mini Tower Case ($49.99 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: Thermaltake Smart 600 W 80+ Certified ATX Power Supply ($44.99 @ Newegg Sellers)
Monitor: Acer KA222Q Abi 21.5" 1920 x 1080 75 Hz Monitor ($89.99 @ Amazon)
Total: $741.90
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2022-12-31 02:43 EST-0500

[The Rt Hon. Sir_Sampie]

The steam deck is great, I have one and it runs everything I've tried on it well enough for a handheld system.

What's the issue with steam support? Is it just that you can't call them? Sorry I'm a bit out of the loop as I've never had to use that service.

[Illusion of Progress]

My old TV was 720p. My old laptop was 1366 x 768. TVs started pushing 4K years back, even at smaller relative sizes. Guess that's what is happening now with laptops.

Probably cheaper for them for consolidate panel sizes down to less options for profit reasons? No other ideas.

I do wish there were more "lesser" resolution options. I would be fine with more 1080p TV options over a 4K one at many sizes, and if I got another laptop again, I'd probably rather have 1440 x 900 or 1600 x 900 (on that note, I hope 16:10 comes back more too) over higher, at least at the 15" size.

[emoticorpse]

I'm going to maybe guess i might have something to do with marketing. I run into a lot of people with very very limited knowledge on specifics when it comes to pc/gaming hardware and notice they make decisions and base their desires on meme words or certain specs that become household words.

So like FullHD or 4k or UHD or stuff like that. Or they'd go with simply 32 GB ram or 16 GB ram and attempting to explain any further to them would lose their interest. I can't blame them, these are people who want to game, not learn about the hardware behind the gaming. I'm the same way with clothes. I don't care about stitching or what the fabric is called or anything like that. I just want to get my clothes and get the heck out of the store so I can get back to my real interest which is general tech and stuff like that.

If something wasn't even full HD at this point I think people would not even consider it, let alone 4k. The item would probably be laughed at and disregarded.

This is just a wild guess or at least some of what I typed might be relevant but I'm not sure. Even if the Steam deck has sold a significant amount of units, I would still think it's for the same reason anything else nowadays sells out and that's not because specs/performance. I think it might just the "hot new item" that's gone viral and people want it because it is different and new. Admittedly that's how a lot of Valve hardware come off, and I think it's true.

As for laptops, I am imagining handheld gaming (phones imparticular) have replaced them in large part and a lot of people left are told that laptops really shouldn't be taken seriously for gaming and a lot of people who have tried it left disappointed because of the common problems laptops face when gaming long term. So, I would assume the demand left isn't all that much or not enough for manufacturers to maintain a full selection/variety of laptop hardware when there isn't many people to buy it?

[Illusion of Progress]

A lot of good considerations, yes. Marketing and bullet point factors, sometimes to the detriment of the whole, do drive a lot of things.