Arch with kde plasma desktop and dolphin file manager and gamescope is the ideal gaming setup because that is what the steamdeck uses and so is the best supported in terms of both bugfixes as well as performance due to valve devs working on that combo of software configuration. Preferably on amd gpu as that is also what steamdeck uses.

I would say dont get a deck if you have a pc. But if your pc is going unused you can sell it. And if you are without a pc then i can recommend a handheld pc ie steamdeck. Just my opinion, dont like wasting money on redundant hardware.

You can set timer to turn off display in desktop mode. So use desktop mode for long downloads with like 5min auto off timer on display while deck is downloading.

Inject uplay connect via protontricks.

https://youtu.be/1Lw7SwgnGZQ?feature=shared

Red alert 3.

you can set auto off display timer in desktop mode. Use desktop mode for long downloads.

Cod cold war doesnt work on steamos ie linux. You have to run it under windows 11. Call of duty black ops cold war, vanguard, modern warfare I\II\III all need windows 11.

try proton ge and report back here if it fixes it. It crashes on cutscenes due to some issues with codec for video playback. Proton ge is supposed to have a fix for it. Also try proton experimental if proton ge does not work.

Is your deck oled ? and are you using custom fast ssd like 2tb wd sn770m ?

Red alert 3, Red alert Uprising, Tiberium wars, and Kanes wrath. One of the best rts games ever made and are dirt cheap even when all 4 combined.

Other great ones are Fallout 4(one of the best open world games ever made, with millions of mods on nexus mods), Doom eternal(one of the best shooter games), Ori will of wisp(90fps at medium settings with one of the best hdr ever for that oled display, turn on in setting).

You can also use ingame versions of that if your game supports it. For example far cry 3 and horizon zero dawn has a setting to remove all static uis after a second or even fully disable them.

Just make a list of games that are not very loading heavy like most old games. And put them all on microsd. I have around 800gb of such games on my microsd. And i obviously dont put ratchet and clank on microsd as that is one of the most storage heavy games, that one is on internal ssd. Starfield should be on internal ssd too as thats currently the heaviest loading game.

Steamdeck is around half as powerful i would guess than the 3050 in normal games and about 25% as powerful when raytracing is on.

You dont need chromecast to connect to tv. Just need a usb c to hdmi 2.1 cable, if your tv has displayport port then usb c to displayport cable, or else use the official dock which comes with a hdmi integrated. You should not use microsd cards to install windows, they will die in a few months and give horrible performance. Instead run windows on external ssd or dual boot on the internal ssd. You can replace the internal ssd with 2tb one if you want more storage.

All keyboard and mouse and controller can connect wirelessly over bluetooth to the steamdeck.

Moonlight is a streaming service and so for applications(like games or general productivity) it had a noticeable lag. This lag is not present when run locally on the steam deck. There is not much to gain from streaming if you do not have a very powerful pc.

Total war warhammer works very well with mouse and keyboard. For warhammer 2 and 3, use the linux native version from settings instead of windows version as the windows version is unplayable due to crashes. On lowest settings you get around 30fps in warhammer 3.

Wired mouse even some dirt cheap like 10 dollars is the best accessory you can buy. This is very useful to play games that were designed with mouse in mind like basically all strategy games. For games try Ori Will of Wisp first(turn on hdr in settings if it is off).

Fallout 4 is the best open world game ever made. Also has millions of mods on nexusmods.

msi radix axe6600 has lowest latency, and latency is most important for real time uses like gaming. You can see it in this review, it has lowest latency in all cases tested.

https://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/netgear-nighthawk-raxe300

If you have the oled model. Try the ori will of wisp game. And enjoy the amazing hdr on offer.

Whats wrong with saints row 3 and 4 ?

Command and conquer red alert 3\red alert uprising\tiberium wars\kanes wrath, civilization 5, far cry 2\3\blood dragon.