Display resolution in Windows 11: how low can it go?

Hi,

I'm currently running Windows 7 Pro, but I will be getting a Windows 11 Pro desktop computer soon. I have a question about display resolution in Windows 11.

I'm physically disabled, and while I am able to use a computer mouse, I have a limited range of motion. It's helpful to me to use a relatively low display resolution so that the Windows desktop area is "small" -- and so that the cursor/pointer, icons, user interface controls, and text are large.

This is helpful because it allows me to move the mouse cursor/pointer from one end of the screen to the other with very little physical movement of the mouse. (My vision is fine.)

I could accomplish this instead by increasing the cursor speed, acceleration, and/or sensitivity in the Mouse section of Windows Settings / Control Panel. Indeed, increasing those parameters will also give large cursor travel with little physical movement of the mouse. But, because of my disability, I do not have high dexterity or well-developed fine motor skills, and I find it difficult to achieve precise cursor movements with those mouse settings set high. Thus I find a low display resolution a more effective way to achieve more cursor movement with less physical mouse movement.

On my current operating system, Windows 7 Pro, I'm using a display resolution of 1280 x 800 (which I consider small by today's standards), under Control Panel\All Control Panel Items\Display\Screen Resolution. Attached is a screenshot from Windows 7.

My question is: does Windows 11 Pro allow a display resolution of 1280 x 800 or similar? Or do the resolutions available depend on the computer's graphics card and/or display driver?

Please note that my question is specifically about display/screen resolution, not about text and icon size. I know that most modern versions of Windows offer some sort of display scaling in order to change the size of text and icons. I prefer to leave this at the default (100%) because I have found that scaling to larger than 100% can cause problems with certain applications, at least in Windows 7. Thus I prefer to achieve "more cursor bang" for my proverbial "physical mouse movement buck" by using a low display/screen resolution.

Thanks,
classic35mm

classic35mm said:

does Windows 11 Pro allow a display resolution of 1280 x 800 or similar?

Click to expand...

Yes. Those specific Settings are very similar to Windows 7. They are found in the Settings App, on Windows 11, as opposed to a Control Panel applet in Windows 7.

Sure - I can set resolution to 1376x768 which is close.

Just checked 1280x800 is common.

In the end, all comes down to graphics card and drivers but two above are common.

classic35mm said:

do the resolutions available depend on the computer's graphics card and/or display driver?

Click to expand...

Yes, they depend on the graphics card & its driver [you cannot really separate the two].

classic35mm said:

I'm using a display resolution of 1280 x 800

Click to expand...

My Windows 11 also allows very low resolutions to be chosen [all the way down to 800x600] and includes your current 1280x800.




All the best,
Denis

Mine.

I have a question for you. Which mouse are you using?
To have more control over the mouse cursor movement
you could (if possible) upgrade to a mouse that offers
more accurate speed for your situation hence, a better
screen resolution.
I have a Logitech G903 which, combined with the GHub
app, will give the movement I desire. Here is a screen shot
of this app and it's controls:

There is also a onboard memory that you can simply activate by clicking the presets on the mouse to change the
speed of the cursor movement.

Nvidia Control Panel
AMD ?

@classic35mm

Win 11 can do anything Win 7 can do... and more.

But you don't have to switch to Win 11 with no hope of return to Win 7.
Make a full backup of your Windows 7 drive, then switch to Win 11. If you don't like Win 11, you can always restore your Win 7 backup.

You know you can just right click on the Desktop to access the Display settings?

If you own a monitor that has 1600x900 pixels and you use it at 1280x720, you get a rather unsharp display.

If you would set the scaling of Windows at 125%, you would (if I calculated it right) get the same result, but much more sharp display.
Unless you already use some scaling factor already!
You moght use higher scales (I once tested a monitor at 150%, which gave good results), but you might get some problem (unsharp characters) in a few very old programs. If you might get those, please tell us, there should be a solution for that via compatibility options.

BTW. You can test display scaling as well in Windows 7!

You could go to a retailer like Curry's or PC World and try for yourself?

Or have you considered a USB touchpad or even a wireless touchpad?

Where do you live?
What is your budget for the new computer?
Would you consider a tablet or laptop?

The graphics card allows many resolutions (image sizes), but it is limited by those supported by the monitor. In general laptop monitors will allow their native resolution (maximum, such as 1366x768) and a couple smaller (such as 1280x720, 800x600). Desktop monitors are more flexible and might allow more resolutions smaller than their native resolution. However as already mentioned you don't have to switch to a very small resolution. Just increase scaling to 150 or greater to make icons and text bigger. This is supported in both laptop and desktop monitors.

PS: Smaller resolution available from Windows Settings is 800x600 but you can also do 720x576, 720x480 and even 640x480 from Intel Graphics Properties or nVidia/AMD Control Panel. Up to Windows XP I used my old 14" CRT monitor that supported up to 640x480 resolution at 60Hz or 720x576 at 50Hz by creating a custom resolution with a utility called PowerStrip. Not too bad, at least for Windows XP. For Windows 7 and higher is a little harder to use 640x480 due to thicker taskbar and larger visuals.

Flashorn said:

I have a question for you. Which mouse are you using?
To have more control over the mouse cursor movement
you could (if possible) upgrade to a mouse that offers
more accurate speed for your situation hence, a better
screen resolution.
I have a Logitech G903 which, combined with the GHub
app, will give the movement I desire. Here is a screen shot
of this app and it's controls:
There is also a onboard memory that you can simply activate by clicking the presets on the mouse to change the
speed of the cursor movement.

Click to expand...

Dear Flashorn, I am using an old Microsoft IntelliMouse. Is the following the GHub app that you use?
Logitech G HUB Advanced Gaming Software, RGB & Game Profiles

spapakons said:

PS: Smaller resolution available from Windows Settings is 800x600 but you can also do 720x576, 720x480 and even 640x480 from Intel Graphics Properties or nVidia/AMD Control Panel....

Click to expand...

640x480 is just being silly.....

I'm currently reading this from my smartphone. Tomorrow I will post a screenshot from Windows 11 on 640x480. I did it out of curiosity. If you set taskbar to use small icons and don't have too many pinned on the start menu (so the list is not too long), it is quite usable. Of course you are limited in most applications that would benefit from a larger desktop, but you could get used to.

spapakons said:

Tomorrow I will post a screenshot from Windows 11 on 640x480.

Click to expand...

I did in post #15, but I didn't try optimising it for use - I took one look at it and thought what Marvin the Paranoid Android once said: "It amazes me how you manage to live in anything that small."

Back in the days when "TV out" meant to have S-Video or A/V RCA output at the graphics card, when you connected the computer to the TV set the resolution either was switched to 800x600 or smaller, or was scaled to TV resolution. As you can imagine scaling sucked because usually it was nearest neighbour, not interpolated. So to achieve good quality you had to use a small resolution, such as 800x600 to minimize scaling.

classic35mm said:

Dear Flashorn, I am using an old Microsoft IntelliMouse. Is the following the GHub app that you use?
Logitech G HUB Advanced Gaming Software, RGB & Game Profiles

Click to expand...

Hi !
Yes, that's the software I use but, unfortunately , this software only works with Logitech hardware such as gaming mice.
There are different mice from Logitech that are for gaming but, are also used for daily use as the one I'm using now.
Over the years, I've tried a few but, found that for gaming and daily usage, these are some of the best around. Not everyone
has the same taste or needs but, I prefer either of the following:
Logitech G703


Logitech G903


Also, a wireless charging matt if you so choose. This will charge the mouse and you will never have to plug it in to recharge the battery:
BUT, very expensive


There is also a more ergonomic mouse from Logitech which might suit you best since you have limited motion. I bought the same for my Daughter about two years ago since she works from home three days a week and has lots interaction with her PC. She was complaining that the mouse provided to her by the Canadian Gov. was hurting her wrist so, I provided her with this Logitech MX Master 3S and right away she saw a difference.
I'm not saying this will be your cup of tea as well but, something to think about.
I do have to say that , they Don't come cheap. Expect to pay between $80.00US to $100.00US depending on the mouse in question. Here in Canada
we pay about $40.00 more for the same.

MX Master 3S


Here are a few videos for you to help while you make your mind up on whether this is for you or not.
G703

G903

MX Master 3S

Logi Options+

How too

If you have questions then just ask.

Using Windows 11 in 640x480:

Desktop, not that bad...


Start menu, OK...


Oops, using Microsoft Edge is rather uncomfortable, better enable full screen or reduce zoom.

PS: Windows 7 style start button and start menu were done with Open Shell.