3/4" supply to shower?

Putting in a bathroom on the third floor and I’m a little anxious about shower water pressure. The shower stall will only have a single head- no multiple heads, jets, etc.
My question is- all things being equal- will I improve anything by piping ¾†lines to a ¾†mixer as opposed to ½�
If I used ¾†supplies/mixer I’d also try to keep the shower head at ¾â€. Would I lose all benefit of the ¾†supplies if I went down to ½†shower head?
While I’m at it- any recommendations for a ¾†combo mixer/volume control valve, or is there no such animal without spending $$$$?
Thanks,
Patrick

Unless this will also have a large tub, then you would have no benefit from a 3/4" valve with one showerhead. Now, running 3/4" up into the area would help ensure there was enough water for that bath, but it won't make much of any difference to the individual valve for the shower. To maximize things, you could reduce it to 1/2" at the valve, but that probably wouldn't be necessary either. The longer the run, the more friction, the lower the flow and pressure while running (pressure with no flow would be essentially normal). But, if you run 3/4" to the immediate area, the reduction to 1/2" for the valve should be fine.

Another point to consider is that it takes a very long time to purge cold water from a 3/4" hot water line compared to the same length of 1/2" line.

Recirc to the rescue!

Yes, especially because this bath is on the third floor (and because the plumbing is all new) I"ll be adding a Grundfos HW recirculator.
Thanks for the assurance- a 1/2" will sure be a lot less $$$!

Any recommendations on valves?

Thanks,
Patrick

Many like the Delta 1700 rough-in valve...your choice of guts to put in it and trim. That rough-in will allow you to use a thermostatic valve, which I prefer. Personally, I've used and like Grohe, but that can be a problem if you don't have local suppliers. You can get Delta stuff nearly anywhere.

Larger pipes do NOT increase pressure, only volume. If they are extremely long with a high velocity flow rate, then larger pipes will not LOSE as much pressure, but that is seldom the situation with the average home shower faucet.