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PS5 Graphics Settings: Smoother Gameplay or Sharper Visuals

Choose Performance Mode for smoother motion or Resolution Mode for higher graphic quality, then match PS5 video output settings to your game and display.
Length4 min Posted Quest giverVGSources Team
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For smoother motion, start with Performance Mode; for higher graphic quality, choose Resolution Mode. On PS5, go to Settings > Saved Data and Game/App Settings > Game Presets. These presets affect only PS5 games that support the corresponding modes, and Sony cautions that a preset may not apply to every game. The game and your TV or monitor determine the actual result.

Choose Performance Mode or Resolution Mode first

Sony describes the choice simply: “Make motion in your game smoother with performance mode, or have higher graphic quality in resolution mode.” Set it under Settings > Saved Data and Game/App Settings > Game Presets. Sony’s Game Presets guide confirms that the setting is for PS5 games, but also notes that some presets may not apply to every game.

  • Performance Mode: the sensible starting point when smoother motion is your priority.
  • Resolution Mode: the starting point when higher graphic quality is more important to you.

Neither option guarantees a particular resolution or frame rate. Some games offer their own graphics options, and others may not use the console preset. If the change has no apparent effect, check the game’s own display or graphics menu.

Check what your display is actually receiving

Open Settings > Screen and Video > Video Output to inspect the current video signal and available output options. Sony says the PS5 detects the display’s capabilities and automatically selects the highest resolution the TV supports. That does not make every game render at that resolution: a game’s rendering mode and the console’s output signal are related but distinct.

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If you use a 1440p display, select 1440p output to use that resolution. The PS5’s 1440p test can check SDR and HDR output at 60 Hz and 120 Hz, as well as VRR, on a compatible display. Sony also notes that a game rendered at a higher native resolution, such as 4K, may benefit from improved anti-aliasing when supersampled to 1440p; the result depends on the game and display. See Sony’s resolution and video-output guide and its PS5 features overview.

Enable 120 Hz only when the game and screen support it

Under Settings > Screen and Video > Video Output, the 120 Hz Output option allows compatible games and displays to use a 120 Hz signal. It does not make an unsupported game run at 120 frames per second. If a game or monitor has output problems with the option enabled, Sony recommends turning it off.

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For a missing 4K/120 Hz signal, Sony’s checklist is to confirm that the TV supports 4K/120 Hz and has current firmware, use the TV’s correct HDMI 2.1 port, connect the PS5 directly to the display, set Resolution to Auto or 2160p, and set Video Transfer Rate to Auto. Sony recommends the cable supplied with the console or an Ultra High Speed HDMI cable rated for 4K/120 Hz; a replacement cable is a troubleshooting option, not a routine graphics upgrade.

Use VRR and ALLM when your display supports them

VRR

Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) synchronizes a compatible display’s refresh rate with the console’s graphical output in compatible games. Enable it at Settings > Screen and Video > Video Output > VRR. Sony says results vary by TV and game. The optional Apply to Unsupported Games setting may help stabilize frame rate in some cases, but turn it off if a game behaves unexpectedly.

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ALLM

Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM) signals a compatible TV to switch into a low-latency mode during gameplay. Not all HDMI 2.1 TVs support ALLM, so check the TV’s specifications or manual. VRR output can activate low-latency mode even when ALLM is Off; to disable it completely, turn VRR Off as well. The console does not send an ALLM signal while a media app is running. Sony documents these behaviors in its video-output guide and PS5 features overview.

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Set HDR to match your content and preference

In Settings > Screen and Video > Video Output > HDR, choose between Always On and On When Supported. Always On converts even non-HDR games and apps to HDR output; On When Supported keeps non-HDR content in SDR. For supported games and displays, use Adjust HDR to tune brightness. HDR is not automatically an improvement: the display’s capabilities, calibration and your preference affect how the picture looks.

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Troubleshoot flicker without sacrificing modes unnecessarily

If a 4K picture flickers, Sony says lowering Video Transfer Rate to -1 or -2 can limit output and may improve the picture. These are compatibility troubleshooting options, not general visual upgrades. Each restricts some high-bandwidth formats:

Setting Formats Sony says it restricts
Video Transfer Rate -1 4K 120 Hz; 4K 50/60 Hz RGB or YUV444 Deep Color; and, on CFI-7000 model-group consoles, 8K 60 Hz.
Video Transfer Rate -2 4K 120 Hz and 8K 60 Hz; it also limits 4K 50/60 Hz RGB or YUV444, with 4K 50/60 Hz using YUV420.

Try a lower transfer rate only if the signal is unstable, then check whether the formats you use still work. Sony’s resolution guide lists the affected modes.

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Know which options are limited to particular PS5 models

Sony’s guide identifies Allow 8K Output, Enhance Image Quality for PS4 Games and Enhance PSSR Image Quality as settings for CFI-7000 model-group consoles. Do not assume they will appear on every PS5. 8K output also requires a display that supports 8K/60 Hz and DSC, and VRR is disabled during 8K output.

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