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Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Performance modes generally favor higher frame rates, while fidelity modes favor resolution or visual detail—but those labels do not guarantee the same results in every game. Frame rate (fps) measures how many images a game produces each second; refresh rate (Hz) measures how often a display can draw a new image. Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) lets a compatible display adjust its refresh timing to match changing game output, which can make motion look smoother without creating frames or guaranteeing a faster game.
What frame rate and refresh rate mean
Frame rate is the number of images a game outputs per second, measured in frames per second (fps). Refresh rate is how often a display can draw a new image, measured in hertz (Hz); a 144 Hz display, for example, can refresh 144 times per second. The two figures describe different parts of the setup, not interchangeable performance measurements. Sony explains the distinction between frame rate and refresh rate.
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The game produces frames, and the display shows them. If the game’s delivery does not line up with a display’s fixed refresh schedule, motion can appear uneven or the image can tear. The frame-rate number alone also does not establish how consistently a game delivers those frames, so compare a mode’s actual behavior where reliable game-specific information is available.
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These names are broad descriptions, not standardized presets. A performance mode commonly prioritizes frame rate; a fidelity or resolution mode commonly spends more of the rendering budget on image detail or visual features. A game may also change settings such as shadows or other effects. The mode names alone do not promise a particular resolution, frame-rate target, or visual feature set.
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A game-specific example: The Elder Scrolls Online
In its 2021 Console Enhanced mode breakdown, Bethesda listed these native resolution and frame-rate targets. The figures apply to ESO’s modes on the named consoles, not to every game on those systems. Bethesda’s mode details for ESO also note that some visual settings were lowered on Xbox Series S to sustain 60 FPS in Performance Mode.
| Console | Fidelity Mode | Performance Mode |
|---|---|---|
| Xbox Series X and PS5 | Native 4K at 30 FPS | Native 1440p at 60 FPS |
| Xbox Series S | Native 1440p at 30 FPS | Native 1080p at 60 FPS |
This example shows why console and game matter: the Series S figures differ from those for Series X and PS5, and the performance tradeoff involved more than resolution. Do not infer a universal rule such as “fidelity is always 30 fps” or “performance is always 60 fps.”
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How to choose between modes
- Start with Performance if smoother motion or a higher frame-rate target matters most to you, especially in fast action.
- Try Fidelity if you prefer the game’s image detail or visual effects and accept its particular frame-rate tradeoff.
- Compare the game’s own descriptions. Check whether they specify a target frame rate, native or internal rendering resolution, output resolution, and changes to visual features.
These are preference-based starting points, not guarantees about how a mode will look or feel in every title.
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What VRR does—and does not do
Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) allows a compatible display to adjust its refresh timing in response to the source’s changing frame rate. Rather than forcing the display to follow only a fixed refresh schedule, VRR can help align screen updates with game output and reduce tearing or uneven presentation. Sony defines VRR and its intended display effect.
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VRR does not render additional frames, lock a game to a particular frame rate, or guarantee that every stutter, tear, or control delay disappears. Sony Interactive Entertainment says VRR on compatible HDMI 2.1 TVs and PC monitors dynamically synchronizes display refresh to PS5 graphical output, while noting that results vary by TV, game, and selected visual mode. The PlayStation announcement describes the feature and its variability.
When 120 Hz and VRR can matter
A 120 Hz display can be relevant even when a game does not simply target 120 fps. Some titles offer modes designed for a 120 Hz input and may use VRR to vary frame delivery. The behavior is game-specific, not a universal promise of a particular “balanced” frame rate.
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Insomniac Games Support says its PS5 titles support VRR with the latest game and system updates. It describes a studio-specific case: when a TV accepts 120 Hz high-frame-rate input and the 120 Hz Display Mode is active with VRR, the variable uncapped frame rate can exceed the selected Graphics Mode’s 30 or 60 fps target by 50% or more depending on gameplay. That claim applies to Insomniac’s described PS5 titles and conditions, not all games. Read Insomniac’s VRR support details, dated November 19, 2025.
Check the whole setup before relying on VRR or 120 Hz
Console support alone is not enough. The game, display model, active HDMI input, cable, and relevant console and TV settings all affect whether a high-refresh or VRR mode is available. A 4K display is not automatically a 120 Hz or VRR display, and different inputs on one TV may have different capabilities.
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- Check the game and console. Look up the title’s supported modes and the console’s output capabilities. For PS5, Insomniac advises installing the latest game and system updates for VRR support in its titles.
- Check the display and input. Consult the manual for the exact TV or monitor model, then connect to an HDMI port labeled for 4K/120 Hz or VRR as applicable. Sony notes that supported HDMI signal formats vary by TV model and can differ by model, region, or country. Sony’s TV guide explains HDMI signal formats and port labels.
- Enable the relevant TV input format and VRR setting. Use the signal format supported by that specific TV and input. If VRR must be enabled for the selected port, turn it on in the TV settings. Check the TV manual for its exact menu labels.
- Use a suitable HDMI cable. Sony advises an Ultra High Speed HDMI cable for a console supporting 4K/120 Hz; Insomniac likewise advises an HDMI 2.1 cable for its VRR setup guidance. Insomniac’s setup guidance and Sony’s TV guide outline these requirements. PS5’s FAQ says the console box includes an HDMI cable compatible with Ultra High Speed, so check the supplied cable before buying another. PlayStation’s PS5 FAQ.
What to compare in a game’s mode menu
- Frame-rate target and consistency: distinguish a stated target from measured performance, and do not assume a mode name guarantees stable delivery.
- Resolution: check whether a figure refers to internal rendering or the signal sent to the display; they are not necessarily the same.
- Visual settings: look for changes to ray tracing, shadows, texture, view distance, or other effects, not resolution alone.
- Display requirements: confirm the necessary refresh rate and VRR support across the game, console, TV or monitor, input, cable, and settings.
- Your preference: decide whether frame-rate responsiveness or image detail matters more for the particular game, then try the available modes.
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