The best PS5 setup for high-frame-rate gaming is Performance Mode, 120 Hz Output set to Automatic, VRR enabled when supported, and the correct 120 FPS option selected inside the game. You also need a game that supports a high-frame-rate mode and a TV or monitor that can accept 120 Hz over HDMI.
A 120 Hz display does not make every game run at 120 FPS. The display controls how often it can refresh; the game controls how many frames the PS5 actually renders. Many games remain capped at 30 or 60 FPS, while others use an unlocked or variable frame rate.
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What you need for 120 FPS on PS5
- A PS5 game with a 120 FPS, 120 Hz, or high-frame-rate mode.
- The PS5 version of the game, rather than its PS4 version where the versions differ.
- A TV or monitor that accepts a 120 Hz signal over HDMI.
- The correct HDMI input, with Enhanced HDMI, 4K/120 Hz, or VRR mode enabled if the display requires it.
- The HDMI cable included with the PS5, or a verified Ultra High Speed HDMI cable for 4K/120 Hz.
- Current PS5 system software, display firmware, and game updates.
For 4K/120 Hz, Sony recommends using the included cable or an Ultra High Speed HDMI cable and connecting to an HDMI port specifically rated for the required signal. See Sony’s PS5 4K resolution and troubleshooting guide.
FPS and Hz are not the same thing
Frames per second (FPS) describes how many frames the game renders. Hertz (Hz) describes how many times the display refreshes each second.
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A 120 Hz TV or monitor is necessary to display a 120 FPS signal, but it cannot make a 30 FPS or 60 FPS game render more frames. A game running at 60 FPS on a 120 Hz display is still a 60 FPS game unless it has a suitable frame-pacing mode. A 120 Hz display can also show variable frame rates below 120 FPS when VRR is active.
Higher frame rates generally reduce the time each frame remains on screen and can make controls feel more responsive, particularly in competitive games. The practical benefit depends on the game, display, signal path, and player.
Best PS5 Performance Mode settings
- Open Settings.
- Select Saved Data and Game/App Settings.
- Select Game Presets.
- Set Performance Mode or Resolution Mode to Performance Mode.
- Return to Settings and open Screen and Video.
- Select Video Output.
- Set 120 Hz Output to Automatic.
- Set VRR to Automatic.
- Optionally set Apply to Unsupported Games to On, then test it. Turn it off if you see glitches or unexpected behavior.
- Set Resolution to Automatic or 2160p for a compatible 4K display.
- Set Video Transfer Rate to Automatic.
Menu wording can change with PS5 system software updates, but Sony’s current video-output documentation covers these settings. The Information for the Connected HDMI Device screen in Settings > Screen and Video > Video Output is also useful for checking what the display reports as supported.
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Performance Mode is a preference, not a universal FPS unlock.
- Games with a 30/60 FPS choice: Performance Mode usually selects the higher-frame-rate preset, often using lower internal resolution, reduced ray tracing, simpler shadows or foliage, fewer effects, or more aggressive dynamic resolution.
- Games with a 60/120 FPS choice: Performance Mode may be required before the high-frame-rate option appears, or it may select the game’s performance preset automatically.
- Games without a performance option: The PS5 preset cannot create one. The game may remain locked to 30 or 60 FPS.
Turn on 120 FPS inside the game
After configuring the console, open the game’s graphics or display settings. Look for labels such as:
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- 120 FPS Mode
- 120 Hz Mode
- High Frame Rate Mode
- High Frame Rate Performance Mode
- Performance Mode
- Unlocked Frame Rate
- Graphics Mode > Performance
Some games reveal the option only after the game is updated, the PS5 version is installed, 120 Hz Output is enabled, or the game is restarted. A 120 Hz mode may also be limited to a particular multiplayer mode or may deliver a variable frame rate rather than a locked 120 FPS.
Do not treat the console’s 120 Hz output as proof that the game is rendering at 120 FPS. Depending on the title, the actual rate may be 40, 60, 80, 90, or another variable value within a 120 Hz VRR signal.
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Variable refresh rate (VRR) synchronizes the display’s refresh timing with the game’s changing frame rate. This can reduce tearing and make uneven frame pacing look smoother. Sony explains the feature in its PS5 VRR announcement.
VRR does not increase a game’s rendering power and does not turn a 30 FPS game into a 120 FPS game. It is most useful when a title has an unlocked or high-frame-rate mode, or when its frame rate fluctuates around a target such as 60 FPS.
Apply to Unsupported Games can improve smoothness in some cases, but it can also cause unexpected visual effects. Disable it if a game flickers, behaves strangely, or displays other artifacts. Results vary by game, display, firmware, resolution, and signal path.
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As a studio-specific example, Insomniac says updated PS5 titles can use a 120 Hz-capable display, VRR, and an active 120 Hz display mode for variable, uncapped frame rates above a selected 30 or 60 FPS target, depending on gameplay. That behavior should not be generalized to every PS5 game; see the studio’s VRR support explanation.
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Configure the TV or monitor
Display menus vary by manufacturer and model. The relevant settings may be called:
- Game Mode or Low-Latency Mode
- Enhanced HDMI, Enhanced Format, or Input Signal Plus
- 4K/120 Hz mode
- VRR or HDMI VRR
- 120 Hz refresh rate
Use the HDMI input labeled 4K/120 Hz, 8K, Enhanced Format, or VRR, where applicable. Sony provides an example of this guidance for compatible TVs in its HDMI signal-format help page.
For low latency, enable Game Mode or the display’s equivalent. Image processing modes can add delay or prevent the expected high-refresh signal.
4K/120 Hz versus 1440p/120 Hz
| Setup | Advantages | Limitations |
|---|---|---|
| 4K/120 Hz TV | Large-screen gaming, HDR, high resolution, and strong living-room support on compatible models. | Higher cost; only some HDMI ports may support 4K/120 Hz; receivers, soundbars, and switches can complicate the signal path. |
| 1440p/120 Hz monitor | Well suited to desk gaming and competitive play, often at a lower cost than a premium 4K TV. | HDR may be weaker or absent, and the advertised PC refresh rate may work only through DisplayPort rather than HDMI. |
For a 1440p monitor, use Settings > Screen and Video > Video Output > Test 1440p Output. Sony says this test can check SDR/HDR, 60 Hz/120 Hz, and VRR output where supported. Do not assume a monitor advertised as 165 Hz or 240 Hz for PC use will accept 1440p/120 Hz from a PS5.
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How to confirm 120 Hz is working
- Open Settings > Screen and Video > Video Output.
- Select Information for the Connected HDMI Device.
- Check the reported resolution, HDR support, VRR support, and refresh-rate capabilities.
- Open the TV or monitor’s information overlay, if available, and check the live input signal.
- Confirm that the game’s own high-frame-rate setting is enabled.
- Restart the game after changing 120 Hz or VRR settings.
- Use the game’s performance overlay or frame-rate indicator if it provides one.
A display reporting a 120 Hz input means the console is sending a 120 Hz signal. It does not prove that the game is producing a locked 120 FPS.
Fix a PS5 stuck at 60 Hz
- Confirm that the display supports 120 Hz over HDMI, not only through DisplayPort.
- Move the PS5 to the display’s correct 4K/120 Hz or VRR-capable HDMI input.
- Enable Enhanced HDMI, 4K/120 Hz, or VRR mode on that input.
- Connect the PS5 directly to the TV or monitor.
- Temporarily remove the AV receiver, soundbar, HDMI switch, or capture device from the chain.
- Use the original PS5 HDMI cable.
- Set 120 Hz Output to Automatic.
- Set Resolution to Automatic or 2160p.
- Set Video Transfer Rate to Automatic.
- Update the display firmware, then restart both the display and PS5.
Sony specifically warns that setting Video Transfer Rate to -1 or -2 limits 4K/120 Hz output. Do not use those values as a routine performance setting.
Fix black screens, flicker, or signal loss
If the screen goes black, turn 120 Hz Output off temporarily so you can restore a visible signal. Then connect the PS5 directly to the display, try another compatible HDMI port, use the included cable, and update the display firmware.
If flickering is the problem, test Video Transfer Rate at -1 as a troubleshooting step. Understand the trade-off: Sony says this limits 4K/120 Hz output. Re-enable Automatic once the underlying cable, port, firmware, or compatibility issue is resolved.
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Why a game remains at 60 FPS
- The game does not support 120 FPS.
- The PS4 version is installed instead of the PS5 version.
- The game’s own 120 Hz or high-frame-rate option is disabled.
- The mode is available only in a particular multiplayer or graphics preset.
- The display is receiving a 60 Hz signal.
- VRR is enabled, but the game is still capped at 60 FPS.
- Performance Mode was changed after launch and the game needs to be restarted.
- The game outputs at 120 Hz but renders at a variable or sub-120 frame rate.
Fix a soft image or unexpected 1080p output
Performance Mode may use dynamic resolution, so a softer image can be an intentional game trade-off rather than a console fault. Other possibilities include a display that cannot accept 4K/120 Hz, an AVR or switch limited to 4K/60, Video Transfer Rate set to -1 or -2, or an HDMI input that is not using its enhanced mode.
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Also distinguish the console’s output resolution from the game’s internal rendering resolution. A PS5 can send a 4K signal while a game dynamically renders below 4K to maintain its frame-rate target.
Fix unavailable VRR
- Confirm that the TV or monitor supports VRR over HDMI.
- Use a VRR-capable HDMI input.
- Enable VRR on the display itself.
- Remove receivers, switches, soundbars, and capture devices temporarily.
- Try the included PS5 cable or a verified Ultra High Speed HDMI cable.
- Update the display firmware.
- Check whether Information for the Connected HDMI Device reports VRR capability.
HDR settings and trade-offs
HDR is not automatically better if the display’s HDR implementation is weak or its Game Mode produces an unattractive image. On PS5, HDR > On When Supported is the neutral choice: supported content uses HDR while non-HDR content remains SDR. Always On converts non-HDR content to HDR output. Sony documents this distinction in its PS5 video-output guide.
Performance Mode versus Resolution Mode
Choose Performance Mode when response time matters, the game’s performance preset is stable, or you prefer 60 FPS or 120 FPS to maximum visual detail. Choose Resolution Mode when you prefer sharper rendering, ray tracing, shadows, reflections, or other effects and can accept a lower frame rate.
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Should you buy a new TV, monitor, cable, or HDMI device?
- Check the current display and settings first. A compatible TV may only need Game Mode, Enhanced HDMI, or the correct port enabled.
- Use the included PS5 cable. Replace it only if it is missing, damaged, too short, or fails a known-good test.
- Buy a display only if necessary. A 60 Hz TV cannot become a 120 Hz display through settings or a new cable.
- Replace an AVR, soundbar, or switch only when it is the bottleneck. Confirm 120 Hz operation with a direct PS5-to-display connection first.
For a new TV, look for a native 120 Hz panel, HDMI input explicitly supporting 4K/120 Hz, HDMI VRR, and a low-latency Game Mode. For a monitor, verify that 120 Hz or higher works over HDMI at the target resolution—not merely over DisplayPort.
An expensive cable cannot add 120 Hz support to a 60 Hz display. If you need a replacement, prefer a credible Ultra High Speed HDMI cable rather than relying on vague “gaming” or “8K” packaging. HDMI’s official terminology and certification information is available at HDMI.org.
PS5 Pro owners should keep model-specific features separate from ordinary PS5 video settings. Sony identifies some options, including certain 8K, enhanced PS4 image-quality, and PSSR-related functions, as limited to the CFI-7000 model group in its support documentation. Those features do not change the basic requirement for a compatible game and 120 Hz display when targeting high frame rates.
Quick Recap
Final PS5 high-FPS checklist
- Set Game Presets > Performance Mode or Resolution Mode to Performance Mode.
- Set 120 Hz Output to Automatic.
- Set VRR to Automatic.
- Use Apply to Unsupported Games only if it behaves correctly.
- Set Resolution and Video Transfer Rate to Automatic for troubleshooting.
- Enable the display’s Game Mode, Enhanced HDMI, and VRR options as applicable.
- Use the correct HDMI port and the included PS5 cable.
- Connect directly to the display while diagnosing problems.
- Enable the game’s own 120 FPS or high-frame-rate mode.
- Verify the signal through the PS5’s HDMI information screen and the display’s input overlay.
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