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Start with Enhance PSSR Image Quality for supported PS5 Pro games, then choose the graphics mode inside each game. There is no universal “best” preset: a 60-frame-per-second mode may use reconstruction and fewer effects, while a fidelity mode may prioritize native detail, ray tracing, or a steadier image at 30 fps. Turn on 120 Hz and VRR only when both your display and the game support them. For HDR, choose On When Supported if you want non-HDR content to remain SDR; Always On converts it to HDR output.
1. Turn on Enhance PSSR Image Quality
On PS5 Pro, go to Settings > Screen and Video > Video Output and check Enhance PSSR Image Quality. Sony describes this as an optional system-level improvement for games that support PSSR (PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution). Sony’s current PS5 Pro support material says the option is on by default.
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This is not a universal resolution switch. It has an effect only in compatible PS5 Pro games, and Sony says results vary by title. A game must implement PSSR and its own Pro update before the option can change the image. If you see no obvious difference, that does not necessarily mean the console or display is malfunctioning.
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PSSR reconstructs a higher-resolution image from the game’s rendered data. Mark Cerny, PlayStation’s lead architect, described it as “an AI library that analyzes game images pixel by pixel as it upscales them.” In Sony Interactive Entertainment’s February 27, 2026 announcement, the company said upgraded PSSR had been used to boost effective resolution in over 50 PS5 Pro titles at that time. That was a dated count, not a permanent total; games and system software can change the list.
#1 Best Overall
- Ray Tracing - Immerse yourself in worlds with a new level of realism as rays of light are individually simulated, creating true-to-life shadows and reflections in supported PS5 games.
- Faster Loading - Fast-travel across the map and get back into the game almost instantly with the PlayStation 5 console’s ultra-high-speed SSD and fast load times.
- Stunning Visuals - Experience the vast world in stunning 4K and HDR at 120 FPS (with a 4K and HDR compatible TV or display)
- Breathtaking Immersion - Discover a deeper gaming experience with support for haptic feedback, adaptive triggers, and 3D Audio technology.
- Backwards Compatibility - Play over 4,000 PS4 games on PS5. Enjoy faster and smoother frame rates in some of the PS4 console's greatest games.
How to verify that it is working
- Install the latest PS5 system software and the game’s update.
- Open the game’s graphics menu and look for a Pro, PSSR, or enhanced rendering description.
- Compare a static scene with fine foliage, distant geometry, text, or thin cables. These areas commonly reveal reconstruction changes more clearly than a dark or fast-moving scene.
- If the game reports that PSSR is unavailable, use the game’s own supported modes instead; the system toggle cannot add support.
2. Choose the game’s graphics mode, not a console-wide rule
The game’s menu determines the main image-quality and frame-rate tradeoff. Names differ: you may see Performance, Fidelity, Quality, Pro, or several hybrid modes. Developers decide what each one changes, so selecting Performance everywhere is no more correct than selecting Fidelity everywhere.
Read the mode description and compare five practical characteristics:
- Frame-rate target: 30, 40, 60, or a higher target when supported.
- Rendering resolution and reconstruction: the internal resolution, upscaler, and image stability during motion.
- Ray tracing and effects: reflections, shadows, global illumination, particles, foliage, and draw distance.
- Consistency: whether the mode holds its target in demanding areas or drops frequently.
- Display requirements: whether 120 Hz or VRR is needed to use the mode as intended.
Hybrid modes are common on PS5 Pro. Naughty Dog described a Pro-specific mode for one of its games that renders at 1440p, upscales to 4K with PSSR, and targets 60 fps. Its programmer Vincent Marxen said, “This mode maintains the 60 fps target, offering an ideal balance of framerate and resolution.” Insomniac has likewise described a Performance Pro mode that combines crisp 4K output and ray-tracing features with a 60-fps target. Those are examples from named games, not specifications for every PS5 Pro title.
A quick decision guide
| Your priority | Usually the better starting mode | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Smooth aiming, camera movement, and combat | Performance or a 60-fps Pro mode | Whether resolution and ray tracing are reduced, and whether VRR is recommended |
| Maximum detail for a slower, cinematic game | Fidelity or Quality | Target frame rate, motion blur, ray tracing, and whether the mode is locked or variable |
| High-quality image with responsive controls | Pro or balanced mode | Internal resolution, PSSR use, and the game’s stated frame-rate target |
| Competitive play | The highest stable frame-rate mode | Input response, 120-Hz support, VRR behavior, and visual distractions |
Try the modes in the same location, preferably an area with distant detail and active lighting. A title screen or a quiet corridor can hide differences. Keep the mode that feels best during actual play rather than judging only a paused screenshot.
3. Enable 120 Hz when the complete setup supports it
Open Settings > Screen and Video > Video Output and set 120 Hz Output to automatic or enabled, depending on the current system label. Sony states that both the display and the game must support 120 Hz. The setting allows compatible output; it does not make an unsupported game run at 120 frames per second.
A 120-Hz television or monitor is useful for games that offer 40-fps quality modes, 120-fps performance modes, or smoother frame pacing at other rates. The game still controls its internal frame rate and resolution. Check the game’s graphics description for the exact target and compromises.
If 120 Hz does not appear to work
- Confirm that the display’s input port supports the required resolution and refresh rate.
- Use the display’s gaming or enhanced-format input setting if the manufacturer requires one.
- Connect the console through a compatible HDMI path; receivers, switches, and capture devices can limit available modes.
- Check the PS5’s video output information screen and the game’s own mode menu.
4. Use VRR for variable frame rates
Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) lets a compatible display adjust its refresh timing to the game’s current frame rate. On PS5, enable VRR in Settings > Screen and Video > Video Output. Sony notes that results vary by television and game.
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The console also offers Apply to Unsupported Games. Sony says this can stabilize frame rate in games that do not officially support VRR, but it is an optional compatibility experiment, not a guaranteed upgrade. Turn it off if you see flicker, brightness changes, judder, unusual artifacts, or other unexpected behavior.
When VRR helps most
- A game fluctuates around its target frame rate instead of holding it perfectly.
- A Pro mode raises visual quality but cannot maintain a fixed 60 fps in every scene.
- Your display has a broad, documented VRR range at the resolution you use.
VRR cannot create missing frames or repair a game with severe stutter. It also cannot compensate for a display whose VRR range excludes the game’s frame-rate floor.
5. Select the HDR behavior you actually want
In the PS5 video output settings, HDR offers two relevant choices:
| Setting | Behavior | Choose it when |
|---|---|---|
| On When Supported | HDR is used for HDR-compatible content; unsupported games and apps remain SDR. | You want native SDR and HDR output without forced conversion. |
| Always On | Non-HDR-compatible games and apps are converted to HDR output. | You prefer one HDR signal from the console and accept conversion of SDR content. |
For most viewers who want a game’s authored HDR or SDR presentation preserved, On When Supported is the safer starting point. Always On is not automatically brighter or more accurate; it changes the output format even when the source content was not authored in HDR.
Run Adjust HDR after changing the setting
Use the console’s Adjust HDR calibration screens after selecting your HDR behavior. Follow the on-screen instructions while viewing the display in the room where you normally play. There is no universal slider value: peak brightness, black level, tone mapping, picture mode, and ambient light differ by display. If the image looks gray in shadows or clips bright detail, revisit the display’s HDR picture mode and the console calibration rather than copying someone else’s numbers.
6. Leave Video Transfer Rate alone unless you have 4K flicker
Video Transfer Rate is a troubleshooting control, not a picture-quality preset. Sony recommends adjusting it for 4K video when flicker occurs. Selecting -1 or -2 limits some output modes and can improve stability on a marginal HDMI connection.
- First reseat or replace the HDMI cable and test another compatible display input.
- Remove a switch, receiver, or capture device temporarily to isolate the connection.
- If flicker remains, open Settings > Screen and Video > Video Output > Video Transfer Rate.
- Try -1, then -2 only if necessary, checking which 4K modes the console reports as limited at each setting.
Because lower transfer-rate settings can disable or restrict output combinations, restore Automatic after fixing the cable or signal-path problem when possible.
Rank #3
- Ray Tracing - Immerse yourself in worlds with a new level of realism as rays of light are individually simulated, creating true-to-life shadows and reflections in supported PS5 games.
- Faster Loading - Fast-travel across the map and get back into the game almost instantly with the PlayStation 5 console’s ultra-high-speed SSD and fast load times.
- Stunning Visuals - Experience the vast world in stunning 4K and HDR at 120 FPS (with a 4K and HDR compatible TV or display)
- Breathtaking Immersion - Discover a deeper gaming experience with support for haptic feedback, adaptive triggers, and 3D Audio technology.
- Backwards Compatibility - Play over 4,000 PS4 games on PS5. Enjoy faster and smoother frame rates in some of the PS4 console's greatest games.
7. Use Enhance Image Quality for PS4 games separately
Enhance Image Quality for PS4 games is different from Enhance PSSR Image Quality. It applies to PS4 games played on a PS5 Pro, not to PS5 games with Pro enhancements.
Sony places this option at Settings > Screen and Video > Video Output. It requires a screen that supports 2160p or 1440p at 60 Hz and is available only on CFI-7000 model-group consoles. Enable it when playing compatible PS4 software, then turn it off if you encounter unexpected behavior.
Do not expect this setting to add a PS5 Pro graphics mode, ray tracing, or PSSR to a PS4 game. It is a separate image-enhancement path with its own display and compatibility requirements.
Do you need a new TV or monitor?
No. You can change PSSR, game modes, HDR behavior, and troubleshooting settings with an existing display. A new screen matters only if it lacks a mode you intend to use, such as 4K at 120 Hz or a suitable VRR range.
Before buying a display, verify the exact model—not just the product family—against these requirements:
- Supported resolution at the refresh rate you want.
- 120-Hz input support on the HDMI port you will use.
- VRR support at that resolution, including its operating range.
- HDR format, peak-brightness behavior, and picture-mode controls.
- Whether an AV receiver, soundbar, switch, or capture device sits between the console and screen.
Sony’s current PS5 Pro product page describes over 100 PS5 titles as enhanced for PS5 Pro. That figure is Sony’s current page count, accessed in 2026, and does not mean every title supports every setting. Check each game’s update notes and in-game menu.
Quick Recap
A practical setup sequence
- Update the PS5 Pro, display firmware, and game.
- Enable Enhance PSSR Image Quality under Settings > Screen and Video > Video Output.
- Enable 120 Hz only if the display and the game support it.
- Enable VRR; test Apply to Unsupported Games only if you want to troubleshoot a particular title.
- Choose On When Supported or Always On for HDR based on whether you want SDR preserved or converted.
- Run Adjust HDR for your display and room.
- Open the game’s graphics menu and compare its actual Pro, Fidelity, Quality, and Performance choices.
- Use Video Transfer Rate -1 or -2 only to address persistent 4K flicker.
- For PS4 software on a CFI-7000 console, test the separate Enhance Image Quality option.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Assuming PSSR affects every game: it requires game support, and visible results vary.
- Treating Performance and Fidelity as fixed standards: developers can combine resolution, ray tracing, and frame-rate targets differently.
- Enabling 120 Hz expecting 120 fps everywhere: the game must implement a high-frame-rate mode.
- Forcing HDR on all content: Always On converts SDR games and apps.
- Using -1 or -2 as a default quality setting: those values limit output modes to address signal problems.
- Confusing the two Enhance Image Quality options: one targets PSSR-compatible PS5 Pro games; the other targets PS4 games and has model and display requirements.
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