The Tool Desk
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These settings cannot create performance a game does not provide. A title must include a 120 Hz or performance mode to render above 60 frames per second, and VRR behavior depends on the game, display, firmware, and selected graphics mode.
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Recommended baseline settings
The following defaults cover most compatible 4K televisions and monitors. Apply them first, then use the troubleshooting sections if you see flicker, black screens, judder, or an unavailable 120 Hz option.
| Platform | Setting | Recommended value | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| PS5 | Resolution | Automatic | Lets the console select the highest capability reported by the display. |
| PS5 | VRR | Automatic | Matches refresh rate to changing frame output and reduces tearing and frame-pacing issues. |
| PS5 | 120 Hz Output | Automatic | Allows games with a 120 Hz mode to use it. |
| PS5 | ALLM | On when supported | Switches a compatible television to its low-latency game mode. |
| PS5 | HDR | On When Supported | Outputs HDR only when the display and game support it. |
| PS5 | Video Transfer Rate | Automatic | Preserves the available 4K/120 Hz bandwidth unless troubleshooting requires a lower signal limit. |
| Xbox Series X|S | Resolution and refresh rate | Display maximum supported values | Uses the panel’s reported 4K and 120 Hz capability when available. |
| Xbox Series X|S | HDR10, Auto HDR, Variable Refresh Rate | On only if supported | Avoids unsupported signal combinations and compatibility errors. |
| Both | TV picture mode | Game mode/ALLM | Minimizes image-processing delay. |
A 4K/60 Hz television can still deliver a good open-world experience. 4K/120 Hz is an optional ceiling that requires a compatible panel, HDMI 2.1 bandwidth, cable, firmware, and a game mode that actually targets 120 Hz.
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PS5: exact video-output setup
Open Settings > Screen and Video > Video Output. The PS5 reads the television’s capabilities and normally chooses the best available signal automatically. PlayStation describes this behavior as: “Your PS5® console detects your TV’s capabilities and automatically selects the best available resolution.”
1. Set resolution without forcing a weaker signal
Leave Resolution on Automatic for normal use. If you are diagnosing a handshake problem, temporarily choose 2160p (4K) to establish whether the display can hold a fixed 4K signal. Return to Automatic after testing; forcing a value can hide a display’s other supported modes.
2. Enable variable refresh rate
Set VRR to Automatic. VRR dynamically synchronizes the display’s refresh rate with the console’s changing graphical output. In a large open-world scene, rendering load can rise when the camera enters a dense city, weather system, or busy combat area. Synchronization reduces visible tearing and helps avoid uneven frame pacing when frame time moves around the target range.
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The Apply to Unsupported Games option can be tested for titles without native VRR support. Sony warns that results vary, so treat this as a per-game experiment rather than a universal enhancement. If a title develops flicker or unstable motion with the option enabled, turn it off for that game.
3. Allow 120 Hz output
Set 120 Hz Output to Automatic. This permits a game that includes a 120 Hz or high-frame-rate mode to request 120 Hz. It does not convert a 30-frame-per-second cinematic mode into 120 frames per second; the game’s own performance mode determines its render rate and image-quality compromises.
4. Keep low-latency switching available
Leave ALLM enabled when the television supports it. ALLM tells the display to switch to a low-latency preset while the console is active. When VRR output is active, the PS5 can still trigger low-latency behavior even if ALLM is set Off, but leaving ALLM available gives the display a straightforward signal to use its game preset.
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5. Configure HDR for the actual screen
Choose HDR: On When Supported, then run Adjust HDR for that specific display. HDR quality is not determined by a single console slider: peak brightness, local dimming, tone mapping, panel behavior, and the game’s own HDR implementation all affect the result. If highlights clip or dark areas become gray, repeat the adjustment rather than copying values from another television.
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6. Leave transfer rate automatic unless flicker points to bandwidth
Keep Video Transfer Rate on Automatic. If a 4K/120 Hz signal flickers, test -1, then -2 as diagnostic limits. These settings reduce the available bandwidth and can remove 4K/120 Hz or full-bandwidth color formats, so they are troubleshooting compromises, not quality upgrades. If either setting stabilizes the picture, continue checking the cable, HDMI input, firmware, and intermediate equipment before accepting the reduced signal permanently.
7. Test less common modes deliberately
On a supported 1440p monitor or television, use Test 1440p Output before selecting that resolution. Current console software determines which resolutions and VRR combinations are exposed. Do not use 1440p simply because it appears in a menu; verify that the display reports the desired refresh and VRR behavior.
PS5 Pro 8K output is a separate configuration with separate requirements. Sony’s current guidance notes that VRR is disabled during 8K output, so 8K is outside a smooth 4K open-world setup.
Xbox Series X|S: exact video-output setup
On the Xbox, open Settings > General > TV & Display Options. The console’s diagnostic page is the fastest way to distinguish a missing capability from a disabled option.
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1. Read the display report first
Select 4K TV details. This screen shows which combinations of resolution, refresh rate, HDR, and VRR the Xbox believes the display supports. If 4K/120 Hz or VRR is absent here, changing an in-game setting will not fix it; check the HDMI port, input mode, cable, and firmware first.
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2. Select the supported resolution and refresh rate
Choose the display’s maximum supported resolution and refresh rate in TV & Display Options. A compatible 4K/120 Hz screen should report 4K at 120 Hz. If the display offers 4K at 60 Hz only, select 60 Hz rather than forcing an unsupported 120 Hz combination.
3. Enable video modes selectively
Under Advanced > Video modes, enable Allow 4K, Allow HDR10, Auto HDR, and Allow variable refresh rate only when the display reports support. Auto HDR can improve the presentation of compatible older games, but it does not give those games native HDR mastering or a higher frame rate.
4. Calibrate the television and HDR
Use Calibrate TV to set basic black-level and contrast behavior, then run Calibrate HDR for Games. Perform calibration with the television in its game preset and with any room-light mode you normally use; changing the picture preset afterward changes the assumptions behind the calibration.
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If the image shows sparkles, dropouts, flicker, or an unstable handshake, Microsoft documents turning off VRR or HDR as diagnostic steps. You can also change the refresh rate to 60 Hz when a 120 Hz signal is unreliable. A stable 60 Hz output is more useful for diagnosis than repeatedly forcing a mode that loses sync.
TV, monitor, and cable setup that makes these settings possible
Use the correct HDMI input
Connect the console to the input labeled 4K 120Hz, HDMI 2.1, or VRR. Labels vary, and some televisions provide HDMI 2.1 features on only one or two ports. If the label is unclear, check the display’s manual or on-screen input information.
Enable the display’s enhanced HDMI mode
Many televisions ship with a compatibility mode that limits bandwidth until you enable it. On Sony televisions, choose Enhanced format (Advanced) for a 4K/120 Hz console and enable VRR when available. Other manufacturers use names such as HDMI UHD Color or an enhanced HDMI mode. The name differs, but the purpose is the same: permit the input to accept the wider 4K/120 Hz signal.
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Use a certified high-bandwidth cable
Use the console-supplied cable or a certified Ultra High Speed HDMI cable rated for 4K/120 Hz. Xbox Wire states: “We highly recommend you use the included Ultra High Speed HDMI cable so you can take advantage of the full benefits of HDMI 2.1 for years to come.” A cable can pass 4K/60 Hz yet fail at 4K/120 Hz, so testing only at 60 Hz does not prove the cable is suitable.
Connect directly while troubleshooting
Run the console straight to the television or monitor while diagnosing a problem. Receivers and soundbars can limit bandwidth or interfere with the HDMI handshake, especially when their firmware or input does not support the same 4K/120 Hz and VRR combinations. Once the direct connection is stable, add intermediate equipment one device at a time.
Update firmware before changing multiple settings
Install current firmware for the television, monitor, and AV receiver before investigating signal problems. Firmware updates can change the advertised capabilities and fix HDMI handshake behavior. After updating, power-cycle the entire chain and rerun the PS5 video-output check or Xbox 4K TV details page.
Use Game mode and disable processing
Enable the display’s Game mode or ALLM. Turn off motion interpolation, cinema smoothing, and similar frame-processing features for console gameplay unless you deliberately prefer their appearance and accept additional latency. These processors can also complicate VRR operation by altering the timing of frames after they leave the console.
What VRR changes in an open-world game
Without VRR, a display refreshes on a fixed schedule while the game produces frames at a variable schedule. When those schedules disagree, one refresh can contain portions of two frames (tearing), or the console can repeat a frame until the next refresh window (judder and uneven pacing). VRR lets the display alter its refresh timing to follow the console’s output.
Hideaki Nishino, CEO of Sony Interactive Entertainment’s Platform Business Group, describes the feature this way: “On HDMI 2.1 VRR-compatible TVs and PC monitors, VRR dynamically syncs the refresh rate of the display to the PS5 console’s graphical output.” He notes that it minimizes or eliminates frame-pacing issues and screen tearing, while results vary by game, television, and visual mode.
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VRR is therefore most valuable when an open-world title fluctuates around a target rather than holding a perfectly fixed rate. It cannot raise the engine’s frame rate, remove a CPU bottleneck, or make a 30-frame-per-second quality mode behave like a 120-frame-per-second performance mode.
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Game menus commonly present a resolution-focused mode and a performance-focused mode. The exact names and targets differ by title, so the console cannot select the universally “best” option. Use these four decision axes:
- Smoothness: Prefer a performance or 120 Hz mode when camera movement and traversal feel more important than maximum detail. VRR helps hide fluctuations within the display’s supported range.
- Detail: Prefer a quality mode when higher resolution, denser effects, ray-traced lighting, or longer draw distance matter more than motion clarity.
- Latency: Game mode and ALLM reduce display processing delay. A 120 Hz output also shortens the display refresh interval, but the game still controls its own input and render pipeline.
- Compatibility: Confirm HDMI 2.1 input support, cable rating, firmware, and the game’s own 120 Hz and VRR support before choosing a mode that depends on all of them.
A 4K/60 Hz television remains a sensible choice when the console or game spends most of its time at 30 or 60 frames per second. The 120 Hz specification is an optional headroom feature, not a requirement for good image quality.
Troubleshooting choppy motion, flicker, and missing 120 Hz
The console reports 60 Hz only
- Move the cable to the display’s HDMI input labeled 4K 120Hz, HDMI 2.1, or VRR.
- Enable the television’s enhanced HDMI format; on Sony models this is Enhanced format (Advanced).
- Replace the cable with the supplied lead or a certified Ultra High Speed HDMI cable.
- Connect directly to the display, bypassing the receiver or soundbar.
- Update display and receiver firmware, restart all devices, and rerun the PS5 video-output check or Xbox 4K TV details.
- On Xbox, verify that the selected refresh rate is 120 Hz and that the display report lists 4K/120 Hz.
The picture flickers at 4K/120 Hz
- Confirm the cable is certified for Ultra High Speed HDMI rather than relying on its packaging claim alone.
- Test another compatible HDMI 2.1 input on the display.
- Disable the receiver or soundbar temporarily.
- On PS5, test Video Transfer Rate -1, then -2. These settings reduce signal bandwidth and may lower available color depth or remove 4K/120 Hz, so use them only to identify whether bandwidth is the trigger.
- On Xbox, turn off VRR or HDR temporarily, or select 60 Hz, as Microsoft’s diagnostic guidance suggests. Re-enable one feature at a time after the signal stabilizes.
VRR causes brightness pulsing or instability
Check whether the behavior occurs in one game or every game. VRR range and behavior differ by display firmware, game engine, and visual mode. On PS5, turn off Apply to Unsupported Games for a title that lacks native VRR support. On Xbox, disable Variable Refresh Rate temporarily to confirm whether it is the trigger, then decide whether the smoother motion is worth keeping for that display.
HDR looks washed out or too dark
Run PS5 Adjust HDR or Xbox Calibrate HDR for Games with the display in Game mode. Check that HDR is enabled on the television input and that the game itself has not been set to an incompatible brightness or tone-mapping mode. HDR results depend on peak brightness, local dimming, tone mapping, and the game’s implementation; there is no universal slider value.
Motion still looks uneven at 120 Hz
Verify that the game has a 120 Hz or high-frame-rate mode enabled. Console output at 120 Hz only gives the game more refresh opportunities; it does not force every title to render at 120 frames per second. If the title is locked to 30 or 60 frames per second, select its performance mode if available and compare the result with VRR enabled.
A repeatable setup and testing order
Changing many variables at once makes HDMI problems difficult to isolate. Use this order:
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- Update the display, receiver, and console software.
- Connect the console directly to the display with the supplied or certified Ultra High Speed HDMI cable.
- Enable the display’s enhanced HDMI mode and Game mode.
- Apply PS5 Automatic settings or Xbox TV & Display settings based on the display’s reported capabilities.
- Confirm 4K, 120 Hz, HDR, and VRR on the console’s information screen.
- Launch a game with a documented performance or 120 Hz mode and enable that mode in the game menu.
- Test camera pans, traversal, and a busy scene with VRR on.
- If instability appears, disable one feature at a time—first VRR or HDR, then 120 Hz—to identify the failing link before restoring the preferred combination.
Limits to keep in mind
- 120 Hz output is not the same as 120 frames per second; the game must support a 120 Hz or performance mode.
- VRR support and behavior vary by game, display, firmware, and selected visual mode.
- HDR gains depend on the display’s brightness, local dimming, tone mapping, and the game’s HDR implementation.
- 1440p support on PS5 should be verified with Test 1440p Output on the current console software.
- PS5 Pro 8K output has separate requirements and disables VRR, making it unsuitable for this 4K smoothness configuration.
- No universal cross-game frame-rate, latency, or stutter percentage applies; official platform guidance does not publish one.
Final configuration checklist
- Console connected directly to a labeled 4K/120 Hz, HDMI 2.1, or VRR input.
- Certified Ultra High Speed HDMI cable installed.
- Display firmware current and enhanced HDMI mode enabled.
- Game mode or ALLM active; motion interpolation and cinema processing off.
- PS5: Resolution Automatic, VRR Automatic, 120 Hz Output Automatic, HDR On When Supported, Video Transfer Rate Automatic.
- Xbox: 4K TV details verified, supported resolution and refresh selected, HDR10/Auto HDR/VRR enabled only when reported as supported.
- HDR calibration completed on the actual display.
- Game-specific performance or 120 Hz mode selected where available.
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