The Tool Desk
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Recommended PS5 video settings at a glance
Set the console globally first, then make the final choice in the remaster’s own graphics menu. The table below separates settings the PS5 can control from features that depend on the television, HDMI connection, and individual title.
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| PS5 setting | Recommended value | When to change it |
|---|---|---|
| Resolution | Automatic; use 2160p when a 4K display is confirmed | Use Automatic if you are unsure what the display supports. |
| Video Transfer Rate | Auto | If the picture flickers, try -1, then -2. |
| HDR | On When Supported | Use Always On only if you deliberately want SDR games and apps converted to HDR. |
| VRR | On when the display and title support it | Turn off Apply to Unsupported Games if a game behaves unexpectedly. |
| 120 Hz Output | On when the display and title support 120 Hz | Turn it off if the display loses signal or produces other output problems. |
| ALLM | Enabled when supported | Leave it enabled so the TV can switch to its low-latency mode. |
| Game Presets | Choose in-game graphics mode for each remaster | PS5 presets are intended for PS5 games and may not control remastered PS4 software. |
Sony describes Automatic resolution as detecting the TV’s capabilities and selecting the best available resolution. That does not guarantee that every remaster renders at native 4K; the game’s mode, dynamic resolution, and performance targets determine the image you actually see.
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1. Choose the highest compatible resolution
- Open Settings from the PS5 home screen.
- Go to Screen and Video > Video Output > Resolution.
- Select Automatic. If you have verified that the connected screen is 4K-capable and want to select the target explicitly, choose 2160p.
Automatic is the safer choice when the PS5 passes through an AV receiver, capture device, or switch, because the console will negotiate with the equipment in the signal path. During troubleshooting, connect the console directly to the TV so that an intermediate device cannot report misleading capabilities.
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2. Leave Video Transfer Rate on Auto
- From Settings, open Screen and Video > Video Output.
- Set 4K Video Transfer Rate (shown as Video Transfer Rate on some software versions) to Automatic.
- If the screen flickers, drops out, or repeatedly renegotiates the signal, test -1. If necessary, test -2.
The negative values limit some 4K/120 Hz and RGB output combinations. They are troubleshooting compromises, not image-quality upgrades: use them only when Auto is unstable.
HDR: use On When Supported by default
Set Settings > Screen and Video > Video Output > HDR to On When Supported. This lets HDR-enabled games and video use HDR while non-HDR software remains in its native format.
Why Always On is not the universal best choice
Always On converts non-HDR games and apps to HDR output. Some players prefer that look, but the conversion is not the same as content authored for HDR. It can also make a television switch picture modes more often. Choose Always On only when you intentionally want that conversion and have checked the result on your display.
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Calibrate the console and check the TV
- Open Settings > Screen and Video > Video Output > Adjust HDR.
- Follow the three calibration screens in the room and picture mode you normally use for gaming.
- Confirm that the TV’s own HDR mode is active when an HDR signal arrives. Some televisions have a separate HDR picture preset or input setting.
- Test an HDR-enabled remaster and an SDR title. If only one is wrong, the issue may be the title’s implementation rather than the PS5’s global setting.
HDR depends on both the display and HDR-enabled content. A TV can accept an HDR signal without producing the same brightness, contrast, or tone mapping as another model, so do not judge the console setting from a single game alone.
VRR, 120 Hz, and ALLM: enable them conditionally
Variable Refresh Rate (VRR)
Turn on Settings > Screen and Video > Video Output > VRR when the TV or monitor supports VRR and the remaster supports it. VRR synchronizes the display’s refresh timing with changing frame output, which can make uneven motion appear steadier within the supported range.
The PS5 also offers Apply to Unsupported Games. It can improve perceived stability in some software, but Sony advises turning it off if you see unexpected behavior. A title that was not designed or tested for VRR may show flicker, altered frame pacing, or other artifacts; compare the game with the option off before keeping it enabled.
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120 Hz Output
Enable 120 Hz Output when both the display and the game support a 120 Hz mode. Sony defines this setting as enabling 120 Hz video output for compatible TVs and games. It does not force every remaster to run at 120 frames per second, and it cannot create a 120 Hz mode that the title does not provide.
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Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM)
Leave ALLM enabled when your TV supports it. ALLM allows the TV to switch automatically to a low-latency picture mode when gaming. Sony notes that VRR can trigger ALLM automatically on supported equipment, so the TV may change modes when VRR is engaged rather than when you manually alter a PS5 option.
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Choose Performance or Quality inside the remaster
A remastered PS4 game can expose its own graphics modes even though the PS5 is running it. Typical labels are Performance, Quality, or Resolution, but labels and implementation differ by title. Select the option in the game’s graphics or display menu, then restart the game if it requests one.
| Decision factor | Performance mode | Quality/Resolution mode |
|---|---|---|
| Motion | Usually targets smoother and more consistent frame delivery. | May accept a lower or less consistent frame rate for extra detail. |
| Rendering resolution | May reduce resolution or visual effects to meet its frame-rate target. | Usually prioritizes higher resolution, denser effects, or longer visual distances. |
| HDR presentation | HDR behavior is title-specific; the mode label does not establish a different HDR standard. | HDR behavior is title-specific; inspect the game’s own description or compare scenes. |
| VRR and 120 Hz | Can be the better match for a high-refresh display if the title supports those modes. | May target a lower refresh rate; compatibility must be checked per game. |
| Best choice | Choose it for camera movement, action, and a preference for fluid response. | Choose it for slower exploration, image detail, or a display that is limited to 60 Hz. |
There is no universal winner. The exact resolution, frame-rate target, reconstruction method, effects, and VRR behavior are title-specific. If a game provides a mode description, treat that description as more authoritative than the generic Performance or Quality label.
How to compare two modes fairly
- Use the same display picture mode and HDR state for both options.
- Visit a scene with fine geometry, distant objects, text, and camera movement.
- Check whether motion remains consistent during traversal and combat, not just in a static view.
- Compare small text, foliage, shadows, and specular highlights at your normal seating distance.
- If VRR is available, test once with it on and once with it off so you can tell whether it is masking frame-time changes.
Do not infer a mode’s actual frame rate from the menu name. The official material does not establish a cross-game percentage improvement or a universal frame-rate figure for remastered PS4 titles.
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PS5 Pro: Enhance Image Quality for PS4 Games
On PS5 Pro consoles in the CFI-7000 model group, enable Enhance Image Quality for PS4 Games to try higher video quality in compatible PS4 software. Sony says the option is intended to provide higher video quality for some PS4 games.
Requirements and limits
- The setting is available only on PS5 Pro consoles in the CFI-7000 model group; it is not available on other PS5 model groups.
- Your display must be 4K or 1440p.
- Compatibility is software-dependent, so the setting will not improve every PS4 game or every remaster in the same way.
- Turn it off if a title shows unexpected behavior, then retest the game with its normal settings.
Find the option in the PS5 system settings for PS4 game enhancement and enable it before launching the compatible software. Treat it as an additional image-quality experiment, not a replacement for the remaster’s own Performance or Quality selector.
Do you need HDMI 2.1 for 4K at 120 Hz?
For a reliable 4K/120 Hz connection, the TV or monitor must advertise that mode on the HDMI input you use, and the complete signal path must support it. In practice, this normally means using the display’s HDMI 2.1 port and a cable rated for the required bandwidth. A display can have HDMI 2.1 on one input but not another, so check the port label and its specifications.
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Cable and connection checklist
- Use the cable included with the PS5 or an Ultra-High-Speed HDMI Cable rated for 4K/120 Hz.
- Connect the PS5 directly to the TV while diagnosing the setup. Bypass an AV receiver, soundbar switch, or HDMI switch box until the signal is stable.
- Use the TV input specifically documented for HDMI 2.1 or 4K/120 Hz.
- Update the TV firmware and PS5 system software.
- After changing hardware, return to Resolution: Automatic (or 2160p on a verified 4K display) and Video Transfer Rate: Auto, then retest.
HDMI 2.1 is not a guarantee that a particular remaster offers a 120 Hz mode. It is a connection capability; the game, console setting, and display must all support the desired output.
Troubleshoot flicker, black screens, and incorrect HDR
The image flickers or drops out
- Set Video Transfer Rate to Auto, then test -1 and -2 if flicker continues.
- Disable 120 Hz Output temporarily and retest at 60 Hz.
- Turn VRR off temporarily, including Apply to Unsupported Games, to isolate a compatibility issue.
- Connect the PS5 directly to the TV with the included cable or a certified Ultra-High-Speed HDMI Cable.
- Try the display’s documented HDMI 2.1 input and update its firmware.
The PS5 does not offer 4K/120 Hz
- Confirm the TV or monitor supports 4K/120 Hz rather than only 4K/60 Hz.
- Check whether that capability is restricted to one HDMI port.
- Remove receivers and switch boxes from the path.
- Verify the cable rating and set Resolution to Automatic.
- Turn on 120 Hz Output only after the display reports a compatible signal.
HDR looks washed out, too dark, or never activates
- Set HDR to On When Supported.
- Run Settings > Screen and Video > Video Output > Adjust HDR again.
- Check that the TV has entered its HDR picture mode for the active input.
- Test a title known to provide HDR and compare it with an SDR title.
- If the problem occurs only in one remaster, inspect that game’s display options and patch status before changing the console globally.
A game behaves badly with VRR or PS5 Pro enhancement
Disable the specific feature, fully close and relaunch the game, and compare the same scene. If the behavior disappears, leave that option off for the title. A conditional feature is useful only when the display and software handle it correctly.
A practical setup order for a new display
- Connect the PS5 directly to the display using the included cable or an Ultra-High-Speed HDMI Cable.
- Install current firmware for the TV or monitor and the PS5.
- Open Settings > Screen and Video > Video Output and set Resolution to Automatic, Video Transfer Rate to Auto, and HDR to On When Supported.
- Run Adjust HDR while the TV is in its normal gaming picture mode.
- Enable VRR, 120 Hz Output, and ALLM only after confirming that the display and its selected HDMI port support them.
- Launch the remaster and select Performance or Quality/Resolution in the game’s own menu.
- Compare a representative moving scene and a detailed static scene, keeping the mode that suits your display and preference.
This order prevents a game-level choice from being confused with a cable, port, or display-handshake problem.
Quick Recap
What these settings can and cannot change
- The PS5 can negotiate an output resolution, HDR state, refresh rate, VRR behavior, and low-latency signaling.
- The display, cable, HDMI port, and any receiver or switch in the path determine whether that signal can actually pass.
- The remaster determines its rendering resolution, effects, frame-rate target, and whether Performance, Quality, VRR, or 120 Hz modes exist.
- PS5 Game Presets do not universally control remastered PS4 games because Sony specifies those presets for PS5 games.
- PS5 Pro image enhancement is limited to the CFI-7000 model group, compatible PS4 software, and 4K or 1440p displays.
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