Performance mode usually favors smoother motion and a higher frame-rate target; fidelity mode usually favors resolution or visual detail. Neither label guarantees a particular frame rate or resolution. VRR is a separate display feature: it adjusts a compatible screen’s refresh timing to follow changing game output, which can reduce tearing or uneven presentation without creating frames or guaranteeing that every stutter disappears.
Frame rate, refresh rate, and resolution are different things
Frame rate is how many images the game produces each 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 screen, for example, can refresh 144 times per second; that does not mean a game is producing 144 fps. Sony explains these measures in its VRR and display guidance.
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Resolution describes image detail in terms of pixel dimensions. A game can render at one resolution while the console sends a signal at another, so output resolution alone does not necessarily tell you the game’s internal rendering resolution. When a game or publisher specifies only one of these values, do not assume it establishes the other.
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What performance and fidelity modes change
These are broad labels, not industry-wide specifications. Performance modes commonly prioritize a higher frame-rate target; fidelity or resolution modes commonly allocate more of the rendering budget to resolution or visual features. A game may also adjust shadows, ray tracing, view distance, or other settings. The actual tradeoff depends on the game, console, and chosen mode.
Example: The Elder Scrolls Online
Bethesda/ZeniMax Media’s 2021 breakdown for The Elder Scrolls Online: Console Enhanced shows why mode figures must be tied to a specific console:
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| 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 |
For Series S, Bethesda also reports that some visual settings were lowered to sustain 60 FPS. These are specifications for this game and its 2021 Console Enhanced release, not promises about other games or every console title. See Bethesda’s ESO Console Enhanced mode details.
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- Try performance first if you prefer smoother motion or are playing fast action; check the game’s actual target and behavior rather than relying on the label.
- Try fidelity if you prefer greater image detail or visual effects and accept the mode’s frame-rate tradeoff.
- Compare more than resolution: visual effects and other settings may change too.
- Use the game’s own description when it gives specific targets. Do not assume “fidelity” always means 30 fps or “performance” always means 60 fps.
What VRR does—and what it does not do
Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) lets a compatible display adjust its refresh rate in response to the frame rate of the video source. Sony describes it as a way to reduce stuttering or tearing and present the source more smoothly. In practical terms, VRR can help the display follow irregular frame delivery instead of refreshing only on a fixed schedule.
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VRR is not a performance boost by itself: it does not generate frames, raise a game’s base frame rate, or guarantee a locked rate. Sony Interactive Entertainment says that PS5 VRR dynamically synchronizes a compatible display to the console’s graphical output to minimize or eliminate frame-pacing issues and tearing, but results vary with the TV, game, and selected visual mode. Read the PlayStation VRR announcement for that qualification.
VRR, 120 Hz, and game-specific behavior
A 120 Hz display may matter even if a game does not simply target 120 fps: some titles have modes designed for a 120 Hz input. Insomniac Games says that, in its PS5 titles with current game and system updates, enabling 120 Hz Display Mode with VRR on a 120 Hz-capable TV can allow variable, uncapped frame rates to exceed the selected Graphics Mode’s 30 or 60 fps target by 50% or more, depending on gameplay. That is a studio-specific description of its titles, not a general VRR result for all games. See Insomniac’s VRR support explanation.
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A title’s 120 Hz mode, VRR implementation, and frame-rate behavior are separate from the display’s capabilities. Check the game’s support information as well as the console and screen specifications.
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What you need for 120 Hz or VRR
Compatibility depends on the whole signal path, not just a “4K” label on a TV. Confirm the console and game support the feature, then check the display model, the HDMI input you use, its signal-format setting, and the cable. TV ports can differ, and supported formats vary by model and region. Sony’s TV setup guide explains that a port labeled for 4K/120 Hz or VRR and the appropriate HDMI signal format may be required.
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- Check the game and console. Confirm the specific title supports the mode or feature you want. A console’s ability to output a signal does not mean every game uses it.
- Check the display and HDMI input. Consult the exact TV or monitor manual for 120 Hz and VRR support on the port you plan to use; do not assume every port has the same capabilities.
- Set the input’s signal format. Use the format and input recommended in the display’s documentation. Menu names and available options vary by model and region.
- Use a suitable cable. For a console supporting 4K/120 Hz, Sony recommends an Ultra High Speed HDMI cable. PS5’s FAQ says an Ultra High Speed-compatible HDMI cable is included with the console, so check the supplied cable before buying another. See the PS5 FAQ and specifications.
- Enable the relevant options. Turn on VRR for the display input if required, then enable the console or game’s 120 Hz or VRR option where available. The exact controls depend on the products involved.
If the expected option is missing, first verify the selected HDMI input and its signal-format setting against the display manual, then check the cable and the game’s documented support. A resolution setting alone does not establish that the input is running at 120 Hz or that VRR is active.
Quick Recap
How to compare a game’s modes
- Frame-rate target and stability: identify the stated target and whether the game describes it as locked, variable, or uncapped. A target is not by itself proof of actual performance in every scene.
- Rendering and output resolution: distinguish internal rendering resolution from the signal sent to the display when the game documentation makes that distinction.
- Visual settings: check for changes to effects, shadows, ray tracing, textures, or view distance, not just resolution.
- Display requirements: confirm the mode’s needs across the game, console, display, active input, settings, and cable.
- Your preference: decide whether smoother motion or image detail matters more for that game; mode names alone cannot make that choice for you.
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