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PS5 Graphics Settings Explained: Resolution, Frame Rate, and Ray Tracing

PS5 output resolution and a game’s graphics mode are separate settings. Learn what Performance, Quality, ray tracing, FPS, VRR, and 4K 120Hz mean.
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PS5 graphics settings involve two different controls: the console’s video-output resolution determines the signal sent to your TV, while a game’s Performance, Quality, or Graphics mode determines how that game renders its image and effects. Performance modes generally prioritize smoother motion; fidelity modes may prioritize detail and effects. The exact resolution, frame-rate target, ray tracing, and display requirements depend on the game—not just the mode name.

What do the PS5 graphics settings do?

Think of the picture as having two stages. The PS5 sends a video signal to the screen at a chosen output resolution, such as 2160p (4K). A game separately chooses its rendering resolution and visual settings. It may render below the output resolution and upscale the image, so a 4K signal does not prove that every frame was rendered natively at 4K.

To inspect or change the console’s output, go to Settings > Screen and Video > Video Output. Sony says Resolution set to Automatic selects the highest resolution supported by the connected TV. This page also reports connected HDMI device details, including resolution, VRR, and HDR. A compatible 4K screen and a 2160p output setting are needed for 4K output. Sony’s PS5 4K resolution guide explains the available output settings.

A separate preference is available at Settings > Saved Data and Game/App Settings > Game Presets. Sony describes Performance Mode as prioritizing smoother motion and Resolution Mode as prioritizing higher graphics quality. This preference affects PS5 games that offer corresponding modes; it is not a universal graphics switch, and some games may not apply every preset. Sony’s Game Presets guide describes the setting.

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Should you use Performance Mode or Resolution Mode?

Choose based on what matters more in the particular game. A higher frame rate usually makes movement and input feel smoother; a fidelity mode may deliver more detail or visual effects, sometimes at a lower frame rate. Neither label promises the same resolution or performance across different games. Compare the actual mode descriptions and, where available, the game’s stated targets.

  • Favor Performance if responsive movement and smoother motion matter most, especially in fast-paced action.
  • Favor Quality, Resolution, or Graphics if you prefer the image or effects offered by that game’s fidelity option and accept its frame-rate trade-off.
  • Compare Balanced modes carefully: a game may require a 120 Hz-compatible display to offer a 40 fps option.

For a concrete example, Remedy said Control Ultimate Edition on PS5 offers a Performance mode targeting 60 FPS and a Graphics mode running at 30 FPS with ray-tracing effects. Both render at 1440p and upscale to 4K. Remedy noted that ray-traced reflections are particularly visible on reflective surfaces and glass. Those details describe this game, not a standard for PS5 titles generally. Remedy’s Control Ultimate Edition mode description provides the figures.

What is the difference between 60 fps and 30 fps on PS5?

FPS, or frames per second, describes how many image frames a game aims to display each second. At 60 fps, the game can present twice as many frames per second as at 30 fps, which generally makes motion look smoother and controls feel more immediate. A 30 fps mode can still be a deliberate choice when it allocates more performance to resolution or effects. A target is not a guarantee that a game will hold that rate in every scene.

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Do not assume every PS5 game’s 60 fps mode uses 1440p or that every 30 fps mode uses 4K. Remedy’s 2026 description of Control Resonant illustrates why: on base PS5, Performance targets 60 fps at 1440p and Quality targets 30 fps at 2160p. On PS5 Pro, Performance targets 60 fps at 2160p; Quality targets 30 fps at 2160p with ray tracing; and Balanced targets 40 fps at 2160p with ray tracing, requiring a 120 Hz-compatible display. These are the developer’s targets for this title, not universal console behavior. Remedy’s Control Resonant graphics-mode details give the platform-specific options.

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Does ray tracing lower FPS on PS5?

Ray tracing is a rendering technique used for effects such as reflections, shadows, and lighting. It does not define one fixed graphics mode or frame rate. Because it takes processing resources, a game may pair ray tracing with a lower frame-rate target, restrict it to selected effects, or make it available only on certain hardware or in certain modes. The trade-off is title-specific.

Control Ultimate Edition is one example: its PS5 Graphics mode runs at 30 FPS with ray-tracing effects, while Performance targets 60 FPS without the described ray-tracing feature. By contrast, Remedy’s Control Resonant description lists ray tracing in PS5 Pro Quality and Balanced modes, with targets of 30 fps and 40 fps respectively. These examples show why checking a game’s own mode details is more useful than treating “ray tracing” as a universal FPS setting.

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CD Projekt Red’s April 2026 description of the Cyberpunk 2077 PS5 Pro update is another game-specific illustration. Ray Tracing Pro includes ray-traced reflections, ambient occlusion, skylight, shadows, and emissive lighting. The developer says it targets 40 fps on VRR-enabled high-frame-rate displays or 30 fps otherwise. The game’s Ray Tracing mode includes selected ray-traced effects and targets 60 fps; Performance can reach up to 90 fps on VRR displays. These figures apply to the PS5 Pro version and the stated display conditions, not base PS5 or other games. CD Projekt Red’s Cyberpunk 2077 news page is the source for the update details.

How do you get 4K 120Hz on PS5?

4K describes resolution; 120 Hz describes how often a display can refresh each second. Getting both requires compatible console, game, display, and connection settings. A game must support the relevant high-frame-rate output, and the TV or monitor must support 4K at 120 Hz on the HDMI input being used.

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  1. Check the TV or monitor specifications and use an HDMI port that supports 4K 120 Hz. Some TVs require enabling a specific enhanced-format setting for that port.
  2. Connect the PS5 directly to that display while troubleshooting. An AV receiver, soundbar, or other intermediary can limit the signal if it does not support the required format.
  3. On PS5, open Settings > Screen and Video > Video Output. Set Resolution to Automatic or 2160p, and set Video Transfer Rate to Automatic.
  4. Enable the PS5’s 120 Hz Output option, and use a game that supports a 120 Hz mode. Check the game’s own settings as well; not every title provides one.
  5. Install current firmware for the TV and PS5, then check the Video Output information page to see the detected HDMI capabilities.

Sony recommends the PS5’s included HDMI cable or an Ultra High-Speed HDMI Cable rated for 4K 120 Hz. Replacing a cable is only relevant if the cable in the connection path cannot carry the required signal; it cannot make a non-compatible TV, port, receiver, or game support 4K 120 Hz. Sony also notes that compatibility issues may occur as support for the format expands across the market. See Sony’s troubleshooting guidance for PS5 4K output.

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What are VRR and ALLM?

Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) adjusts a compatible display’s refresh rate in real time to match supported game output. It can help smooth presentation when frame delivery varies, but it requires support from both the display and the game, and the result depends on the TV. Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM) lets a supported TV switch to a lower-latency display mode. Sony notes that if VRR output is active, the PS5 can continue switching to low-latency mode even when ALLM is set to Off. The same Sony Video Output guide covers these options.

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What do PSSR and QSSR mean for PS5 image quality?

Upscaling is one reason output resolution and internal rendering resolution are not interchangeable. Sony describes PSSR as an AI library that analyzes each frame as it upscales game visuals; it is a PS5 Pro technology, and the exact implementation depends on supported games. Sony’s PSSR technical presentation describes the feature.

On October 1, 2026, Sony announced QSSR for PS5 and named Marvel’s Wolverine and Ghost of Yōtei as its initial games. Sony’s announcement says QSSR improves image detail and stability on PS5, while describing PSSR as the higher-end option on PS5 Pro. Support is game- and version-specific, so check a game’s current update notes and settings rather than assuming either upscaler is available in every title. Sony’s QSSR announcement is dated October 1, 2026.

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How to compare two modes in the same game

When a game offers several modes, compare the details that change rather than relying on labels alone:

  • Frame rate: note the target and whether the mode requires VRR or a 120 Hz display.
  • Resolution path: distinguish the stated render resolution from the console’s output resolution and any upscaling.
  • Effects: check whether reflections, lighting, shadows, or other ray-traced effects are added or reduced.
  • Your preference: choose the experience you value in that game—smoother motion, added visual effects, or a balance between them.

There is no cross-game benchmark establishing one resolution or FPS result for each PS5 mode name. The developer descriptions above are useful comparisons precisely because they are tied to named games, platforms, and conditions.

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