For a strong starting point, leave PS5 resolution on Automatic, enable 120 Hz Output and VRR only when your display supports them, and set HDR to On When Supported. These console settings control the signal sent to your screen; each game’s own Fidelity, Quality, or Performance mode controls its rendering tradeoff. No single console setting forces every game to a particular resolution or frame rate.
Start with the right PS5 console settings
Open Settings > Screen and Video > Video Output to adjust the console’s output. Sony’s PS5 resolution and video output guide explains the available settings and compatibility checks.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
| Setting | Recommended starting point | What it does and when to change it |
|---|---|---|
| Resolution | Automatic | The PS5 detects the connected display’s capabilities and selects the best available resolution. Choose a fixed resolution only to troubleshoot or meet a specific display need. |
| 120 Hz Output | Automatic/on when supported | Allows 120 Hz output when both the display and game support the mode. It does not make every game run at 120 frames per second. |
| VRR | Automatic/on when supported | Variable Refresh Rate synchronizes the display refresh with the console’s output and can reduce screen tearing and frame-pacing issues. The result depends on the display, game, and selected visual mode. If “Apply to Unsupported Games” causes unexpected behavior, turn that option off. |
| ALLM | Leave enabled when supported | On compatible TVs, Auto Low Latency Mode switches the TV to a lower-latency gaming mode. Sony notes VRR output can trigger this behavior even when ALLM is Off; to fully turn ALLM off, VRR must also be off. |
| HDR | On When Supported | HDR games and apps use HDR output while non-HDR games and apps remain in SDR. “Always On” converts SDR content to HDR output instead. Use Adjust HDR to calibrate brightness for your screen. |
| Video Transfer Rate | Automatic | Keep Auto for normal use. If the screen flickers, try -1 or -2; either option limits some high-bandwidth output formats, so use them as troubleshooting settings. |
| RGB Range | Leave unchanged | Change it only if the HDMI device reports the range incorrectly; Sony recommends leaving it alone otherwise. |
Check your display before enabling high-refresh features
120 Hz Output and VRR are useful only when the connected display and game support the intended mode. Sony’s VRR announcement describes VRR as synchronizing a compatible display’s refresh rate to the PS5’s graphical output, while warning that results vary by TV, game, and selected visual mode. A 120 Hz setting is permission for compatible output, not a promise that every game renders at 120 frames per second.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
For a 1440p monitor, use Settings > Screen and Video > Video Output > Test 1440p Output to check the actual display. Sony says this test checks SDR and HDR at 60 Hz and 120 Hz, as well as VRR. Its 2023 update announced VRR support at 1440p with compatible HDMI 2.1 displays and games; see the PS5 system software update announcement.
#1 Best Overall
- Heighten Your Senses. Discover Deeper, highly immersive gaming experiences.
- Feel your in-game actions and environment simulated through haptic feedback
- Chat online through the built-in microphone or connect a headset directly via the 3.5mm jack
- Play on more devices Connect using a USB Type-C cable or Bluetooth wireless technology so you can easily play on more devices including Windows PC and Mac computers, Android and iOS mobile phones.
- Elevate PC gaming with advanced features like haptic feedback and adaptive triggers in a range titles
Some options are specific to newer hardware. Sony documents 8K output and Enhance PSSR Image Quality for the CFI-7000 model group, not as universal settings for every PS5. 8K requires an 8K/60 Hz display with DSC and compatible games. Check the official video output guide for model-specific details.
Choose the game’s graphics mode for the experience you want
When a game offers Fidelity or Quality and Performance modes, read the descriptions in that game’s settings. The game—not the console’s resolution setting—determines how its modes balance rendering resolution, frame-rate target, detail, and effects. Mode names are not standardized, so a label alone does not establish exact output or frame rate.
Rank #2
- Haptic feedback - Feel physically responsive feedback to your in-game actions with dual actuators which replace traditional rumble motors. In your hands, these dynamic vibrations can simulate the feeling of everything from environments to the recoil of different weapons. .Operating temperature : 41 °F to 95 °F (5 °C to 35 °C)
- Adaptive triggers - Experience varying levels of force and tension as you interact with your in-game gear and environments. From pulling back an increasingly tight bowstring to hitting the brakes on a speeding car, feel physically connected to your on-screen actions.
- Built-in microphone and headset jack - Chat with friends online using the built-in microphone or by connecting a headset to the 3.5mm jack. Easily switch voice capture on and off at a moment’s notice with the dedicated mute button. Internet and account for PlayStation Network required.
- DualSense Controller PS5 and PC compatible. Not compatible with PS4.
- PS Remote Play requires Remote Play App connected to Wi-Fi, PS4 or PS5 console with the latest system software and compatible game. A PS4 or PS5 console with a wired connection via a LAN cable is recommended. Version 4.0 of the Remote Play App on iOS and iPadOS or version 4.1 on macOS is required for games to be playable with the controller over Bluetooth.
- Favor image detail: choose the mode whose description prioritizes visual detail or effects if you prefer that presentation and accept its stated performance tradeoff.
- Favor responsiveness or smoother motion: choose the mode whose description prioritizes performance or a higher frame rate, if that is what matters more for the game.
- Check requirements for 120 Hz or VRR modes: the display, PS5 output, and game must all support the required feature. VRR behavior can also differ between a game’s visual modes.
There is no universal “best” mode: use the actual tradeoff listed by the title and choose according to whether image detail or performance matters more to you.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Troubleshoot a blank screen, flicker, or unexpected output
If the image is blank, the console unexpectedly outputs 1080p, or 4K/120 Hz does not work, check the complete signal path rather than assuming one PS5 setting is responsible. Sony notes that 4K/120 Hz can encounter compatibility issues as the technology transitions across the market; an HDMI 2.1 label alone does not guarantee that a particular port, cable, firmware, and game combination will work.
Rank #3
- Bring gaming worlds to life - Feel your in-game actions and environment simulated through haptic feedback*. Experience varying force and tension at your fingertips with adaptive triggers*
- Find your voice, share your passion - Chat online through the built-in microphone. Connect a headset directly via the 3.5mm jack. Record and broadcast your epic gaming moments with the create button
- A gaming icon in your hands - Enjoy a comfortable, evolved design with an iconic layout and enhanced sticks. Hear higher-fidelity** sound effects through the built-in speaker in supported games
- Multi-device connectivity - Connect using a USB Type-C cable or Bluetooth technology and easily play on more devices including Windows PC and Mac computers.
- Elevate PC gaming with advanced features like haptic feedback and adaptive triggers in a range of blockbuster PC titles.
- Confirm display capability: verify that the exact TV or monitor and the HDMI port in use support the resolution and refresh rate you want. Some TVs require enabling a setting for that port.
- Update the TV firmware: install available firmware updates, then check the manufacturer’s instructions for enabling high-bandwidth or 4K/120 Hz input on the chosen port.
- Check the cable and connection: try the supplied PS5 cable first, or a suitable Ultra High Speed HDMI cable. Connect directly to the appropriate TV port rather than assuming an intermediary device supports the same signal.
- Review PS5 output settings: check Resolution and Video Transfer Rate under Settings > Screen and Video > Video Output. Return Video Transfer Rate to Auto unless you are testing a flicker fix.
- If 4K flickers: try Video Transfer Rate -1, then -2 if needed. These settings may resolve flicker by limiting some output formats, so check whether the display still receives the features you want.
For further compatibility checks, consult Sony’s 4K resolution and video output troubleshooting guide.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Enjoy precise, comfortable control over 10,000+ supported Steam games.
- Easily pair the controller directly to your Windows PC via Bluetooth or play as you charge with the included USB Type-C cable
- Stay paired with up to four different Bluetooth devices, making it easy to enjoy the controller across Windows PC, Mac, PS5 consoles and smartphones. Discover more connection tips and tricks at playstation.com/pair-dualsense
- Access the latest available controller firmware directly from your PC with the free-todownload PlayStation Accessories app
- Play games streamed from your PS5 or PS4 console to your PC via the PS Remote Play App
Rank #4
- Ultra Customizable Controls
- Mappable Back Buttons
- DualSense Wireless Controller Features Built In
- Replaceable Stick Modules and Caps
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
