So you just got a PS5 and heard about this magical 120fps mode? Trust me, I was skeptical too until I tried Call of Duty: Warzone at 120fps. The difference is night and day – movements become buttery smooth, aiming feels more responsive, and you'll wonder how you ever played at 60fps. But here's the kicker: getting 120fps on PS5 isn't as simple as flipping a switch. After helping dozens of friends set this up (and messing up my own setup twice), I've got all the insider tricks.
Why Bother With 120 FPS Anyway?
Let's get real: not everyone notices frame rate differences. My buddy Dave claims he can't tell between 30fps and 60fps (bless his heart). But 120fps? That's different. When your screen updates 120 times per second instead of 60:
- Fast-paced games like Rocket League become significantly easier to track
- Input lag drops by 50% - crucial for competitive shooters
- Panning cameras won't make you motion sick
The catch? You need the right gear and settings. Saw so many frustrated Reddit posts from people who bought expensive monitors only to discover they couldn't hit 120fps on PS5 due to one stupid setting.
Essential Hardware Checklist
First things first: your TV/monitor makes or breaks everything. Learned this the hard way when I tried using my old 4K TV that "supported" 120Hz. Spoiler: it didn't actually work.
Display Requirements
Your display MUST have:
- HDMI 2.1 port (for 4K@120Hz) OR HDMI 2.0 (for 1080p@120Hz)
- Native 120Hz refresh rate (check specs - "motion rate" doesn't count!)
- Game Mode or equivalent low-latency setting
| Display Type | Minimum Requirement | My Recommendation |
|---|---|---|
| 4K Resolution | HDMI 2.1 port | LG C2/C3 OLED or Samsung QN90B |
| 1080p Resolution | HDMI 2.0 port | ASUS VG279QM or LG 27GL650F |
| VRR (Variable Refresh) | HDMI 2.1 + PS5 VRR enabled | Essential for stable frames |
Pro Tip: That bundled PS5 HDMI cable? Surprisingly good. But if you need longer than 2m, get a certified 48Gbps Ultra High Speed HDMI cable. Generic cables often fail at 120Hz.
HDMI Bandwidth Demystified
Resolution dictates what cable you need:
- 4K@120Hz: Requires HDMI 2.1 (bandwidth hog!)
- 1440p@120Hz: Works with HDMI 2.0 or 2.1 (PS5 added 1440p support in 2022)
- 1080p@120Hz: HDMI 2.0 is sufficient
Frankly, 1440p is the sweet spot if you're monitor gaming. When I switched to a 27" 1440p monitor, the frame rate consistency improved dramatically compared to my 4K TV.
PS5 Settings You MUST Configure
This is where most people screw up. Even with perfect hardware, your PS5 might be limiting you.
Step-by-Step Setup
- Go to Settings > Screen and Video
- Select Video Output
- Set Enable 120Hz Output to Automatic
- Set Enable VRR to Automatic (if display supports it)
- Choose Performance Mode in Game Presets
Quick rant: Why is Performance Mode buried three menus deep? Sony should make this more obvious.
Warning: If "Enable 120Hz Output" is grayed out, your display doesn't support it. No way around this - upgrade time.
Game-Specific Settings
Here's where things get messy. Some games auto-detect 120fps capability, others require manual toggling:
| Game Title | 120fps Setting Location | Performance Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Call of Duty: Warzone | Graphics > Refresh Rate > 120Hz | Runs at 1080p-1440p dynamic |
| Fortnite | Settings > Video > 120 FPS Mode | Needs Performance Mode enabled globally |
| Rocket League | Auto-enables if supported | Buttery smooth at 120fps |
| Destiny 2 | Requires 120Hz mode in Crucible only | PvE still capped at 60fps |
Weirdest implementation? Spider-Man: Miles Morales. To get 120fps, you must toggle "Fidelity" mode OFF and enable "Performance RT". Makes zero sense naming-wise.
Game Compatibility: Know Before You Download
Not every game supports 120fps. After testing 50+ titles, here's the reality:
- Competitive multiplayer games most likely support it
- Cinematic single-player games often prioritize resolution
- PS4 backwards compatible games rarely support it
| Game Title | Resolution at 120fps | Setup Complexity |
|---|---|---|
| Warzone 2.0 | 1080p-1440p dynamic | Medium (in-game toggle) |
| Apex Legends | 1440p | Easy (auto-detects) |
| Dirt 5 | 1200p dynamic | Hard (requires specific mode) |
| DOOM Eternal | 1800p dynamic | Medium (graphics menu) |
Performance Tip: Enable VRR (Variable Refresh Rate) in PS5 settings if your display supports it. Eliminates screen tearing when frame rates dip below 120fps.
Why Isn't My 120fps Working? Troubleshooting Guide
Spent 3 hours last Christmas trying to get this working on my nephew's setup. Here's what we learned:
Common Issues & Fixes
- No 120Hz option in game
- Check PS5's "Enable 120Hz Output" is set to Automatic
- Ensure display's Game Mode is enabled (reduces latency)
- Screen goes black periodically
- Usually bad HDMI cable - replace with certified 48Gbps cable
- Try disabling HDR temporarily
- Resolution drops drastically
- Normal - most games lower resolution to hit 120fps
- Switch to 1440p output for better balance (if supported)
Most frustrating issue? Some TVs (especially older Samsungs) require you to enable "HDMI UHD Color" or "Enhanced Format" per port. Miss this and 120Hz stays disabled.
1080p vs 1440p vs 4K: The Frame Rate Trade-off
Let's be honest: 4K@120fps is unrealistic for most games. Here's what to expect:
| Target Resolution | Realistic Frame Rate | Visual Quality |
|---|---|---|
| Native 4K | 30-60fps | Crisp but sluggish |
| Dynamic 4K (upscaled) | 60-90fps | Good balance |
| 1440p | 90-120fps | My personal sweet spot |
| 1080p | Solid 120fps | Smooth but soft image |
When I play competitive shooters, I always choose 120fps mode even at 1080p. That responsiveness edge matters more than extra pixels. For cinematic games? I'll take the 4K/40fps modes every time.
Answering Your Burning Questions
Based on hundreds of forum discussions and my own experiments:
Does PS5 support 1440p?
Yes! Added in September 2022 update. Huge for monitor users. Enable it under Settings > Screen and Video > Video Output > Resolution.
Can you get 120fps without HDMI 2.1?
Absolutely. At 1080p or 1440p, HDMI 2.0 works fine. Only 4K@120Hz requires HDMI 2.1.
Do all games support 120fps?
Nope. Developers must implement it. Check the game's graphics menu for options like "High Frame Rate Mode".
Why does my resolution drop in 120fps mode?
PS5 isn't powerful enough for native 4K@120fps in demanding games. Developers lower resolution to hit frame target. Smart trade-off IMO.
Is there input lag difference?
Massive. At 120fps, input lag drops from ~50ms to ~20ms. You'll feel the difference instantly in shooters.
Optimizing Your Setup
Extra steps I've found boost performance:
- Disable HDR if you're competitive gaming (saves GPU resources)
- Use monitor's "Overdrive" setting to reduce motion blur
- Turn off Ray Tracing where possible (kills frame rates)
- Enable FreeSync/G-Sync if monitor supports it (smoother frames)
Personally, I keep HDR off for Warzone but enable it for single-player games. That extra 5-10% performance matters when chasing 120fps on PS5.
Is the Upgrade Worth It?
After six months of 120fps gaming:
Worth it for: Competitive multiplayer, racing games, fast-paced action titles. The responsiveness upgrade is transformative.
Not worth it for: Slow-paced RPGs, cinematic adventures. You won't notice much difference in Elden Ring.
The hardware investment stings - decent 120Hz displays start around $300. But once you experience proper 120fps on PS5, there's no going back. Just managed to convince my brother to upgrade after he tried my setup. Now he texts me every time he wins a Warzone match thanks to smoother aiming.
Getting 120fps on PS5 is part tech setup, part treasure hunt. But nail the settings and hardware combo? Pure gaming bliss.
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