How Much Hertz Does A PS5 Have?

You're asking, "How much hertz does a PS5 have?" It's one of the most common questions new owners have, and the surprising answer is: zero. Your PS5 doesn't actually have hertz---your TV or monitor does. Some people call this the ps5 refresh rate or ask "how many hertz is ps5," but refresh rate belongs to your display, not the console. This small distinction is the secret to unlocking the smoothest gameplay you've ever seen from your console.

In practice, your setup is a two-part team. Your PlayStation 5's job is to create all the individual images, or "frames," that make up your game. The speed at which it creates them is measured in Frames Per Second (FPS)---often called the ps5 frame rate for short. Separately, your TV's job is to display those frames, and its speed is measured in Hertz (Hz), which is simply how many times the screen can draw a new picture each second.

For that incredible responsiveness you see in online videos, you need the PS5's FPS and the TV's Hz to be in sync. When your console is pumping out 120 frames every second, you need a 120Hz TV that can actually keep up and show you all of them. This partnership is what creates the noticeable difference in PS5 120Hz vs 60Hz gaming, turning a good experience into a great one.

To achieve this, you'll need the right gear, the correct settings, and compatible games. We'll explain what you need to achieve 120Hz, walk you through the PS5 settings to enable it, and explore which games benefit the most, ensuring you get every ounce of power you paid for.

The TV's Speed Limit: What is Hertz (Hz) and Why Does it Matter?

You've likely seen "120Hz" advertised on a TV box and wondered how it connects to your PlayStation 5. Hertz (Hz) isn't a feature of your console---it's the speed of your TV or monitor. Think of it as your screen's ultimate speed limit for displaying motion. If the PS5 is the sports car, your TV is the road it drives on, and Hertz determines how fast that road will let it go. In other words, when people mention a "ps5 refresh rate," they're usually talking about the TV's refresh rate.

So, what is Hertz exactly? Also called "refresh rate," it measures how many times your screen can draw a new, complete image every second. A standard 60Hz TV refreshes its picture 60 times per second. A 120Hz TV can do it twice as fast, refreshing 120 times per second. Imagine a simple flipbook: a 120-page book will create a far smoother and more fluid animation than a 60-page one. That's the visual difference between a 60Hz and a 120Hz display.

This refresh rate becomes crucial for gaming. Even if a PS5 game is capable of producing 120 frames of motion every second, a 60Hz TV can only show you 60 of them. You're leaving half the smoothness on the table! To see that ultra-responsive gameplay that high-end gaming promises, your display must be able to keep up. But the images your TV shows are sent from your PS5, which measures its output a bit differently.

The PS5's Output: What are Frames Per Second (FPS)?

While your TV's job is to refresh the screen at a steady pace (its Hertz), your PS5 has a different task: it has to create the actual images for the TV to display. The speed at which it creates these images is measured in Frames Per Second (FPS)---often called the ps5 frame rate. This number tells you how many unique pictures, or "frames," the console is generating every single second for a specific game. If the TV's refresh rate is the road, the FPS is the number of cars the PS5 is sending down that road.

This is where the magic happens for gamers. A higher FPS results in more than just a smoother picture; it creates a more responsive experience. When a game runs at a high FPS, the time between you pressing a button and seeing the result on-screen is shorter. This gives you that "connected" feeling, where your character's movements feel instantaneous and your aim in a game like Fortnite or Call of Duty feels sharper. It's one of the key benefits of high refresh rate gaming.

Unlike a TV's fixed refresh rate, a game's FPS can change from moment to moment. A huge on-screen explosion might be harder for the PS5 to create, temporarily lowering the FPS, while a simpler scene runs much higher. Many PS5 games even let you choose, often offering a "Performance Mode" that prioritizes a high FPS for smoothness or a "Fidelity Mode" that targets better graphics at a lower FPS. But for either to work best, the PS5's output and the TV's capabilities must be in sync.

The Perfect Partnership: How Hz and FPS Work Together for Smooth Gaming

Think of the relationship between your PS5's FPS and your TV's Hertz like a speed limit. The refresh rate (Hz) of your TV is the absolute fastest speed allowed on the highway. The frames per second (FPS) your PS5 is creating is how fast your car is trying to go. No matter how powerful your car is, it can't go any faster than the posted speed limit.

This is where the difference between 60Hz and 120Hz gaming becomes crystal clear. If your PS5 is running a game at a blistering 120 FPS but you're playing on a standard 60Hz TV, your screen can only physically draw 60 of those frames each second. You're effectively missing out on half of the visual information, which means you're not getting the ultra-smooth motion the console is working so hard to create.

To unlock that top-tier performance, you need a display that can keep up. When you pair a PS5 running a game at 120 FPS with a 120Hz TV, you get a perfect match. Your screen is refreshing in sync with the frames the console is sending, showing you every single one. Since the PS5's maximum supported refresh rate is 120Hz, this combination gives you the absolute best and smoothest visual experience possible on the console.

Ultimately, FPS is what your PS5 makes , while Hz is what your TV can show. You need a TV with a high enough refresh rate to handle the high frame rates your games are targeting. But achieving that perfect 120Hz experience involves a little more than just having the right TV.

Your Checklist for 120Hz Gaming on PS5

Getting that ultra-smooth 120Hz experience isn't automatic, but it's also not complicated. It just requires three specific pieces to fall into place: the right screen, the right cable, and the right game. If you're aiming for the best performance, use this simple checklist to see if your setup is ready for a true PS5 4K 120Hz setup.

Here's exactly what you need:

• A TV or Monitor with a 120Hz Refresh Rate: This is the most important part. Your screen must be able to refresh 120 times per second to display 120 FPS. If you're unsure about your TV, check its original box or search for its model number online to find its specifications.

  
  

• An HDMI 2.1 Cable: This special type of cable has enough bandwidth to carry the massive amount of data required for 4K gaming at 120Hz. The good news? The cable that came in the box with your PlayStation 5 is an HDMI 2.1 cable, so you likely already have one!

  
  

• A PS5 Game That Supports 120 FPS Mode: Not every game can run at 120 FPS. Developers have to specifically build a "Performance Mode" to hit this target. Popular titles like Fortnite , Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III , and Apex Legends are great examples that offer this feature.

  
  

Once you've confirmed you have all three pieces of the puzzle, you're just one step away from buttery-smooth gameplay. The final part is telling your PS5 to actually use this high-performance mode, which involves a quick trip into the system settings.

How to Enable 120Hz Output on Your PS5 (Step-by-Step)

Now that you've confirmed your TV, cable, and game are all 120Hz-ready, the final step is a quick trip into your console's display output settings. Thankfully, Sony made this part easy. You just need to ensure your PS5 knows it has permission to push for that higher performance when a compatible game is running. This simple settings check is how to enable 120Hz on your PS5 and make sure nothing is holding your games back.

Ready to flip the switch? Follow these four simple steps on your console:

1. From the PS5 Home Screen, navigate to the top-right corner and select the Settings gear icon.

2. In the Settings menu, choose Screen and Video.

3. Go to the Video Output tab on the left.

4. Scroll down to Enable 120Hz Output and confirm it is set to Automatic.

You'll notice the option is 'Automatic,' not 'On.' This is actually perfect, and it's the setting you want. It means your PS5 will intelligently switch to 120Hz mode whenever you play a game that supports it, and then revert back for games that don't or when you're watching movies. With this setting confirmed, your console is officially ready to deliver that buttery-smooth gameplay. But what if the option is grayed out, or your game still doesn't feel right?

PS5 Not Outputting 120Hz? 3 Common Problems and Their Fixes

So you've enabled the 120Hz setting on your PS5, but your game still doesn't feel smoother, or the option is grayed out entirely. Don't worry---this is a very common hiccup, and the fix is usually simple. The problem is rarely the console itself, but rather a miscommunication somewhere between your PS5, your TV, and the game you're playing. Let's check three things that solve the issue for most people.

First, check that you're using the right connection on your television. Not all HDMI ports on a TV are created equal. Even on a brand new TV that supports 120Hz, often only one or two of the ports are the high-speed HDMI 2.1 versions required for this feature. Look on the back of your TV for a port specifically labeled "4K@120Hz" or something similar, and make sure your PS5 is plugged into that one.

If you're in the right port, the next step is to look at your game's own options menu. Many PS5 games that support 120 FPS require you to manually choose it. Launch the game, go to its video or graphics settings, and look for a choice between modes like "Fidelity" (which prioritizes graphics) and "Performance" (which prioritizes frame rate). To get 120 FPS, you must have the PS5 performance mode settings enabled.

Finally, your TV might be holding itself back. To handle the high-speed signal for 120Hz, most TVs require you to enable a special mode. Dig into your TV's settings menu and look for something called "Game Mode," "Enhanced Format," or "Input Signal Plus." Make sure this setting is turned on for the HDMI port your PS5 is using. Once these three pieces are aligned, your system should be ready.

Which PS5 Games Actually Support 120 FPS?

Now that your setup is ready for high-speed action, which PS5 games actually support 120 FPS? The list is constantly growing and already includes many of the most popular titles available. You'll typically find this option in fast-paced games where responsive controls are key. Here are a few fan-favorites you can try right now:

• Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III / Warzone

• Fortnite

• Apex Legends

• Destiny 2

• Devil May Cry 5 Special Edition

• Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart

Getting a game to run at a blazing-fast 120 frames per second, however, involves a trade-off. Think of the PS5's power as a budget. It can either spend that budget creating the most stunning, graphically detailed image possible (often called "Fidelity Mode"), or it can spend it on producing more frames for ultra-smooth motion ("Performance Mode"). To achieve 120 FPS, games almost always lower their resolution or dial back some visual effects. You're essentially trading a little bit of graphical crispness for a huge gain in gameplay fluidity.

This is why the benefits of high refresh rate gaming are most noticeable in competitive shooters or racing games. The difference in PS5 120Hz vs 60Hz gaming can make your aim feel more immediate and your reactions feel quicker. For a slower, story-driven single-player game, you might prefer the breathtaking visuals of a 60 FPS mode. For the ultimate smooth experience, especially when a game's frame rate isn't perfectly locked, there's one more PS5 feature that can help.

The Ultimate Smoother: What Is Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) on PS5?

That feature is called Variable Refresh Rate, or VRR. Even in "Performance Mode," a game's frame rate can dip and fluctuate during intense moments. When the PS5's output (FPS) doesn't perfectly align with your TV's fixed refresh rate (Hz), you can get a distracting visual glitch called "screen tearing," where the image looks momentarily split. VRR is the PS5's secret weapon to reduce screen tearing and smooth out these imperfections.

Think of it like a conversation where your TV and PS5 agree to always let each other finish their sentences. Instead of your TV refreshing at a rigid 60 or 120 times per second, VRR allows it to dynamically adjust its refresh rate in real-time to match the exact frame rate the PS5 is putting out.

If the game dips to 97 FPS for a second, your TV will refresh 97 times to match it, keeping everything perfectly in sync. This eliminates tearing and can make gameplay feel more responsive.

To take advantage of this, you'll need a TV or monitor that supports VRR over an HDMI 2.1 port.

It's a hardware feature, not just a software setting, but you can enable it in your PS5 display output settings to see if your screen is compatible. The great thing about VRR is that it provides a benefit even on games running closer to 60 FPS, making it one of the best overall upgrades for a fluid gaming experience.

Answering Your Questions: Is a 144Hz Monitor Good for PS5?

With so many gaming monitors built for PCs, a common question pops up: is a 144Hz monitor good for PS5? The short answer is yes, absolutely. A 144Hz monitor will work perfectly with your console, but it's important to remember that the PS5 max refresh rate is 120Hz. This means the console itself doesn't output a signal faster than 120 frames per second, so it can't take full advantage of a 144Hz screen.

Think of your monitor as having a top speed. Even though a 144Hz monitor can refresh 144 times per second, it will simply match the signal it receives from your PS5. When your console sends a 120Hz signal, the monitor syncs up and runs at 120Hz. You aren't losing anything or creating a problem; your monitor just has some extra performance headroom that the PS5 won't use.

Buying a 144Hz display is a great, future-proof choice. Since it's a popular standard, you might even find these monitors are more available or affordable than ones marketed as the best 120Hz monitor for PS5. For your console, there is no downside.

Your Final Mission: Unlock Your PS5's Smoothest Gameplay

You started by asking one of the most common questions PS5 owners have: "How many hertz does it have?" Now, you know the real answer is more interesting. The PS5 doesn't have hertz---it creates the frames. Your TV is the one with the hertz, setting the speed limit for how smooth your games can look.

You've learned that unlocking that top-tier performance isn't about a single setting, but about three key pieces working together: a 120Hz-capable TV, an HDMI 2.1 cable, and a game set to "Performance Mode." With this knowledge, you're no longer just guessing; you can now look at any TV or game and know exactly what's needed for the best experience.

Your first step is simple and empowering. Dive into your PS5's "Screen and Video" settings to ensure 120Hz output is enabled. This quick check is the starting point for your PS5 120Hz setup and will confirm if your console and TV are communicating correctly. If the option is available, you're ready to go.

You're no longer just a player; you're the architect of your own gaming experience. You now hold the key to transforming a good setup into a great one. Go check your gear, enable the right settings, and see for yourself what the incredible benefits of high refresh rate gaming truly feel like. That buttery-smooth gameplay is waiting for you.