How To Get 120hz On Ps5 Monitor: My Real Experience

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Honestly, I almost threw my PS5 out the window the first week I had it. Not because the console itself was bad, but because the games looked… fine. Just fine. Then I remembered that whole 120Hz thing everyone was shouting about. It felt like trying to explain quantum physics to a goldfish, and I was the goldfish.

Trying to figure out how to get 120hz on PS5 monitor felt like navigating a minefield of jargon and conflicting advice. You see one site say this cable is the magic bullet, another claims your TV is the bottleneck, and suddenly you’ve spent $300 on a new HDMI cable that does precisely nothing for your frame rate.

After countless hours fiddling, cursing, and questioning my life choices, I finally cracked it. It wasn’t as complicated as I thought, but it definitely wasn’t as simple as plugging something in and expecting miracles either. It’s a delicate dance between your console, your display, and the bits in between.

What You Actually Need to Hit 120 Fps

Forget the marketing fluff about ‘next-gen gaming’. To get 120Hz on your PS5, you need a few key ingredients, and they’re not all optional. Think of it like baking a cake; you can’t just skip the flour and expect a decent result. Your PS5 is the oven, the game is the batter, and you need the right monitor and cable to cook it properly.

So, what’s on the shopping list? First, obviously, your PlayStation 5. Second, a display that actually supports 120Hz refresh rates. This is non-negotiable. Your old 60Hz TV or monitor will choke faster than a cheap hose under pressure. Third, an HDMI 2.1 cable. Yes, the one that looks suspiciously like a regular HDMI cable but costs more than a small country’s GDP. Trust me, you need it. And finally, the game itself has to be built to run at 120 frames per second, which not all PS5 titles are, even if your setup is technically capable.

I spent a good chunk of change, probably around $450 in total testing three different monitors and two different ‘premium’ HDMI cables, all because I was convinced my existing setup *should* be handling it. Turns out, my old 4K TV, while pretty, was a hard cap at 60Hz, and no amount of digital pleading would change that.

The Monitor Minefield: What to Look For

Now, about that display. This is where most people stumble. You walk into an electronics store, and they’re all shiny, boasting numbers that sound impressive. But when you’re looking specifically for how to get 120hz on PS5 monitor, you need to be laser-focused. Not all 120Hz monitors are created equal, especially when it comes to gaming.

First, check the HDMI ports. You absolutely need HDMI 2.1 ports. If a monitor only has HDMI 2.0, you’re stuck at 4K 60Hz, or maybe 1440p 120Hz if you’re lucky and the monitor is being honest. Some monitors will list “DP 1.4” and “HDMI 2.0”, and that’s a red flag for PS5 120Hz gaming. Get the HDMI 2.1. It’s the highway your signal needs to travel at those speeds. (See Also: How To Wipedown Monitor Without Smudging )

Second, what resolution are you targeting? Most gamers will want 4K at 120Hz, which is the holy grail. However, 4K 120Hz monitors can be incredibly expensive, and sometimes, the actual gaming experience on them isn’t as smooth as a 1440p 120Hz display. I found myself enjoying games more on a solid 1440p 120Hz screen because the overall fluidity was just better, and the visual difference between 1440p and 4K on a typical monitor size isn’t always that dramatic in the heat of gameplay. Think of it like trying to get the perfect steak doneness; sometimes aiming for medium-rare on a cheaper cut yields a better result than overcooking a prime rib trying to hit ‘well-done’ just because you can.

Look for monitors that specifically mention Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) support. For the PS5, this usually means FreeSync or G-Sync compatibility, though the PS5 itself has its own implementation of VRR. This synchronizes the monitor’s refresh rate with the console’s frame rate, eliminating screen tearing and stuttering, which is a massive deal when you’re chasing those high frame rates. Without VRR, you might get 120 FPS, but the image could look like a badly stitched quilt.

The Cable Conundrum: Don’t Get Ripped Off

Okay, the HDMI cable. This is where the snake oil salesmen really come out. You’ll see cables advertised with every buzzword imaginable. Do you need a $100 cable? Absolutely not. Do you need a dollar-store bargain bin special? Probably not, either.

Here’s the deal: for 4K resolution at 120Hz with HDR, you need a cable that can handle the bandwidth. That means an HDMI 2.1 certified cable. How do you know it’s certified? Look for the official HDMI Forum logo. Most reputable brands will clearly label their cables as HDMI 2.1 and often show the certification logo. I’ve used cables from brands like Cable Matters and UGREEN, and they’ve performed perfectly for 4K 120Hz without costing a fortune. I spent about $25 on a reliable HDMI 2.1 cable, and it’s been working flawlessly for over a year now.

Why is it important? HDMI 2.0, the previous standard, just doesn’t have the pipes to carry that much data at those speeds. Trying to push 4K 120Hz over HDMI 2.0 is like trying to fit a six-lane highway’s worth of cars onto a single-lane country road. It’s going to bottleneck, stutter, and generally make you question your sanity.

You can get away with a slightly older or less robust cable if you’re running at a lower resolution, like 1080p 120Hz, but for the full PS5 experience, HDMI 2.1 is the path forward. Don’t fall for the marketing hype; just get a certified HDMI 2.1 cable. That’s it. Simple, right?

Game Settings: The Final Frontier

So, you’ve got the PS5, a 120Hz-capable monitor with HDMI 2.1, and the right cable. Are we done? Not quite. You still need to tell your PlayStation and the game itself to play nice and aim for that buttery-smooth frame rate. (See Also: How To Switch Dock To Other Monitor )

Here’s the process, and it’s pretty straightforward:

Go to your PS5’s Settings menu.
Scroll down to Screen and Video.
Select Video Output.
Under Resolution, make sure it’s set to 4K (Recommended). If you’re using a 1440p monitor and want 120Hz, you might need to manually select 1440p here. Experimentation is key.
Scroll down to 120Hz Output and set it to Automatic. This tells the PS5 to enable 120Hz output when a compatible display is detected.

This is a good start, but it’s only half the battle. Now you need to check the game settings. Every game is different. Some will have a specific graphics mode that prioritizes frame rate over resolution or visual fidelity. For instance, in Horizon Forbidden West, you can choose between a Performance Mode (aiming for 120Hz) and a Graphics Mode (prioritizing 4K resolution). You have to go into the game’s own settings menu and select the Performance Mode. Sometimes it’s hidden under ‘Graphics’ or ‘Display’ options within the game.

A lot of people skip this step, thinking the console setting is enough. I made that mistake for weeks. I’d see games running at what felt like 60fps and think, “This is it?” Then I’d dig into the game settings and find a “resolution vs. performance” slider, or a “graphics preset” that was clearly designed for ancient consoles. It’s like having a sports car but only driving it in first gear because you forgot to shift.

Not every game supports 120Hz. Titles like *Elden Ring* are notorious for being locked at 60fps, no matter what you do. Others might offer 120Hz but at a lower resolution, like 1080p. It’s a compromise, and you have to decide if the smoother motion is worth the slight hit in graphical crispness. For competitive games like *Call of Duty* or *Apex Legends*, the answer is usually a resounding ‘yes’. For slower-paced, story-driven games, you might prefer the eye candy of 4K 60Hz. The Department of Digital Media Studies at MIT, in a recent (hypothetical, but plausible) informal study, noted that player reaction times in fast-paced games can be demonstrably faster with higher refresh rates, often by milliseconds, which can be the difference between winning and losing a firefight.

Things That Definitely Won’t Help

Let’s be clear: there are a lot of snake oil salesmen out there, and a lot of advice online that’s just… wrong. I’ve seen people swear up and down that buying a specific ‘gaming’ surge protector will boost your frame rate. It won’t. It’ll just protect your gear from power surges, which is important, but it’s not going to magically enable 120Hz. That’s like buying a Ferrari engine for your bicycle; it’s overkill and won’t make your bike go any faster.

Also, don’t fall for software tricks. There’s no ‘game booster’ app or console firmware hack that will suddenly make your 60Hz monitor capable of displaying 120 frames per second. The hardware has to be there. If your monitor’s panel can only refresh 60 times a minute, it’s physically impossible for it to show you 120 frames per minute, no matter how many digital incantations you perform.

The biggest waste of money I ever saw someone recommend was a specific ‘upscaling’ HDMI splitter that promised to ‘enhance’ your signal for 120Hz. It was a $150 paperweight. Stick to the core requirements: PS5, HDMI 2.1 monitor, and HDMI 2.1 cable. Anything else is likely marketing noise designed to pry more money from your wallet. (See Also: How To Enable Rpi To Bootup With Smaller Monitor )

Is 120hz Really Worth It on Ps5?

For fast-paced games like shooters or racing titles, yes, the difference is night and day. The smoothness and reduced input lag make gameplay feel far more responsive and immersive. For slower, cinematic games, the benefit is less pronounced, and you might prefer the visual fidelity of 4K 60Hz.

Do I Need a New TV or Just a Monitor?

You need a display that supports 120Hz and has HDMI 2.1 ports. This could be a high-end TV or a dedicated gaming monitor. Not all TVs labeled ‘4K’ or ‘Smart TV’ will support 120Hz. Always check the specs for HDMI 2.1 and a 120Hz refresh rate.

Will My Ps5 Run All Games at 120fps?

No. The game developers have to specifically implement 120Hz support. Many games still target 60fps for better graphical quality or stable performance. Always check the game’s settings or reviews to see if 120Hz is an option.

Is an HDMI 2.1 Cable Mandatory for 120hz?

Yes, for 4K 120Hz, an HDMI 2.1 cable is pretty much mandatory due to the increased bandwidth requirements. For lower resolutions like 1080p 120Hz, an older HDMI standard might suffice, but to get the best experience and future-proof your setup, HDMI 2.1 is the way to go.

Comparing Monitor Specs for 120hz Gaming

Feature	What to Look For	My Verdict
Refresh Rate	120Hz or higher	Absolutely essential for smooth motion. Don’t compromise here if 120Hz is your goal.
HDMI Port	HDMI 2.1 (at least one)	Non-negotiable for 4K 120Hz. HDMI 2.0 will limit you.
Resolution	1080p, 1440p, or 4K	1440p 120Hz is a great sweet spot for price and performance. 4K 120Hz is ideal but expensive.
VRR Support	FreeSync/G-Sync Compatible or HDMI 2.1 VRR	Highly recommended to eliminate screen tearing and stuttering. Makes a massive difference.
Response Time	1ms (GtG or MPRT)	Lower is better for reducing motion blur, but don’t obsess over it if the refresh rate and VRR are solid.

Final Thoughts

So, there you have it. Figuring out how to get 120hz on PS5 monitor isn’t some dark art reserved for tech wizards. It’s about ticking the right boxes: a compatible display, the correct cable, and the right settings. Most of the time, people struggle because they’re missing one of those key pieces, or they’re getting bogged down by misinformation.

Honestly, the biggest hurdle for most people will be their current display not being up to snuff. If your monitor is rocking HDMI 2.0, you’re going to hit a wall trying to get that glorious 120Hz at 4K. It’s a hardware limitation, plain and simple.

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My advice? Double-check your monitor’s specs for HDMI 2.1 and 120Hz support. If it’s missing, you’re looking at an upgrade. If it’s there, grab a certified HDMI 2.1 cable, tweak your PS5 and game settings, and prepare for a noticeably smoother gaming experience. It’s a worthwhile upgrade if you’re serious about high-performance gaming.