[PCM2]

Coming back to the issue of detection of 120Hz monitors on the new consoles, there was a clear path forward if this happens on the Xbox Series X. I’ve now seen some reports surfacing of similar things on the PS5 and I’ve got no idea how to fix them or if there’s a relevant setting there. For example the Acer XB253Q GP is only detected as a 60Hz monitor, much like on the Xbox Series X at 60Hz.

See update below.

[PCM2]

With the PlayStation 5 you may need to explicitly tell it that you want to favour performance over image quality to leverage 120Hz support. The following has been added to the appropriate section of the ‘Monitors for Console Gaming’ article. This Reddit thread and several others suggest there may be an issue with Sony’s detection of 120Hz capability on quite a few monitors, too. HDMI 2.0 and even HDMI 1.4 is fully capable of 1920 x 1080 @120Hz without issue, of course, so if there are detection issues Sony should be able to fix this. There are certainly many users with 120Hz capable Full HD monitors who wish to use them with the PS5, so Sony will be aware of any issues and should be able to address them.

To make use of 120Hz functionality on the PlayStation 5 if your monitor supports 120Hz via HDMI, you may need to switch the system to ‘Performance Mode’. The ‘Game Default’ setting may also work in some cases, if you change the setting remember to switch it back or use ‘Resolution Mode’ if you’re playing titles where you’d prefer image quality over higher frame rates and high refresh rate support.

– Open ‘Settings‘ by clicking the cog icon towards the top right of the main system menu.
– Select ‘Saved Data and Game/App Settings‘ – ‘Game Presets‘
– Change ‘Performance Mode or Resolution Mode‘ to ‘Performance Mode‘
– The 120Hz refresh rate should now be useable on titles which support it.

[taxman]

Both consoles are not great and have issues with monitors.

PS5
– No 144Hz (capped to 120FPS) so your reliant on monitor supporting 120Hz.
– Level of 120hz support over HDMI 1.4/2.0 still to be determined.
– No HDMI-VRR or Freesync.
– No 1440p.
– On the up side the PS5 at least allows HDR at any resolution and supports HGIG HDR calibration though it remains unclear if all games must support it.

Xbox Series S/X
– No 144Hz (capped to 120FPS) so your reliant on monitor supporting 120Hz.
– Level of 120hz support over HDMI 1.4/2.0 is not a 100%.
– HDMI-VRR and Freesync are supported but on a number of PC monitors Xbox cannot use 120hz and Freesync at the same time, this is an Xbox problem as PC’s work at 144Hz Freesync 1080p/1440p on same input.
– Supports 1440p.
– Locks HDR support behind the display supporting 4K.
– HGIG not mandatory so games continue to ship with their own HDR controls and ignores the OS HGIG HDR calibration.

PCM2 it might be useful to do a console Freesync 120hz check and add it to future reviews.

[PCM2]

Good information. Both consoles are very new but already plenty of complaints are surfacing on Reddit and other sources related to compatibility at various levels. Some of this I hope Microsoft and Sony will address as they aren’t just isolated issues. HDMI 2.1 support will automatically ‘fix’ some of these issues, in theory, but there’s no hardware reason why older revisions of HDMI (as used on every current monitor) can’t support things properly. It’s a good point you raise when you mention that the Xbox models lock “HDR support behind the display support 4K”. It does indeed seem, at the moment at least, that you can only use HDR if the resolution is set to ‘4K’. Or at least, if the monitor can accept a ‘4K’ signal. So the monitor would need 3840 x 2160 ‘4K’ UHD as a listed resolution to leverage HDR capability. This and whether 120Hz is a listed refresh rate via HDMI is now checked at the end of the ‘Features and aesthetics’ sections of our reviews.

In some cases there is an obvious technical explanation for things. As covered earlier in the thread there are some models which simply don’t support 120Hz at all or don’t do so via HDMI with FreeSync active. These issues would manifest on a PC as well. The LG 27GL850 (100Hz max. with FreeSync via HDMI) and Dell S2719DGF (no 120Hz support) for example. I’m still curious whether having the refresh rate listed in the monitor’s EDID as a ‘TV’ resolution has any influence on what is or isn’t supported. Seems to be the case for Full HD monitors, as mentioned in this post, where the XB253Q GP was used as an example. This doesn’t apply to the 2560 x 1440 resolution as it isn’t shared with TVs – and it’s categorised as a ‘PC’ resolution even on screens that are now confirmed to work well with the Xbox Series X, such as the BenQ EX2780Q.

We won’t be doing any testing with games consoles I’m afraid. We don’t own nor intend to own them and frankly we’re already pushed for time with our reviews as it is. It takes a tremendous amount of time to review monitors in the depth that we do, in both video and written form. Extensive testing is performed with both AMD and Nvidia GPUs, testing a range of things using both DP and HDMI as well. I’m not aware of any other reviewer who does this. Adding in any console-specific testing is a step too far, unfortunately. Plus, as above, it’s something Microsoft and Sony will have to address otherwise they’re going to have a lot of unhappy customers.

[taxman]

Fair enough on the testing, most of the Xbox problems are not new at all, they have been present since the Xbox One got Freesync support a few years ago, its just very little attention was paid to it as there was not much demand.

There is definitely something up with Freesync on Xbox, I know of the 100Hz limit but even on some known 144Hz HDMI displays Xbox does not engage Freesync @ 120Hz, I have a feeling whoever at MS was responsible for this support did not do a lot of compatibility testing so Xbox works with some but not all.

I have little faith in Sony either, the PS5 is built on the bones of the PS4 Pro while the hardware is not the same the same design mindset is there like that odd way of enabling 120Hz mode, the refusal to support 1440p, no HDMI-VRR or ALLM even at launch, what the heck were their engineering teams doing the past few years. I would not be surprised if Sony completely ignore Freesync and only add HDMI-VRR.

If only they had added USB-C Displayport output it would make buying a monitor so much easier but yeah in time HDMI 2.1 displays will be more common.

[PCM2]

Now that the consoles are more powerful and 120Hz is more widely supported (plus there’s more of a reason to use it), people have a greater expectation that they’ll be able to use that and some see it as a key feature now. So if Microsoft and Sony have carried over poor support or compatability problems from the Xbox One X and PS4 Pro, they’ll soon discover a tidal wave of upset users. In fact they’re probably already discovering that. They’ll make more noise due to expectations and the fact the console is billed as a high refresh rate machine. I have some faith that corrective action will be taken, but I’m not sure how long it will take or how many of the issues can be addressed.

I don’t expect Sony to support FreeSync, though, I kept telling people to expect HDMI 2.1 VRR but nothing more from the PS5 and this seems to be what has materialised. It’s also worth noting that just because a monitor supports 144Hz via HDMI, it doesn’t mean it specifically supports 120Hz. That needs to be included as a listed resolution and that isn’t always the case. The Dell S2719DGF is just one example, there are plenty more.

[taxman]

Also another possible thing to watch out for someone mentioned over on rtings, is that PS5 may not support reading 120hz from the PC resolution table , I assume these operate slightly different timings from TV 120hz.

So the guy who got that monitor cannot get 120hz from it as it has no 1080p TV 120hz mode, it’s only on the PC side it supports 120hz which PS5 seems to not support.

[PCM2]

I agree it’s worth keeping an eye on that. I also brought up the possibility in my first reply to you and earlier in this thread. It references the Xbox systems which I was focusing on at the time, but my later reply broadened that out to include the PS5 – I think there’s something in this. There’s quite a split between monitors that list 1920 x 1080 @120Hz as a ‘TV’ resolution in the EDID and those that list it as a ‘PC’ resolution, but unfortunately most would list it as a ‘PC’ resolution. Seems the Xbox Series X can still address such refresh rates, it’s a shame if the PS5 can’t.

[PCM2]

I’ve added the following clarification to the written review of the Acer XB253Q GP which ties together some of the research I’ve done on this topic, including some shared in this thread:

“Note that 120Hz is listed as a ‘PC’ resolution, rather than in the ‘Ultra HD, HD, SD’ list. Resolutions and refresh rates from the ‘Ultra HD, HD, SD’ list are referenced internally by monitors (in their EDID) as ‘TV’ resolutions. Our research suggests the Sony PS5 may be unable to ‘read’ refresh rates that aren’t stored as a ‘TV’ resolution, so you may be restricted to 60Hz on this monitor when using the PS5. If you’re intending to use the monitor with the Xbox Series X or Xbox Series S, be aware that a small settings tweak needs to be made on the Xbox to ensure 120Hz is selectable. Details can be found in this post.”

An alternative I would suggest for the PS5 (and this is something I suggest as a possible alternative more generally) is the EX2510 (or EX2710 if you prefer something a bit bigger). It uses the same panel but it kindly lists 120Hz in its ‘TV’ list, which is addressable by the PS5. It also supports FreeSync via HDMI for the Xbox Series X. Despite what I incorrectly assumed and reported in the review, it seems the Acer XB253Q GP might not support FreeSync via HDMI. Mention of FreeSync working over HDMI has been removed from the written review. It’s something we now explicitly test when reviewing, with screenshots from AMD’s graphics driver for reference. We may review the BenQ at some point, although I can’t make any promises as there’s a huge list of models I’d like to review. In the meantime I’ve shared a few thoughts in this post from earlier in the thread.

[leiny]

hey thanks for all the help you have written so far. I was wondering if you have come across any new information on monitors that can definitely support 1440p at 120hz over HDMI for the xbox series x. I was thinking about waiting for the HDMI 2.1 monitors to drop but as far as I can tell they are going to be very expensive and i’m not looking to spend over $400. That being said Im looking for a monitor in the $300-$400 range that is 27 inches

[PCM2]

Hi leiny,

As far as I can see the only reason a model wouldn’t run at 2560 x 1440 @120Hz on the Xbox Series X is if 120Hz isn’t a listed refresh rate when using HDMI. Some people falsely assume that, if a monitor can run at 144Hz or 165Hz (for example), it will automatically run at 120Hz. That isn’t the case. There are also some models that don’t support FreeSync over HDMI, but that wouldn’t exclude them from being able to run at a static 120Hz on the Xbox Series X. Whilst just outside your budget, the BenQ EX2780Q which features in the recommendations section definitely works on the Xbox Series X at 120Hz. It also supports FreeSync via HDMI.

[leiny]

thanks I appreciate it, I like that it has USBC for my laptop, I have a 60HZ benQ that I used for xbox one and a Dell U2721DE that I use for school and this will prob make it so I don’t need that or at least have a dual monitor setup with my dell. do you think they will eventually make an adapter that will let me plug a USBc cord or display port into an HDMI 2.1 port on my xbox to hit higher rez and FPS?

Edit: sorry just noticed that the BenQ EX2780Q isnt a 1ms response time which im looking for since i play a lot of FPS games, do you know of a similar monitor to that Benq that is? By the way i will make sure to use of of your amazon links as you are very helpful!

[PCM2]

The capability is defined by the display itself, you won’t be able to gain anything beyond what the HDMI port of the monitor supports when connecting it to the Xbox Series X. There won’t be an upcoming adaptor that will change this capability. As covered in our article on responsiveness, summarised in our console monitors article and pointed out in our reviews, you shouldn’t pay any attention to specified response times. They’re extremely misleading. You should instead spend a little time reading the responsiveness section of the EX2780Q review and perhaps watching the video content. As it explores the responsiveness in detail and includes extensive coverage of FPS gaming on BFV. I can assure you, this will be a lot more insightful than your homework (actually, please don’t replace one with the other).

Having said that, there are certainly faster monitors out there. This thread explores the sort of models you should consider instead. But the faster alternatives have their own issues. The LG Nano IPS models mentioned earlier in this thread and covered on that thread I linked to, for example. The LG 27GL83A would fit your budget. But the colour gamut is weaker than on the BenQ (less saturated and vibrant) and the contrast is a fair bit weaker as well. As noted earlier in the thread, you can’t use FreeSync and 120Hz at the same time on it with the Xbox One X – only 120Hz on its own. Which might work out fine for you, but it’s worth bearing in mind.

And I appreciate you wanting to support the website, by the way. 🙂

[leiny]

okay thanks, I wasn’t saying an adapter for HDMI 2.0 on the monitor to connect to the xbox 2.1, I was saying a USBC or display port cable being plugged into the monitor in the usbc or display port slot that would run to the xbox HDMI 2.1 port. or could even be a split cable thats half USBC (plugged into the monitor) half HDMI 2.1(plugged into xbox), would that be able to carry a higher bandwidth then the HDMI 2.0 cable that will run from the monitor to the xbox?
also thanks i will look into the responsive times, i have a BenQ ZOWIE RL2755 monitor now thats 1ms but you are saying this 5ms could actually be closer or faster?

[PCM2]

I have no idea what you’d be trying to achieve with such an adaptor. Whatever you end up doing, you are not going to give yourself any advantage over just using straight HDMI on the BenQ. You seem to be trying to leverage an HDMI 2.1 signal, but that’s very specific and won’t be interchangeable with anything other than HDMI. But what advantage would that give you on a model like the EX2780Q anyway? It doesn’t support a ‘4K’ signal at 120Hz regardless of how you connect it up and regardless of the bandwidth. Monitors can’t be forced into operating modes they don’t support just because you’ve got enough bandwidth.

The RL2755 is a poorly tuned 60Hz monitor with high levels of overshoot. If you’ve read the review and articles I’ve linked to you’ll see your question is addressed in detail. Comparing a 60Hz to 144Hz (or 120Hz for you, in this case) monitor is an apples to oranges comparison. A 60Hz monitor with 0.0001ms response time is still limited due to the refresh rate. The pixel responses of the EX2780Q are slower for some transitions, but the overall perceived blur is still lower at suitably high frame rates.

[leiny]

my question on the adaptor wasn’t specific to the benQ. If i got a 4k monitor with no HDMI 2.1, or plugged my xbox one x into one of the 4k TVs I have, all i was wondering is if a split chord that was HDMI2.1 (in the xbox) on one side and display port on the other side (TV/monitor) as my current TVs dont have HDMI 2.1 would that carry a higher signal than just straight HDMI2.0 to HDMI2.0 cable. but thanks for the help i will prob go with one of BenQ EX2710 or BenQ EX2780Q if the response time is actually better on the EX2710, i will read your review first.

[PCM2]

My reply with respect to the adaptor was just using the BenQ as an example, I know you were just theorising about what may or may not be possible more generally. If a screen does not support HDMI 2.1 then it does not support HDMI 2.1. The interoperability of HDMI 2.1 and DisplayPort does not work in the way you are thinking. You can have an active adaptor that you connect to DisplayPort 1.4 on the system that will allow you to leverage HDMI 2.1 capability when connected to an HDMI 2.1 port of a screen. This doesn’t work the other way and I’m not aware of any adaptor that would achieve this – might exist eventually, but I wouldn’t hold your breath.

[leiny]

Thanks for all the help I appreciate it, have you by chance reviewed the HP OMEN 27i? its on sale right now for $380 and I have seen a lot of good reviews on it, and if I end up getting it i would like to go through one of your links, but i searched it at the top of the site and didn’t see any pop ups of it.

[PCM2]

You’re right, we don’t have a review of that model. But I appreciate you checking. I can confirm it uses that same fast LG Nano IPS panel discussed earlier, so responsiveness isn’t something you’d have to worry about. It will run at 120Hz via HDMI and doesn’t have that weird limitation of the LG models (27GL850 etc.) with FreeSync – so you can use this at the same time. Also note that you can use other links on the website and if you end up buying a different model to the one featured in the link, it would still count.

[JMidg3]

Hi Guys,

I bought an Asus VG259QM at the end of September in anticipation of the PS5, and as expected now it’s not working with the 120fps it should. I’m a bit stuck; should I look to sell it, or purchase the BenQ EX2510 that you said would be PS5 120fps compatible? Is it something that is likely to be fixed, or is it a hardware problem that will never be solved? Ideally I wouldn’t like to sell this one.

Thanks in advance.

[Author]

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