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Is VRR Important for PS5? The Definitive Guide

Yes, VRR (Variable Refresh Rate) is important for the PS5, although not strictly essential. It significantly enhances the gaming experience by reducing or eliminating screen tearing and stuttering, leading to smoother, more responsive gameplay. While the PS5 delivers a solid 30/60fps experience even without VRR, particularly in “Quality” modes, VRR unlocks the console’s potential for higher frame rates and a more visually consistent performance, especially when paired with a 120Hz display. It’s a worthwhile upgrade that future-proofs your setup and improves the overall visual fidelity and responsiveness of many PS5 games.

Understanding VRR: More Than Just a Buzzword

What is Variable Refresh Rate (VRR)?

At its core, VRR is a technology that synchronizes the refresh rate of your display with the frame rate output by your PS5. Traditional displays have a fixed refresh rate, typically 60Hz or 120Hz. This means they refresh the screen a set number of times per second. However, the frame rate of a game often fluctuates, meaning the GPU might not be able to consistently deliver a frame every 1/60th of a second (for a 60Hz display). This discrepancy leads to visual artifacts like screen tearing, where a single frame shows parts of two different frames at the same time, or stuttering, where the image appears jerky and uneven.

VRR dynamically adjusts the display’s refresh rate to match the game’s frame rate, within a specific range. This eliminates tearing and reduces stuttering, resulting in a much smoother and more visually pleasing experience. The effect is especially noticeable in games with fluctuating frame rates or those targeting higher frame rates above 60fps.

Benefits of VRR on PS5

The implementation of VRR on the PS5 offers several key benefits:

Reduced Screen Tearing: This is the most immediately noticeable benefit. VRR eliminates the distracting horizontal lines that occur when the display and the game aren’t synchronized.
Smoother Gameplay: By minimizing stuttering, VRR creates a more fluid and consistent visual experience, making gameplay feel more responsive and enjoyable.
Lower Input Lag: While VRR itself doesn’t directly reduce input lag in every situation, the perceived responsiveness of the game increases significantly because of the smoother visual feedback. In some cases, it can offer lower input lag, which is favourable for multiplayer games where reaction speed is vital in winning PvP exchanges.
Improved Performance in Fidelity Modes: Many PS5 games offer a “Fidelity” or “Quality” mode that prioritizes graphical fidelity over frame rate. These modes often target a lower frame rate, such as 30fps or 40fps. VRR can make these modes much more palatable by smoothing out frame rate fluctuations and reducing perceived stuttering. Some PS5 games see a performance boost by unlocking frame rates with VRR enabled. In 4K Fidelity mode, activating VRR results in performance gains of 12-13%, and as much as 25% in some cases, over the old 40fps limit.
Unlocking Higher Frame Rates: With VRR enabled this can extend beyond that, effectively unlocking the framerate to potentially reach that 120fps ceiling.

Drawbacks and Considerations

While VRR offers significant advantages, it’s not without its potential drawbacks:

Display Compatibility: VRR requires a compatible display. Not all TVs and monitors support VRR, and some may have limitations on the VRR range or supported resolutions. Check your display’s specifications carefully before assuming VRR will work flawlessly.
Potential for Minor Visual Issues: In some rare cases, VRR can introduce minor visual artifacts or inconsistencies. These are usually game-specific and often less noticeable than screen tearing or stuttering.
Game Support: Not all PS5 games are optimized for VRR. While many titles benefit from it, some may not see a significant improvement or may even exhibit unexpected behavior.
VRR doesn’t work on every display – as some may even show a black screen when launching a game with VRR enabled.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about VRR on PS5

Here are some frequently asked questions to further clarify the importance and usage of VRR on the PS5:

Is VRR the same as a high refresh rate (like 120Hz)? No, VRR is not the same as a high refresh rate, but they work well together. A high refresh rate display can refresh the image more times per second, allowing for smoother motion and lower input lag. VRR dynamically adjusts the refresh rate to match the game’s fluctuating frame rate, eliminating screen tearing within the display’s supported range. The best experience comes from having both a high refresh rate (120Hz or higher) and VRR.
Do I need an HDMI 2.1 cable for VRR on PS5? Yes, to get the full benefits of VRR at higher resolutions and refresh rates (such as 4K/120Hz), you’ll need an HDMI 2.1 cable and a display that supports HDMI 2.1. HDMI 2.0 can support VRR at lower resolutions and refresh rates, but HDMI 2.1 provides the bandwidth necessary for the best possible experience.
How do I enable VRR on my PS5? Navigate to the PS5’s settings menu, then go to “Screen and Video,” then “Video Output,” and finally, toggle “VRR” to “Automatic” or “On.” Make sure your TV or monitor also has VRR enabled in its settings.
Will VRR make my games run at a higher resolution? No, VRR doesn’t directly increase the game’s resolution. However, because our titles are already built to have very stable frame rates, the main effect of the VRR system setting will be to slightly increase dynamic image resolution targets.
Does VRR affect input lag? No, VRR greatly improves the gaming experience without significantly affecting input lag.
Is VRR useful for games that already run at a stable 60fps? While the benefits are less pronounced with stable frame rates, VRR can still help smooth out minor fluctuations and eliminate any potential screen tearing. It’s generally recommended to leave VRR enabled even for games that run well without it.
What are the disadvantages of using VRR? One limitation is that VRR doesn’t work on every display. In rare cases, VRR can introduce minor visual glitches or compatibility issues. Some limitations include: local dimming not working on most LCDs, no black frame insertion, some games straight up not working with VRR, unsmooth camera movements in VRR in some games, some games not looking smooth in VRR for no reason.
Does VRR work with all PS5 games? No, not all PS5 games are fully optimized for VRR. Some games may benefit more than others. Always test different settings to see what works best for individual games.
Can I use VRR with a 1440p monitor on PS5? Yes! VRR support at 1440p resolution and other quality-of-life features are included in the 7.0 PS5 update.
Is a higher refresh rate or VRR better? When VRR is enabled, your display automatically syncs with the source device’s frame rate, and visual artifacts like screen tearing are resolved. For best results, you’ll want to look for a TV with a 120Hz refresh rate, which will allow it to match up to 120fps video output from your console.
Should I turn on VRR for gaming? Yes, it is useful for demanding games as it also reduces stuttering caused by the disparity between your frame rate and refresh rate, making playing at lower frame rates more bearable. VRR is worth it for consoles as they usually run at lower frame rates and would benefit most from this technology.
Does VRR increase my internet speed? No. VRR (Variable Refresh Rate) is a display technology that synchronizes the refresh rate of your monitor or TV with the frame rate output of your gaming console or computer to reduce screen tearing and stuttering. It does not affect your internet speed in any way.
Should I use VRR for movies? Although VRR is strongly associated with video games due to such content having unpredictable, discontinuous frame rates and thus most maximally benefit from the technology, VRR is also useful as well even for media whose frame rate is fixed and known in advance, such as movies and video, by being able to automatically.
Is refresh rate or 4K more important for PS5? The sort of monitor you will need for a PS5 should be at least 23 inches or more, 4K and with a 90 hertz refresh rate or more. Most games will run at 60, but if you’re looking to play competitive shooters you’ll definitely need a 120 hertz refresh rate monitor. If you’re fine with playing 1080 p then go ahead.
Should I leave my PS5 in performance mode? The answer depends on your needs and specific games. For instance, if you want to get higher graphical quality, pick the Resolution Mode. To obtain a smooth game experience, select the Performance Mode.

Conclusion: Embracing the Benefits of VRR

While the PS5 provides a great gaming experience even without VRR, enabling it is a significant step towards unlocking the console’s full potential. The smoother gameplay, reduced screen tearing, and improved performance in fidelity modes make VRR a worthwhile upgrade for any serious gamer. Investing in a compatible display and ensuring VRR is properly configured will undoubtedly enhance your enjoyment of PS5 games for years to come.

To learn more about gaming technology and its impact on education and society, visit the Games Learning Society website at https://www.gameslearningsociety.org/.

Is VRR important for PS5?