PS5: change 3 parameters to improve performance

Action scenes sometimes stumble at the wrong moment. On PS5, a few adjustments can make all the difference at no cost. You can apply them in minutes, then measure the effect at home.

Three concrete settings for smoother rendering

According to a practical guide from ZDNET, three adjustments can transform PS5 gaming comfort without changing hardware. The principle is simple: prioritize frame rate, smooth the image and lighten background tasks. In this way, you gain in responsiveness in compatible titles. However, the perceived gain depends on your TV set and each game.

Sony – PlayStation 5 (Console). The machine ensures fast loading thanks to the internal SSD and its dedicated, well-optimized I/O. The PS5 supports Ray Tracing in certain games, and can reach 120 Hz when the screen allows.

First step: force game presets to Performance mode. Go to Settings Saved data and game/app settings Game presets Performance or resolution mode, then choose “Performance”. On the PS5, this choice favors a stable frame rate, sometimes up to 60 or 120 fps, depending on the title. On the other hand, definition or certain effects may drop slightly.

“Three settings, no purchase, and smoother rendering on many titles.”

Activate 120 Hz and VRR when the screen follows

Second step: activate 120 Hz and VRR if your screen supports them. Go to Settings > Screen and video > Video output, then set “Enable 120 Hz output” to Automatic, and “VRR” to Enabled. This aligns the display with the actual frame rate of the game, smoothing out micro-skips. On PS5, the benefit is clear on fast scenes and competitive games.

Sony – DualSense Edge controller (Accessory). Adjustable, adaptive triggers and custom profiles help to improve consistency, especially in FPS. Quick customization on PS5 also reduces set-up time between games.

• Switch to Ethernet to stabilize ping and downloads.
• Update your system and games as soon as a patch is released.
• Leave space around the console for air flow.
• Allow updates in rest mode to save time.
• Close media apps before a resource-intensive track.

Reduce background tasks and storage requirements

Third step: turn off automatic trophy clips, which saturate the SSD and put a strain on the system. Open Settings > Captures and broadcasts > Trophies, then disable the recording of videos and captures for trophies. In addition, delete old clips in your Gallery to free up dozens of GB. On PS5, this reduces parasitic I/O during loading.

When a game is unusually slow, software maintenance can help. The PS5 offers, via Safe Mode, Empty Cache and Rebuild Database. This operation reorganizes the storage index and sometimes corrects slowness. Do this with care, and back up your data before any sensitive manipulation.

Sony – Pulse 3D headphones (Accessory). Tempest 3D Audio rendering helps to localize sounds better and react faster. As a result, immersion gains in clarity on PS5, without affecting image settings.

Adapting the image game by game

Many titles offer a “Graphics” or “Performance” selector. Even if a system preset is defined, open the game’s video menu and test each mode. This way, you can choose the best compromise for your screen, sensitivity and scene. On PS5, some engines keep a strict 60 fps course, while others go higher with 120 Hz.

Close background applications before intense sessions. For example, stop video playback and suspend downloads during a raid. Also, use the quick selector to close one game before launching another. On PS5, this hygiene limits competition on memory and network.

Quick FAQs and limits to keep in mind

(Not specified) – SSD NVMe 2Tb (Storage). The internal M.2 expansion supports PCIe 4.0 x4 with a recommended minimum data rate of 5,500 MB/s. This gives you plenty of headroom for big PS5 games, while preserving speed.

Gains vary according to engine, map and scene. However, combining Performance, 120 Hz and VRR modes often smoothes out the action without betraying artistic intent. What’s more, a compatible screen maximizes the interest of these settings. On PS5, the coherence of the display chain counts as much as the menus.

Keep your system drivers and screen firmware up to date. As a result, optimizations and fixes accumulate over the course of updates. In short, start with these three settings, then adjust game by game. On PS5, time spent in the menus is quickly recouped in gaming comfort.

• PS5