Topic: Is VRR necessary for 4K 60FPS on PS5?

I have a PS5 connected to LG's 55UN73 (part of the LG UN7300 series) 4K UHD TV. From what I heard, LG UN7300 series is a budget TV that has ALLM, 4K Active HDR, but does not have VRR. I've been interested in enabling 4K 60FPS on my PS5 for quite a while now, so here is my question. Is VRR necessary for enabling 4K 60FPS on PS5?

@jaemohyun0618 no, I’m fairly sure it’s not required for that. VRR is essentially its own feature that allows for custom/non-standard refresh rates, where-as 30/60/120 are standard refresh rates so aren’t related in that sense.

Your screen might not support 4K/120 but it’s very, very likely to support 4K/60. Just make sure you use the HDMI cable that came with the console and that it’s plugged directly into the TV (no splitters etc).

@jaemohyun0618 Like @antdickens said already you should be fine for 4K/60FPS. It should work out of the box. And I want to confirm that your TV does not support 4K/120FPS unfortunately.

I have a similar TV spec wise (though it's much smaller).

@antdickens Thank you. That is much appreciated.

@Kidfried Understood. Now that makes me feel relieved.

@jaemohyun0618 VRR is 'Variable Refresh Rate'. Most TV's are '60hz' TV's and 'refresh' 60x per second - which means that both a locked 60 and 30fps game 'syncs' with the TV refresh rate - refreshing every time a 'new' frame is delivered at 60fps or refreshing twice for every frame at 30fps.

Where VRR 'helps' is when games drop below 60fps and as 'low' as 48fps (I believe on PS5) which would be out of sync with the TV's refresh rate leading to screen tear and/or judder. There is a reason that '40fps' - which is exactly half way between 30 and 60 - doesn't look/feel better than 30fps despite delivering more frames and updating more frequently - and that's in part down to the way the frames are 'presented' (more judder/screen tear).

What TV's with VRR can do is 'adjust' the Refresh Rate to match the rate the frames are being delivered so if the game is running at say 55fps, your TV is refreshing 55x per second (instead of the 'fixed' 60hz of non VRR displays) to eliminate the visual issues associated with being out of sync with the TV.

As long as your TV supports 4k/60 - My TV is a 4k/60 TV from 2016 so doesn't support VRR and has HDMI 2.0 you have enough 'bandwidth' to support 4k/60 and HDR. You may not take advantage of certain modes (like 40fps modes (R&C/Spider-Man) or 'performance' over 60fps modes) on your TV in some games and, if they 'drop' frames, you may see more visual impact (no different from say PS4 on HD TV's in the past) but if they are 'locked' to 60/30fps you'll have no issues.

VRR really comes into its own with games that drop frames and can hover below 60fps for long periods or, for example, unlocked frame rates over 60fps as locking to 120fps could be too much of a compromise to achieve but 80fps is 'better' than 60fps - so adapt the TV's refresh rate to 'match' the frame rate for a 'smoother' presentation. If frames drop below '48' (I believe on PS5) VRR doesn't 'work' so you'll see the issues associated with that frame rate.

Its not 'essential' - much like '4k' or HDR isn't - even with a PS5 - it won't stop you being able to play 'ANY' game - but can 'limit' your options. Like I said, you may not be able to play ALL the 'modes' offered like 'high performance' (over 60fps) modes, 40fps modes etc and games that 'drop' frames will not look as 'smooth' without VRR - but I expect you are familiar with that experience as that was common in the past and VRR helps address that.

ALLM is 'unnecessary' too by the way - its 'useful' as people didn't know how to set up 'game mode' on their TV or had to manually change to Game Mode - but this makes it 'automatic' - it realises you are playing on a Console so automatically engages 'Game' mode or Low-Latency mode.

Anyway, hope that helps and if you want/need any more assistance, just ask...

@BAMozzy I play Gran Turismo 7 and Need for Speed Unbound on PS5. Those games are okay even without VRR, right?

@jaemohyun0618 Sure - I don't play those myself to know how they 'perform' in frame rates but it won't be any different to whatever TV you had before in that respect and by the sounds of it, a big 'upgrade' from what you are accustomed to.

Think of 'VRR' as a 'crutch' for developers not hitting their 'targets' and you get uneven frames - then VRR can help smooth out the presentation if they can't lock to 60fps but otherwise its like 'every' other TV will display the game so it won't affect your ability to play and like I said, the PQ should be a massive upgrade (4k resolution/HDR).

IF those games offer '120' fps High Performance modes or 'unlocked' above 60fps modes, you will not be able to use those - and as your TV is not a 120hz VRR TV won't get 40fps (you get 30fps) Quality modes. Your TV is like a PQ upgrade over HD so it will work like ANY other TV connected - you just won't get 'access' to VRR or 'High Frame Rate - 60-120fps (40fps sits in a 120hz container, not a 60hz one) features the PS5 is capable of. That doesn't mean it won't work with ANY HDMI display - it will 'limit' what options you may have, but won't stop you playing.

If you don't have HDR, you can't turn it 'on/off', don't have a 4k TV, can only select 1080p. Same with Games, you may not have options to use 'high performance' modes if your display can't display them...

Its nothing to worry about, its an 'additional' upgrade but not 'essential' because you'll still get a rock solid, standard 30/60fps Console experience because that's what developers target for their Quality modes because the vast majority of Console gamers haven't got VRR/120hz TV's - its also 'future proofing' because it will become 'standard' in TV's so when it become 'financially' worth upgrading, you'll get the benefits unlocked in those games - like upgrading from a standard HD TV to a 4k HDR TV will give you the benefits of 4k HDR in games you only saw in 1080p HD...

In all honesty, even if I did play those games, which I could on my 2016 TV, I'd have a very similar experience no doubt and exactly the same as basically all but those with 'more expensive' TV's that only really started coming out a year or two ago. Everyone else will likely have a non-VRR display and will work 'just fine' on these displays...

I think it will be quite a while before Devs make '40fps' games or some game that relies on VRR to work, games that can't run on 'non-VRR' displays because that would eliminate the vast majority of gamers. Its like building a game for VR Headsets which are a 'display' strapped to your eyes - its a 'specific' feature that few have, will likely grow long term, but right now not essential, more a 'luxury' extra...