Can You Get 120 FPS on PS5 with HDMI 2.0?

The short answer to this question is yes. You CAN use your PS5 with HDMI to get 120FPS BUT only at FHD and QHD resolution NOT on 4K resolution.

If you are confused by the short answer I gave you above if you want to go further in-depth on the question “Can you get 120FPS on PS5 with HDMI 2.0?” then you need to understand how the HDMI interface works.

I have to stay. HDMI interface is not as easy to understand as it used to be with the previous-gen consoles.

The issue of understanding the HDMI interface is further exaggerated by the fact that the HDMI port looks the same across all versions.

In the following text, I will explain important concepts regarding the HDMI interface and the refresh rate the different versions can carry.

The Different HDMI Port Versions

As alluded to earlier, while all HDMI ports may look the same, they vary drastically in terms of the bandwidth they can carry.

Bandwidth in simple terms is the information and the data that can be carried from the source device like the PS5 console to the display device like your TV or monitor.

Now the higher the resolution and the frame rate of the interface, the higher the demand for the data bandwidth over the HDMI cable.

Hence we have different HDMI versions catering to the ever-evolving demand for higher frame rate and resolution.

The following table explains this in detail:

As you can see above, the maximum resolution and the refresh rate carried by different HDMI interface versions vary drastically.

HDMI 1.4, which was the hallmark HDMI port version of the previous gen console could carry 1080P at 120Hz (120FPS) but 4K only at 30FPS.

HDMI 2.1, the output port found on the PS5, can carry up to a whopping 8K resolution at 120FPS.

But here we are interested in the HDMI 2.0 interface, which brings me to the question at hand.

Can You Get 120 FPS on PS5 with HDMI 2.0?

The short answer to the question is a yes. You CAN get 120FPS on PS5 with an HDMI 2.0.

If you look at the table above again, you will see that HDMI 2.0 can carry both 1080P and QHD resolution at 120FPS.

However, when it comes to 4K resolution, it is ONLY limited to 60FPS.

In order to have 4K @ 120FPS support you will need HDMI 2.1 interface.

But it is worth noting here that while PS5 DOES support 4K @ 120FPS due to the graphical demand of such high resolution and frame rate, there are only a handful of old and forgetful games that support this display mode.

The following table shows a few games that support 4K @ 120FPS. 

The vast majority of the 4K games on PS5 are either supported at 60 or 30 FPS.

So given the discussion above, HDMI 2.0 is actually quite sufficient for PS5 and its vast majority of the games for 120 FPS and 4K games.

The Cable Also Matters

I must also take this opportunity to mention that just the different HDMI port versions, the cable version also matters.

Again, while all HDMI cables may look the same, they are not.

Different HDMI cables are designed to carry different amounts of bandwidth.

The following table explains the different HDMI cables and their corresponding ports:

While all HDMI cables are backward and forward-compatible, when connected, the entire interface works at the specs of the most inferior component.

So if you connect a High-Speed HDMI cable between HDMI 2.0 ports, you will be limited to the specs of HDMI 1.4 only.

As such, in order to experience the benefits of the HDMI 2.0 port, you will need to have AT LEAST a Premium High-Speed HDMI cable.

Fortunately, PS5 comes with an Ultra High Speed HDMI cable that is more than sufficient for the HDMI 2.0 ports.

Also Read: Can You Use PS5 Without HDMI 2.1?