PS5 on a PC Gaming Monitor: Choose the Right One

With the PS5 becoming more mature and getting better optimized games, let’s see what you need to consider before buying your gaming monitor to get the best visual experience on the current gen console.

CORRECTION: this article has been edited for clarity and to avoid confusion regarding particular features and specifications of the PlayStation 5 system. Please refer to official Sony announcements and publications for PS5 information. 

For most of us 2020 hasn’t been an easy year, and maybe you’re looking to treat yourself to some nice new tech towards the holidays. Perhaps a new gaming PC with a beefy graphics card and a glorious CPU, and why not a PS5 while you’re at it? You deserve to enjoy life, after all. And that new tech deserves a proper monitor for gaming and entertainment in 4K 60Hz, which is the high end standard these days for full on gaming.

But can you have a performance PC and a PS5 on the same display in your study? Sure, and the EW3280U proves that point quite eloquently. Please allow us to elaborate on just how this 32” gaming and entertainment monitor achieves so much. 

Sony’s PlayStation 5 designates target resolutions, not frame rates. Following the September 7 2022 firmware update, the console currently supports the following resolutions:

If you are considering which monitor to buy to play with PS5, resolution is one thing that you need to consider!

You may also be wondering about ultrawide monitors. The PS5 works with ultrawide screens but the image may be stretched or otherwise modified, since ultrawide resolutions aren’t supported by PS5 yet.

Following much popular demand and likely related to Sony’s release of PlayStation-branded PC gaming monitors, the PS5 received a long-awaited addition in the form of 1440p support, meaning 2560 x 1440.

To activate 1440p, go to Settings, then Screen and Video. Click on Test 1440p Output.

The PS5 will then cycle through tests for 1440p in 60Hz and 120Hz. If all goes well, you can then use 1440p at up to 120Hz. And yes, 120Hz mode works fine in 1440p. In fact, the PS5 is more likely to reach 120Hz in 1440p than in 4K.

We’ve tested an entire range of BenQ MOBIUZ high refresh rate gaming monitors on PS5 and all passed the 1440p 120Hz test.

There are limitations, though. Variable refresh rate or VRR currently does not work in 1440p for some unknown reason, only in 1080p and 4K. This will likely change in the near future. 

Sony changed things up considerably with the PS5 UI compared to its PS4 predecessor. In what we think was an attempt at improving accessibility, Sony engineers ensure that the console can run 120Hz games like some FPS titles.

Game Presets have two options, which are Performance Mode and Resolution Mode.

Performance Mode is used for higher frame rates, typically at the cost of resolution and setting fidelity. This only applies to games that have a performance/quality selector to begin with. So, if you want to play 120Hz games choose this.

Resolution Mode as its name suggests is for resolution and higher image quality. So, if you’re on a 4K display and like sticking as close as possible to that resolution, then use resolution mode.

Again, this only works with games that have toggles for these settings and that support the Game Preset feature. 

The PS5 ships with a 48Gbps HDMI 2.1 cable. Indeed, when plugged to an HDMI 2.1 port we can see that 120Hz shows up as a supported frame rate.

The PS5 presumably negotiates frame rates with each game and app, and the UI appears to run in 4K 60Hz.

With HDMI 2.1, 4K 120Hz is clearly a firm part of the PS5 resolution/refresh rate constellation, so support isn't an issue.

Your gaming monitor needs to have HDMI 2.1 if you want to game on PS5 at up to 4K 120Hz.

That means the bottom line is HDMI 2.1 definitely matters. It’s essential to get the most out of the PS5 visually, but remember to make sure it’s full 48Gbps HDMI 2.1.

IPS offers great color accuracy, and the EW3280U’s 10-bit color depth translates into 95% of DCI-P3. That’s wide gamut right there, so games look amazing, not to mention faithful to the original master. IPS, as you know, ensures impressive viewing angles from any direction. Image quality doesn’t deteriorate if you stand to the side or look at the screen from further away, making the EW3280U a valuable centerpiece for a gathering of gamers.

HDR is of course part and parcel of new generation consoles. The EW3280U is VESA DisplayHDR 400 certified to deliver 400 nits, which is great for HDR at desktop distances. It won’t overwhelm you or look dim, rather exactly as needed. Furthermore, being a BenQ display, the EW3820U has smart HDRi technology that optimizes high dynamic range performance based on content. The PS5 features a UHD Blu-ray drive and those discs now all require HDR to look their best, so the EW3280U delivers in that regard as well.