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Connect the console directly to one of the Samsung S90H’s 4K/120Hz-capable HDMI inputs, use the HDMI cable supplied with the console (or a certified Ultra High Speed HDMI cable), enable the TV’s enhanced input-signal setting, and turn on Game Mode. Then set the console to 4K output and 120Hz where its video menu allows it.

The S90H is reported to provide four HDMI 2.1 inputs capable of up to 4K at 120Hz, with HDMI 3 assigned to eARC for a soundbar or AV receiver. That lets a PS5 or Xbox Series X run 4K/120Hz while a soundbar remains connected, provided the console uses another HDMI 2.1 input.

What you need for 4K 120Hz

Before changing settings, gather the hardware that can carry the signal end to end. A 4K/120Hz mode fails if any part of the chain is limited to 4K/60Hz.

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  • Samsung S90H: Use an HDMI input identified in the television’s specifications or on-screen information as supporting 4K/120Hz. An independent S90H review reports four HDMI 2.1 inputs and support for up to 4K/120Hz from PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X.
  • Console: A PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X can output 4K at 120Hz when the game and video mode support it. Xbox Series S can expose a 120Hz option, but the available resolution and frame rate depend on the game and its rendering mode.
  • Cable: Start with the HDMI cable included with the console. If it is missing or damaged, use a certified Ultra High Speed HDMI cable rated for 48Gbps. A Premium High Speed HDMI cable is suitable for many ordinary connections, but it is not the recommended choice for a console 4K/120Hz link.
  • Direct signal path: For initial setup, connect the console straight to the S90H. Put an AV receiver, HDMI switch, capture device or splitter back into the chain only after direct 4K/120Hz operation is confirmed.

Samsung product pages advertise motion handling up to 165Hz for the S90H, but that figure describes the television’s display capability. The console, game, selected resolution and signal format determine whether 120Hz is actually available.

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Which HDMI port should you use?

The S90H is reported to have four HDMI 2.1 inputs that can accept up to 4K/120Hz. Therefore, a PS5 or Xbox Series X can use any of those high-bandwidth inputs; there is no need to reserve a special “console-only” socket. The important exception is audio equipment: HDMI 3 is the reported eARC port.

Connection Recommended S90H port Why
PS5 or Xbox for 4K/120Hz Any HDMI 2.1/4K-120Hz-capable input not occupied by eARC equipment Provides the bandwidth needed for 4K at 120Hz.
Soundbar or AV receiver using eARC HDMI 3 HDMI 3 is the reported eARC connection on this model.
Console with a soundbar already on HDMI 3 HDMI 1, 2 or 4, subject to the port labels shown on your set Keeps the console on a separate high-bandwidth input while eARC remains available.
Older HDMI 2.0-class path Do not use for 4K/120Hz HDMI 2.0-class connections generally top out at 4K/60Hz.

Port numbering and on-screen labels can vary by region or firmware. If the printed label and the television’s information screen disagree, follow the S90H’s current input specification and test the console directly.

Connect the console directly

  1. Turn off the S90H and the console.
  2. Plug the supplied console HDMI cable into the console’s HDMI OUT socket.
  3. Plug the other end into an available S90H HDMI input that supports 4K/120Hz. Do not use HDMI 3 if that port is needed for an eARC soundbar or receiver.
  4. Turn on the television, select the HDMI input used by the console, and then power on the console.
  5. Leave any HDMI switch, AV receiver, splitter or capture device disconnected until the direct connection has been verified. These devices can impose a 4K/60Hz limit or fail to pass the console’s 120Hz handshake.

If the supplied cable is unavailable, replace it with a certified Ultra High Speed HDMI cable rather than relying on an older cable that happens to fit the socket. A connector’s shape does not reveal its bandwidth rating.

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Enable the S90H’s high-bandwidth signal mode

The S90H may not accept every high-bandwidth format until its enhanced input option is enabled for the individual HDMI source. Samsung firmware has used labels such as Input Signal Plus or an enhanced input-signal setting; wording and menu placement can change with software versions.

  1. Open Settings or All Settings on the S90H.
  2. Open the connection or external-device section and find the HDMI input-signal option. On recent Samsung menu layouts this is commonly under Connection and External Device Manager.
  3. Select the HDMI input carrying the PS5 or Xbox signal.
  4. Turn on Input Signal Plus, Enhanced or the equivalent high-bandwidth option for that input.
  5. Return to the input and select Game mode, or leave Game Mode on Auto if the television offers automatic switching.

Changing the input-signal setting can briefly blank the screen while the HDMI link renegotiates. That is normal. If the picture does not return, switch to another source, power-cycle both devices, and reconnect the console after the television has fully restarted.

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Set up a PlayStation 5

Use the PS5’s own video-output screen to request 4K and automatic 120Hz operation.

  1. From the PS5 home screen, open Settings.
  2. Select Screen and Video, then Video Output.
  3. Set Resolution to Automatic or select 2160p (4K) when the option is available.
  4. Set 120 Hz Output to Automatic.
  5. Set VRR to Automatic if you want variable refresh rate and your display and game support it.
  6. Check the information shown in the video-output screen. It should identify the connected display and the modes the HDMI link negotiated.

120Hz is not a forced frame rate for every PS5 title. A game must include a 120Hz performance mode, and you may need to select that mode in the game’s own graphics settings. A title that renders at 30 or 60 frames per second will not become a 120fps game simply because the console and TV are connected correctly.

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Set up an Xbox

On an Xbox Series console, the relevant controls are grouped under TV and display options.

  1. Open Settings from the Xbox guide or home screen.
  2. Choose General, then TV & display options.
  3. Set Resolution to 4K UHD on an Xbox Series X when that mode is offered.
  4. Set Refresh rate to 120 Hz.
  5. Open 4K TV details to see which combinations the Xbox believes the S90H and the current HDMI path support.
  6. Enable VRR in the display options if you want it and the console reports that the television supports it.

As with PS5, a 120Hz console setting does not guarantee 120 frames per second in every game. The game must provide a 120Hz mode, and its resolution may change when that mode is selected. Xbox Series X is documented as supporting 4K/120Hz; Series S output depends more heavily on the individual title and its performance profile.

PS5 and Xbox settings compared

Item PS5 Xbox Series X|S
Video menu path Settings > Screen and Video > Video Output Settings > General > TV & display options
4K setting Resolution: Automatic or 2160p Resolution: 4K UHD on supported models and modes
120Hz setting 120 Hz Output: Automatic Refresh rate: 120 Hz
VRR VRR: Automatic Enable VRR in TV and display options when offered
4K/120Hz capability Supported when the display, cable and game mode allow it Xbox Series X supports 4K/120Hz; Series S results vary by game and resolution mode
Included cable Use the HDMI cable supplied with the console Use the HDMI cable supplied with the console
Dolby Vision gaming Not relevant to the documented Samsung limitation Xbox supports Dolby Vision gaming on compatible displays, but Samsung TVs do not support Dolby Vision gaming

How to confirm that 4K 120Hz is active

Do not rely only on the television’s marketing refresh-rate number. Confirm the negotiated signal and the game mode separately.

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  1. On PS5, return to Settings > Screen and Video > Video Output and review the detected video-information fields.
  2. On Xbox, open Settings > General > TV & display options, then select 4K TV details. The checklist should show whether 4K and 120Hz are available through the current connection.
  3. Launch a game that explicitly includes a 120Hz or high-frame-rate mode and enable that mode in the game’s graphics options.
  4. Check the S90H’s current-source or signal-information panel if your firmware provides one. It should report a 120Hz input rather than merely showing that the TV itself can refresh at a higher rate.

Some games lower internal resolution to maintain a 120-frame-per-second target. That is a game-engine choice, not evidence that the HDMI connection has fallen back to 60Hz.

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Fix a console that only offers 60Hz

Check the port and cable first

Move the console to another S90H HDMI input that is identified as 4K/120Hz-capable, then reconnect it with the original console cable. If the original cable is unavailable, use a certified Ultra High Speed HDMI cable. HDMI 2.0-class links generally stop at 4K/60Hz, and an unverified older cable can cause the console to hide 120Hz even when the TV supports it.

Re-enable the enhanced input option

Open the S90H’s external-device or HDMI input settings and turn on the enhanced high-bandwidth option for the exact input in use. The setting is per input on many Samsung televisions, so enabling it for one socket does not necessarily enable it for another.

Remove devices between the console and television

Disconnect an AV receiver, HDMI switch, splitter or capture card and connect the console directly to the S90H. If 120Hz appears after the direct test, the intermediate device or one of its cables is the bottleneck. Check that device’s specifications before putting it back in the chain; a device limited to 4K/60Hz will prevent a 4K/120Hz signal even when both endpoints support it.

Restart the HDMI handshake

  1. Turn off the console and S90H completely.
  2. Unplug both devices from power for a short period.
  3. Reseat the HDMI cable at both ends.
  4. Power on the S90H first, select the correct input, and then start the console.
  5. Recheck the console’s resolution and refresh-rate menus.

This clears a failed or stale HDMI negotiation without changing saved games or console data.

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Check the game, not only the system menu

The console can report 120Hz capability while an individual game remains at 60Hz. Look for a performance, high-frame-rate or 120Hz option in the game. Competitive modes sometimes trade visual effects or resolution for a higher frame rate.

Fix a black screen or intermittent picture

  • Reseat both HDMI ends: A partially inserted plug can pass a low-bandwidth mode but fail when 4K/120Hz is requested.
  • Test direct connection: Remove switches, receivers and splitters until a stable picture is restored.
  • Power-cycle both devices: Shut them down, disconnect power briefly, then start the TV before the console.
  • Try another certified cable: Use the console cable or a certified Ultra High Speed HDMI cable, and avoid sharply bending it near either connector.
  • Temporarily lower the requested mode: If the screen is completely blank, set the console to an automatic or lower-resolution output, restore the picture, then re-enable the S90H enhanced input setting before trying 4K/120Hz again.

If the direct connection is stable at 4K/60Hz but repeatedly fails at 4K/120Hz, the cable, intermediate device or input configuration is still the likely limit. Keep the console direct to the television while isolating each component.

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Fix VRR that is missing or unstable

Both PS5 and Xbox Series consoles support VRR, but the feature must be enabled on the console and supported by the game. Confirm VRR is set to Automatic or enabled in the console’s display settings, keep Game Mode active on the S90H, and test with a title that advertises VRR support.

VRR does not create extra frames. It synchronizes the display’s refresh timing with the console’s changing frame rate within the supported operating range. A game that stays below its target, or a resolution mode outside the console’s supported combinations, may still show a fixed or variable rate that is lower than 120Hz.

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Use a soundbar or AV receiver without losing 4K/120Hz

Connect an eARC soundbar or receiver to HDMI 3, the reported eARC port, and connect the PS5 or Xbox directly to another HDMI 2.1 input. This arrangement lets the TV receive the high-bandwidth video signal from the console while sending compatible audio back over eARC.

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If the console is routed through the receiver instead, verify that the receiver has a genuine 4K/120Hz pass-through path on the exact input and output being used. If it does not, connect the console to the S90H and use the television’s eARC connection for audio instead.

HDR and Dolby Vision expectations

Xbox consoles can support Dolby Vision gaming on compatible televisions, but Dolby Vision gaming is not available on Samsung TVs. That limitation is separate from 4K/120Hz: an Xbox can still operate at 4K/120Hz on the S90H when the cable, input and game support that mode. Use the HDR formats exposed by the television and game rather than expecting Dolby Vision gaming controls to appear.

Why the TV’s 165Hz claim does not mean a 165Hz console signal

Samsung advertises motion handling up to 165Hz for the S90H, and the independent review’s 4K/120Hz figure applies to PS5 and Xbox Series X. Console output remains governed by the console hardware and software. A compatible PC may use a higher refresh mode, but the PS5 and Xbox setup described here should be treated as a 4K/120Hz configuration, not a 165Hz console configuration.

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Recommended final configuration

  • Console connected directly to a non-eARC HDMI 2.1 input on the S90H.
  • Original console HDMI cable, or a certified Ultra High Speed HDMI cable rated for 48Gbps.
  • S90H enhanced input-signal setting enabled for that input.
  • Game Mode set to Game or Auto.
  • PS5 set to 2160p/Automatic resolution and 120 Hz Output: Automatic, or Xbox set to 4K UHD and 120Hz where supported.
  • VRR enabled only when the console and the game support it.
  • Soundbar connected to HDMI 3/eARC, with the console on another high-bandwidth input.

With this layout, the S90H, cable and console each have the bandwidth and settings required for a genuine 4K/120Hz signal; the remaining requirement is that the game itself offer a 120Hz mode.

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