For Mass Effect Legendary Edition, the best starting settings depend on your platform and display: on PC, use your screen’s intended resolution, keep antialiasing, dynamic shadows, and ambient occlusion on initially, and choose a frame-rate cap your display can support. On PS5, start with Favor Quality for its higher resolution target; on Xbox Series X, choose Favor Quality for resolution or Favor Framerate if you have a compatible high-refresh display and prioritize smoothness. These are starting points, not universal guarantees: adjust to your screen and, on PC, change one setting at a time.
At a glance
The console figures below are historical, publisher-reported targets from 2021, reproduced by Game Informer. They are “up to” targets, not fresh independent measurements or a promise that every output pixel is rendered natively. The game runs on the newer consoles through compatibility with the PS4 and Xbox One releases; these are not separate native PS5 or Xbox Series X|S editions.
| Platform | Favor Quality target | Favor Framerate target | Starting choice | Target basis |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PS5 | Up to 4K UHD, 60 fps | Up to 1440p, 60 fps | Quality for the higher resolution target | EA-reported, 2021 |
| Xbox Series X | Up to 4K UHD, 60 fps | Up to 1440p, 120 fps | Quality for resolution; Framerate for refresh-rate priority | EA-reported, 2021 |
| Xbox Series S | Up to 4K UHD, 30 fps | Up to 1440p, 60 fps | Framerate for responsiveness; Quality for the higher resolution target | EA-reported, 2021 |
EA’s original console performance-details page now redirects to a general game page, so treat the table as the historical EA-reported targets documented in contemporary coverage rather than as a current benchmark. Microsoft’s Xbox listing describes the choice in plain terms: “Choose between ‘Favor Quality’ for increased resolution or ‘Favor Framerate’ to boost your FPS on consoles.”
Think of these figures as two kinds of trade-off, not a graphics-quality ranking. A higher resolution target can suit a 4K screen or someone who values a sharper image; a higher frame-rate target can feel more responsive, provided the platform and display support it. The platform matters: PS5’s two documented targets are both 60 fps, while Series X is the console in this comparison with a published 120-fps target.
Which settings should I use on each platform?
Choose the mode that matches what you value on your display: resolution, or a higher frame-rate target where the console supports one. The published targets don’t make one mode universally best.
PS5: start with Favor Quality
Both PS5 modes have a documented target of up to 60 fps; the resolution target differs, with up to 4K UHD in Quality and up to 1440p in Framerate. If you prefer the higher resolution target, begin with Quality. Because the listed frame-rate target is the same, switching modes is not a documented way to pursue 120 fps on PS5. If you prefer how the other mode looks or feels on your particular display, compare them directly.
In other words, the mode choice on PS5 is principally a resolution-target decision according to the published figures, not a choice between 60 and 120 fps. You can still try both modes in the same scene if you want to decide which presentation you prefer, but do not expect the documented targets to promise a higher frame rate in Favor Framerate. The PS5 runs the PS4 release through compatibility, rather than using a separate native PS5 edition.
Xbox Series X: choose based on display and priority
Favor Quality targets up to 4K UHD at 60 fps, while Favor Framerate targets up to 1440p at 120 fps. Quality is the straightforward starting point for resolution; Framerate is the option to try if smoothness and a compatible high-refresh display matter more. The 120-fps figure is EA’s published target as reported by Game Informer, not an independently measured guarantee that gameplay will always run at that rate.
If you own a 120Hz gaming monitor or television, Series X’s Framerate mode is the console option where that higher refresh-rate capability is most directly relevant. Confirm that your display and connection setup can present the refresh rate you want. A high-refresh display cannot turn a 60-fps target into a 120-fps target, and selecting the mode does not guarantee that every scene will always reach the published maximum. If you mostly play on a 60Hz screen or prefer resolution, Favor Quality is the simple starting choice.
Xbox Series S: weigh resolution against responsiveness
Its published Quality target is up to 4K UHD at 30 fps, compared with up to 1440p at 60 fps in Framerate mode. If you value a higher frame-rate target, start with Framerate; if resolution is the priority, try Quality. “Up to 4K UHD” describes the published target, not a claim that the game renders every image at native 4K.
Here the frame-rate target changes substantially between modes, so the decision is more than a resolution preference. Framerate is the sensible first test if you value responsiveness; Quality is available if you prefer the higher resolution target and accept the lower published frame-rate target. As on the other consoles, these are compatibility modes for the Xbox One release, not a separate native Series S edition.
What are the best PC settings for Mass Effect Legendary Edition?
Start with the resolution that suits your selected monitor, keep the main image-quality options enabled, and set a cap that makes sense for your display. EA’s PC documentation lists the available display, frame-rate, and graphics controls; it does not establish a single best preset for every PC.
A practical baseline is therefore a sensible target rather than a maximum-everything prescription: select your monitor and its intended resolution, leave the three main visual effects on, and choose a cap that fits both the screen and the performance you can maintain. Then use repeatable comparisons to decide whether any trade-off is worthwhile. The game’s documented controls are relatively specific; advice that assumes a long list of modern rendering features may not correspond to options in this release.
1. Set the display and resolution first
Choose your monitor and its intended resolution in the display options. EA lists Fullscreen, Borderless, and Windowed modes. Borderless can be convenient when you want to move between the game and other windows, but the documentation does not establish that one window mode is always faster. Start with the mode you prefer rather than changing it in expectation of a guaranteed performance gain.
If more than one display is connected, confirm that the game is using the monitor you intend before judging its resolution or frame-rate behavior. Resolution is tied to the selected display, so an unexpected monitor choice can make the rest of your adjustments confusing. Use the resolution appropriate to the screen you are playing on, then assess performance before lowering it. The available documentation does not establish that changing window mode alone will fix a performance problem.
2. Choose a frame-rate cap for your monitor
The menu offers caps of 30, 60, 120, 144, and 240 fps; EA documents 240 fps as the default. A cap is a ceiling, not a promise that your hardware will sustain that rate. Pick a value your monitor can display and your PC can maintain comfortably; there is no general reason to select 240 fps on a 60Hz screen.
For example, a 60Hz display gives you little reason to use the 240-fps cap as a target. If you have a high-refresh screen, a higher cap may be relevant, but only if your PC can deliver those frames consistently enough to be useful. A lower, stable target can be a better fit than choosing the largest number in the menu and seeing performance fluctuate below it. The listed values are cap choices, not benchmarks for a particular processor or graphics card.
EA says VSync is on by default and caps output at the monitor’s refresh rate. If you see tearing, compare the image with VSync on and off. EA also warns that VSync can introduce input lag, so weigh that trade-off if responsiveness is especially important. The interaction with the selectable cap does not make one setting right for every combination of display and PC.
VSync and the frame-rate cap answer related but different questions: the cap sets a selectable ceiling, while EA’s documentation says VSync limits output to the display’s refresh rate. If VSync is on and the screen refreshes at 60Hz, do not expect a selected 240-fps cap to make the monitor show 240 distinct refreshes per second. If you are unsure which control is limiting output, change one setting at a time and compare. There is no need to disable VSync pre-emptively if you are not seeing tearing or a responsiveness problem.
3. Leave antialiasing on initially
Antialiasing smooths jagged edges, so leave it enabled while establishing a baseline. In PC Gamer’s 2021 test, disabling it improved frame rate by under 6%, while making edges look worse. That was one publication’s result on its test system; it is not a predicted gain for every PC. If you are short of your chosen target, try turning it off and judge whether the small reported gain is worth the visible edge quality cost on your screen.
Because the reported improvement was under 6% in that particular test, antialiasing is not the first setting to sacrifice if you want to preserve clean edges. The actual effect depends on your hardware and situation, so treat the test result as one point of comparison rather than an expected number. If turning it off does not make a noticeable difference to your own performance, restore it.
4. Test dynamic shadows and ambient occlusion if performance falls short
Keep both enabled if the game is meeting your target and you like the image. If it is not, try disabling dynamic shadows first, then ambient occlusion, checking the result after each individual change. PC Gamer reported a 16% frame-rate improvement from disabling dynamic shadows on its mid-range test system. In the same publication’s test, disabling ambient occlusion raised the frame rate from 126 to 135 fps, a reported 7% improvement. These are test-specific results, not gains to expect on other hardware.
Ambient occlusion adds depth around objects and in corners. EA cautions that “Turning this feature off may improve performance on some systems.” That is a possibility, not a blanket recommendation: if your performance is already comfortable, keeping the effect on preserves the intended depth cues.
These two options are reasonable first tests because PC Gamer’s 2021 measurements found larger gains from disabling them than from disabling antialiasing on its test system. That comparison does not establish a universal order for every PC: a different system may respond differently, and the gains may be smaller or absent. The point is to test a likely lever while retaining the image quality you want, not to assume a particular percentage.
5. Treat motion blur and film grain as image preferences
Both are documented toggles, but PC Gamer reported little performance impact from changing them in its tests. Turn them on or off according to how you want the image to look; they are not the first options to target when seeking a meaningful frame-rate improvement.
If you dislike the appearance of either effect, disabling it is a reasonable personal preference, but do not count on it to solve a frame-rate shortfall. Conversely, if you like the look, there is no performance-based reason in PC Gamer’s reported test results to remove them first. Keep visual preference separate from the settings that produced the more useful gains in that particular comparison.
6. Change one option at a time
After each adjustment, revisit the same kind of gameplay that previously felt slow or uneven. If you disable several effects at once, it becomes harder to identify which change helped and which visual trade-off you dislike. Restore an option if the improvement is not noticeable or the image matters more to you than the additional headroom.
A simple order is to record your current cap and options, test dynamic shadows, then test ambient occlusion, and only then consider antialiasing if you still need more room. Use similar gameplay for each comparison rather than changing settings and judging a different scene. This makes it easier to tell whether performance changed, while also letting you judge the cost to shadows, depth, or edge quality. If a change does not improve the experience, put it back before moving on.
What should HDR brightness be?
There is no supported universal HDR brightness or contrast value: calibrate for the display the game detects rather than copying a number from someone else’s screen. EA’s PC settings documentation lists these controls and defaults:
| Control | Documented range or choices | Documented default |
|---|---|---|
| Brightness | 0–10 | 0 |
| Enable HDR | Auto or Off | Auto |
| HDR Contrast | −10 to 10 | 0 |
| HDR Brightness | 400–10000; adjustable only when HDR is detected | 1000 |
These are menu ranges and defaults, not recommended calibration targets for every TV or monitor. Confirm that the game detects HDR, begin with the defaults, and adjust while looking at detail in both bright and dark scenes on your own display. If the HDR Brightness control cannot be changed, check detection and the display’s HDR configuration before treating that as a missing game setting.
A number such as 1000 in the menu is the documented default, not a claim that every display should be calibrated to that value. Displays differ, so a setting that looks balanced on one screen may make another look too dark or wash out detail. Make adjustments while checking both shadow detail and bright highlights, and change one control at a time so you can tell what improved the image. If HDR is not detected, the HDR Brightness control may not be adjustable; confirm the game and display are configured for HDR before trying to tune it.
For a 4K HDR gaming monitor or television, resolution and HDR are separate considerations: the higher resolution target does not provide a universal HDR calibration. Start by confirming the display is actually detected as HDR, then judge the picture in a range of bright and dark scenes. Avoid copying peak-brightness numbers from another display as if they were game recommendations.
What should I turn off first for more FPS on PC?
If frame rate falls below the target you chose, test dynamic shadows first, then ambient occlusion; keep antialiasing on unless you are willing to accept rougher edges for a potentially modest gain. This order reflects the specific levers and PC Gamer’s 2021 test results, not a guarantee of the same ranking or percentage on every system.
Use a repeatable comparison: note the cap and current options, change one setting, and check the result in similar gameplay. If disabling shadows or ambient occlusion does not make a useful difference, restore the effect and reassess the cap or resolution instead of stripping out every visual feature. Film grain and motion blur are better treated as appearance choices than as primary performance fixes, given PC Gamer’s report of little impact in its tests.
Before turning several effects off, check whether your selected cap is simply higher than the PC can sustain. The menu’s cap is a maximum, not a performance setting that creates additional capability. If a stable lower cap better matches your screen and hardware, selecting it can be more sensible than chasing the highest menu value. Keep the resolution appropriate to the display unless you have a specific reason to trade image sharpness for performance.
Are there PC presets or upscaling options to use?
The cited documentation identifies a short list of graphics toggles and display controls, not a built-in one-click Ultra preset, ray tracing, or DLSS setting. PC Gamer also reported no graphical presets. Set the available options individually rather than following advice that assumes those controls exist in this release.
That also means there is no documented universal preset to apply and move on. Use the controls the game actually lists—display and resolution choices, the cap and VSync, antialiasing, dynamic shadows, ambient occlusion, motion blur, and film grain—then decide based on your display and performance. Do not buy or configure a system around an assumed built-in DLSS or ray-tracing toggle for this game.
How should I choose between resolution and smoothness?
Use resolution priority when you prefer the higher published resolution target and your display setup suits it; choose the higher frame-rate target when the platform offers one and you value responsiveness more. That trade is most consequential on Xbox Series X, where the published targets change from up to 4K/60 to 1440p/120. On PS5, both listed modes target 60 fps, while on Series S the published targets are up to 4K/30 and 1440p/60.
For PC, make the equivalent decision through resolution and the frame-rate cap: a higher cap is only useful if the display can present it and the system can sustain it. The listed caps are choices in the menu, not hardware performance estimates. A high-refresh display may make a higher cap relevant, but neither display capability nor a selected cap guarantees the game will run at that rate.
Use the display you actually own as the deciding factor. A 4K screen may make the higher console resolution target attractive, while a compatible high-refresh screen can make Series X Framerate mode or a higher PC cap more relevant. These are not interchangeable benefits: a higher resolution target concerns image detail, while a higher frame-rate target concerns how often frames can be presented. Your preferred balance depends on what you notice and value, not on a mode label alone.
For consoles, compare the platform-specific numbers rather than assuming “Favor Framerate” always means 120 fps. On PS5, the published frame-rate target is 60 in both modes; on Series S, it is 60 in Framerate mode; Series X is the one with a published 120-fps mode. In every case, “up to” describes the publisher-reported target, not a promise of a constant rate or native rendering at the listed resolution.
How do I troubleshoot settings that do not behave as expected?
Check the platform, active mode, and display configuration before assuming the game has a fault. The practical checks differ between console modes, PC frame-rate controls, and HDR detection.
- Console output is below the target you expected: verify whether Favor Quality or Favor Framerate is selected, and remember the published figures are “up to” targets rather than guarantees. On Series X, 120 fps is associated with Favor Framerate and a 1440p target; on PS5, neither listed mode has a 120-fps target.
- The PC does not reach the selected cap: a cap limits the maximum, it does not force the system to achieve it. Check that the selected resolution and display are the ones you intend, then test shadows and ambient occlusion individually if performance is short of target.
- VSync appears to limit frame rate: EA says it caps output at the monitor’s refresh rate. Compare VSync on and off if you are balancing visible tearing against the possibility of input lag.
- HDR Brightness is unavailable: EA documents that control as adjustable only when HDR is detected. Confirm HDR is enabled or detected for the display before trying to tune that value.
- HDR image looks too dark or too bright: return to the documented defaults and adjust on the display in question, checking detail in both shadows and highlights rather than relying on another screen’s numerical setting.
If you are comparing console modes, switch modes and compare the same scene and display rather than relying only on the name of the option. If you are comparing PC settings, keep the resolution and cap fixed while changing one graphics option at a time. Mixing several changes makes it hard to identify whether a result came from the resolution, effect, cap, or display setting.
How we picked these starting settings
The recommendations prioritize the platform and display, then preserve visual effects until there is a concrete reason to trade them for performance. Console comparisons use EA-reported mode targets reproduced in 2021 coverage; PC controls and defaults come from EA’s PC documentation; and the cited performance gains are attributed only to PC Gamer’s 2021 test system. No newer independent console benchmark, universal HDR calibration, or all-hardware performance result is established by those sources.
That distinction matters when comparing a published target with a personal result. Console targets describe the modes as announced, while PC Gamer’s percentages are measurements from one mid-range test system. EA’s PC cap list describes menu choices, not predicted performance. Use each figure for what it is: a way to understand the available choices, not a guarantee about every system or display.
Purchase and display considerations
If you are buying a copy, make sure the edition and format match your console and whether you need a disc drive; a physical listing may not suit a system without one. For a display purchase, match the capability to the use case rather than the game’s mode label: a high-refresh display is relevant to the Series X 120-fps target and higher PC caps, while a 4K HDR display makes resolution and HDR calibration more relevant. No particular monitor model or current price is established here, so check the exact display specifications and compatibility before buying.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I use Favor Quality or Favor Framerate on PS5?
Start with Favor Quality if you want the higher published resolution target: up to 4K UHD at 60 fps, compared with up to 1440p at 60 fps in Favor Framerate. Both documented modes target 60 fps, so the published figures do not present Framerate as a 120-fps option on PS5. Compare them on your own display if you prefer how one looks or feels.
Can Mass Effect Legendary Edition run at 120 fps on Xbox Series X?
EA-reported specifications reproduced by Game Informer list up to 120 fps at a 1440p target in Favor Framerate mode on Series X. This is a published up-to target, not a guarantee for every moment of play or every display. The connected screen and setup also need to support the refresh rate you want to use.
What should I turn off first for more FPS on PC?
Try dynamic shadows first, then ambient occlusion, changing one at a time and checking similar gameplay. PC Gamer’s 2021 test found gains from disabling both on its mid-range test system, but its measured percentages do not predict results on every PC. Keep antialiasing on initially if you value smoother edges.
What should HDR brightness be?
EA lists HDR Brightness from 400 to 10000, with a default of 1000, and says the control is adjustable only when HDR is detected. Those are menu values, not a universal calibration recommendation. Confirm HDR detection, start at the defaults, and adjust while checking bright and dark detail on your own display.
Does VSync override the frame-rate cap?
EA documents VSync as on by default and says it caps output at the monitor’s refresh rate; its PC cap choices are separate menu settings. The documentation does not establish a universal interaction for every setup. If you want to understand which limit applies on your PC, compare VSync on and off while keeping other settings steady; remember EA warns that VSync can introduce input lag.
Do the PC frame-rate cap options prove the game will run at 240 fps?
No. The 30, 60, 120, 144, and 240 fps values are selectable caps documented by EA, and the default is 240; they do not indicate the frame rate a particular computer can sustain. Choose a cap suited to your monitor and performance rather than treating the highest choice as a target you are guaranteed to reach.
Does the Xbox Series X 120-fps target apply to every display?
The target is listed for Favor Framerate at up to 1440p, but presenting a high refresh rate also depends on the connected display and setup. The published target should not be read as a guarantee for every screen or every moment of play.
Does Mass Effect Legendary Edition support ultrawide monitors on PC?
EA’s PC settings documentation lists resolution and monitor selection, but does not establish ultrawide support or provide an aspect-ratio compatibility guarantee. Check the available resolutions on your own setup rather than assuming every ultrawide mode is supported.
Can I use a controller and change graphics settings separately on PC?
The cited documentation covers display and graphics controls but does not establish a controller-specific settings path or per-gamepad graphics profile. Treat graphics options as game-level choices unless your installation exposes a separate control.
Are the PS5 and Xbox Series X|S versions native current-console editions?
The documented console modes run the PS4 and Xbox One releases through compatibility on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S. The published mode comparison should not be described as a separate native current-console edition.
The Bottom Line
Start with the mode or settings that fit your screen: Favor Quality on PS5 for its higher resolution target, and choose between resolution and refresh-rate priority on Xbox according to your display. On PC, use the intended display resolution, pick a realistic cap, and test shadows and ambient occlusion individually before sacrificing antialiasing. Treat console figures as historical up-to targets, PC test gains as hardware-specific, and HDR values as display-dependent starting points.