Modern Samsung TVs can make excellent displays for high-bandwidth HDMI 2.1 systems, including installations using BZBGEAR 4K120 and 8K60 switchers, extenders, matrices, splitters, and KVM solutions.

However, simply connecting an HDMI 2.1 device does not always guarantee that the TV will immediately operate at its maximum supported resolution, refresh rate, HDR capability, or HDMI bandwidth.

Two Samsung settings are particularly important:

Input Signal Plus and Game Mode.

Understanding how these features work can help you get the best possible performance from BZBGEAR HDMI 2.1 products while avoiding common problems such as missing HDR, reduced refresh rates, limited color formats, or unexpected HDMI negotiation behavior.

Why HDMI 2.1 Settings Matter

BZBGEAR offers a growing range of HDMI 2.1 products designed for high-bandwidth video formats including 4K at 120Hz and 8K at 60Hz.

Examples include HDMI 2.1 switchers, matrices, distribution amplifiers, KVM switches, and newer extenders capable of handling signals far beyond traditional HDMI 2.0 bandwidth. BZBGEAR's current HDMI 2.1 portfolio includes products supporting 8K60, 4K120, VRR, ALLM, and—in selected models—up to 48Gbps HDMI bandwidth.

When one of these products is connected to a compatible Samsung television, the TV still needs to be configured to accept the expanded HDMI signal.

That is where Input Signal Plus becomes essential.

1. Enable Input Signal Plus

Samsung's Input Signal Plus setting enables the expanded HDMI capabilities required by high-bandwidth sources.

Samsung specifically states that enabling Input Signal Plus allows HDMI 2.1 functionality on the selected HDMI input. Samsung nz

On many current Samsung TVs, the setting can be found under:

Settings → Connection → External Device Manager → Input Signal Plus

Then enable Input Signal Plus for the HDMI port connected to your BZBGEAR equipment.

For example:

Source → BZBGEAR HDMI 2.1 Extender → Samsung HDMI 3

Make sure Input Signal Plus is enabled for HDMI 3.

Without Input Signal Plus, the television may still display a picture, but the source may negotiate a lower-bandwidth HDMI mode.

Possible symptoms include:

• 4K60 instead of 4K120
• HDR unavailable
• reduced color depth
• reduced chroma sampling
• no 8K signal
• HDMI compatibility problems
• the source falling back to a lower signal format

For troubleshooting any BZBGEAR 4K120 or 8K60 installation, this should therefore be one of the first Samsung settings you check.

2. Understand What Game Mode Does

Samsung's Game Mode serves a different purpose.

Its primary job is reducing video processing inside the television so that the delay between the HDMI source and what appears on screen is minimized.

This is particularly valuable for:

Gaming PCs, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, simulation systems, control applications, and any environment where low latency matters.

Game Mode also works closely with modern HDMI gaming features such as:

• ALLM — Auto Low Latency Mode
• VRR — Variable Refresh Rate
• high-refresh-rate HDMI
• HDMI 2.1 FRL operation

Samsung notes that Game Mode can automatically enable Input Signal Plus when a compatible game console is connected. Samsung nz

However, Game Mode and Input Signal Plus should not be considered the same feature.

A useful way to think about them is:

Input Signal Plus = enables the high-bandwidth HDMI connection

Game Mode = optimizes the TV for low-latency display of that connection

3. Recommended Samsung Settings for BZBGEAR 4K120 Systems

For a BZBGEAR installation carrying 4K120, start with:

A typical signal chain might look like:

Gaming PC / PS5 / Xbox → BZBGEAR HDMI 2.1 device → Samsung TV

BZBGEAR currently offers multiple switchers designed around 8K60/4K120 HDMI 2.1 operation, including models supporting VRR and ALLM. Bzbgear

For gaming installations, Game Mode ON is generally desirable because it minimizes additional television processing.

For professional AV testing, however, Game Mode does not necessarily need to be enabled.

You can use:

Input Signal Plus ON + Game Mode OFF

when you are primarily verifying resolution, FRL negotiation, EDID, HDR, or basic HDMI transport.

4. Recommended Samsung Settings for 8K60

An 8K60 signal places considerably greater demands on an HDMI link than traditional 4K60 video.

For an 8K-capable Samsung TV:

Input Signal Plus should be enabled on the connected HDMI input.

Your signal path should also consist entirely of equipment capable of supporting the desired format:

8K source → 8K60-capable BZBGEAR product → Samsung 8K TV

BZBGEAR offers 8K HDMI 2.1 products including matrices, splitters, switchers, KVM systems, and extenders designed around high-resolution formats such as 8K60 and 4K120. Bzbgear

One important point is that 8K60 does not automatically mean that every device in the signal chain is operating at 48Gbps.

HDMI 2.1 can use different FRL link rates, and some displays may support 8K60 while having a maximum FRL bandwidth lower than 48Gbps.

Technologies such as DSC, or Display Stream Compression, can also help transport extremely high-resolution signals within the available link bandwidth. Samsung identifies FRL and DSC as HDMI 2.1 technologies used for high-resolution and high-refresh-rate operation. Samsung nz

Because of this, always distinguish between:

supported video format

and

actual negotiated FRL bandwidth.

They are not necessarily the same thing.

5. Game Mode Does Not Increase HDMI Bandwidth

This is an important distinction when testing professional AV equipment.

Turning Game Mode on does not increase the physical bandwidth of the Samsung HDMI receiver.

For example, if a particular Samsung television supports a maximum negotiated FRL rate of 40Gbps, enabling Game Mode will not turn that HDMI input into a 48Gbps receiver.

Instead, Game Mode primarily changes television processing and enables or facilitates gaming-oriented HDMI features.

Similarly:

Input Signal Plus does not manufacture additional HDMI bandwidth.

It enables the expanded HDMI capabilities already supported by that particular television and HDMI input.

That distinction is especially important when using BZBGEAR HDMI test generators or troubleshooting HDMI 2.1 extenders.

6. What About VRR and ALLM?

Many BZBGEAR HDMI 2.1 products support gaming-oriented features such as VRR and ALLM. For example, several BZBGEAR 8K switchers and splitters are specified for 8K60/4K120 operation with VRR and ALLM support. Bzbgear

VRR

Variable Refresh Rate allows the display's refresh rate to dynamically follow the source's frame output.

This can reduce:

• screen tearing
• stuttering
• synchronization artifacts

For normal AV distribution, however, VRR is usually unnecessary.

If you are troubleshooting a high-bandwidth connection, it can therefore be useful to initially test with:

VRR OFF

Once basic 4K120 or 8K60 operation is confirmed, enable VRR and test again.

ALLM

Auto Low Latency Mode tells a compatible television when it should automatically enter a low-latency mode.

In gaming installations this can make the system more seamless because the television can automatically transition into Game Mode.

7. Use the Correct HDMI Cables

High-bandwidth HDMI systems are sensitive to the entire signal chain.

When working with 4K120 or 8K60 equipment, use appropriately rated HDMI cables between:

source → BZBGEAR device

and

BZBGEAR device → television

For short direct HDMI connections, an Ultra High Speed HDMI cable is recommended when attempting the highest HDMI 2.1 formats.

Remember that the performance of the installation is ultimately determined by the weakest component in the signal chain.

For example:

48Gbps source

→ 48Gbps BZBGEAR switcher

→ 48Gbps cable

→ 40Gbps television

means the HDMI connection will negotiate according to what the television can accept.

The switcher cannot force the television to operate beyond its capabilities.

8. Allow HDMI to Negotiate Automatically First

When working with BZBGEAR products featuring EDID management, avoid forcing an unusually demanding EDID immediately.

Start by allowing the system to use the Samsung television's native EDID.

This lets the source discover what the TV actually reports as supported.

A good troubleshooting sequence is:

Source → BZBGEAR device → Samsung TV

Then verify that:

1. Input Signal Plus is enabled.
2. The TV is detected correctly.
3. The desired resolution appears at the source.
4. HDR works.
5. 120Hz or 60Hz operation is available as expected.
6. The image remains stable.

Only after establishing this baseline should you experiment with forced EDIDs or more advanced HDMI settings.

9. Recommended Setup for HDMI Troubleshooting

If you're diagnosing a problem rather than gaming, simplify the HDMI connection first.

A useful baseline is:

Input Signal Plus: ON

Game Mode: OFF

VRR: OFF

HDR: OFF initially

Fixed resolution and refresh rate

Start with something predictable, such as:

4K60

Then progressively test:

4K120

followed by:

8K30

and finally:

8K60, if all components support it.

Once the basic signal is stable, add HDR, higher color depth, VRR, and other features one at a time.

This approach makes it much easier to determine which feature causes a compatibility problem.

10. Best Settings for Gaming

For a PS5, Xbox Series X, or gaming PC connected through a compatible BZBGEAR HDMI 2.1 product, a good starting configuration is:

Input Signal Plus: ON

Game Mode: ON or Auto

120Hz output: ON

VRR: ON, if desired

HDR: ON

ALLM: Enabled where available

This configuration lets the Samsung TV prioritize low latency while maintaining high-bandwidth HDMI 2.1 functionality.

BZBGEAR offers several HDMI 2.1 products specifically capable of passing these gaming-oriented formats, including switchers supporting 8K60, 4K120, VRR, and ALLM. Bzbgear

11. BZBGEAR Products for 4K120 and 8K60 Systems

Depending on the installation, BZBGEAR offers several ways to distribute high-bandwidth HDMI.

HDMI 2.1 Switchers

Products such as BZBGEAR's 8K switcher family allow multiple HDMI 2.1 sources to share one display while maintaining formats up to 8K60 and 4K120 on supported models. Bzbgear

HDMI 2.1 Splitters

BZBGEAR also offers HDMI 2.1 distribution amplifiers designed to send an 8K60/4K120 source to multiple displays, with selected models supporting features including VRR, ALLM, QMS, and QFT. Bzbgear

8K Matrices

For larger systems, an 8K HDMI matrix allows multiple high-bandwidth sources to be routed independently to multiple displays.

BZBGEAR specifically positions HDMI 2.1 matrices as part of its 8K video distribution ecosystem. https://bzbgear.com/products/8k-compatible-devices/8k-video-switchers/

HDMI 2.1 Extenders

High-bandwidth HDMI can also be extended beyond traditional HDMI cable distances.

For example, BZBGEAR currently lists the BG-EXH-8K50C and BG-EXH-8K100U as HDMI 2.1 extender solutions supporting 8K60/4K120 formats, depending on model and installation conditions. https://bzbgear.com/products/8k-compatible-devices/8k-extenders/

Quick Setup Checklist

Before troubleshooting a Samsung TV connected to a BZBGEAR 4K120/8K60 product, check these items:

Final Thoughts

Samsung's newer 4K and 8K televisions can be excellent companions for BZBGEAR's HDMI 2.1 products, but configuring the television correctly is an important part of achieving the expected performance.

The most important setting is Input Signal Plus. If you are sending 4K120, 8K60, HDR, or another high-bandwidth HDMI signal into the TV, make sure Input Signal Plus is enabled for that HDMI input.

For gaming applications, Game Mode can then be used to reduce latency and take advantage of features such as ALLM and VRR.

And when troubleshooting, remember:

Start simple, establish a stable HDMI connection, and then progressively enable the advanced features.

A properly configured Samsung display combined with the appropriate BZBGEAR HDMI 2.1 solution can provide reliable high-resolution video distribution for gaming, testing, residential AV, commercial installations, and other demanding 4K120 and 8K60 applications.