Best CS2 Settings to Increase FPS

CS2 FPS go BRRRRR with these settings.

Anwell Patdu
Anwell Patdu - CS2 & Valorant Expert
8 Min Read

CS2 is far from the most demanding game on the market and doesn’t require the best PCs to run. However, the new engine is beefier than the old one, requiring a bit more power from your system. I’ve personally run into some slight FPS drops when first playing the game, resulting in me playing with the settings a bit.

I’ll save you all the trouble and list down the best CS2 settings and fixes you can do to increase FPS.

CS2 In-Game Settings to Boost FPS

in-game cs2 settings

You can start by optimizing your graphics settings in CS2. These settings will help by easing the load on your device by turning down some unnecessary visuals. We didn’t include any resolution settings for CS2 since some people want a specific resolution for their game.

Here are the recommended graphics settings that you can use to boost FPS CS2.

CS2 SettingsOption
Boost Player ContrastEnabled
Wait for Vertical SyncDisabled
Current Video Values PresetCustom
Multisampling Anti-Aliasing ModeNone
Global Shadow QualityLow
Model/ Texture DetailLow
Texture Filtering ModeBilinear
Shader DetailLow
Particle DetailLow
Ambient OcclusionDisabled
High Dynamic RangePerformance
FidelityFX Super ResolutionPerformance
NVIDIA Reflex Low Latency (for NVIDIA users only)Disabled

Note: I chose to turn Vertical Sync off in my case because it causes more stutters in my setup. However, it can help improve FPS drops for other configurations, so I suggest experimenting with the setting and finding what works for your machine.

We did a before and after FPS counter to show you how much FPS you can gain by simply using the settings we’ve included above. Here are our results:

Showing the FPS difference between recommended low settings and max settings
Showing the FPS difference between recommended low settings and max settings

There’s about a 160% performance boost by simply lowering settings in CS2. Low-end machines would definitely benefit a lot from this, and can sometimes mean being able to play the game at stable framerates. Sometimes it’s all about getting a higher FPS than the game looking more polished.

CS2 In-Game Settings Used by Pros

If your PC has some juice to spare, you can opt to change your settings a bit for an enhanced gaming experience. Some of the best CS players use a solid mix of settings that increase graphics quality while still providing high FPS numbers. What better players to copy from than the best, right?

CS2 SettingsOption
Boost Player ContrastEnabled
Wait for Vertical SyncDisabled
Current Video Values PresetCustom
Multisampling Anti-Aliasing Mode8X MSAA
Global Shadow QualityHigh
Model/ Texture DetailLow
Texture Filtering ModeBilinear
Shader DetailLow
Particle DetailLow
Ambient OcclusionMedium
High Dynamic RangeQuality
FidelityFX Super ResolutionDisabled (Highest Quality)
NVIDIA Reflex Low Latency (for NVIDIA users only)Disabled

Here are the before and after results between using max settings and what Pros use.

Showing the FPS difference between Pro's custom settings and max settings
Showing the FPS difference between CS2 pro’s custom settings and max settings

Based on the comparison, there’s still a substantial jump in FPS (compared to low settings) while maintaining superb details and clarity in CS2 while applying these settings. The winner is clear: It’s best to implement these settings to take advantage of the game’s updated graphics while not sacrificing performance in the process.

CS2 Launch Settings to Boost FPS

If you aren’t satisfied with the extra FPS you get using the CS2 settings mentioned above, you can try tinkering with the launch options. Launch options are a powerful tool that can help you change settings that may not be normally found within the CS2 menus.

Here are a few launch options that you can try to improve FPS.

Launch CommandFunction
-highForces your PC to run CS2 with a high priority, feeding it more resources.
-novidDisables the launch video
+cl_forcepreload 1Allows CS2 to preload graphics before starting a match.
-nojoyTurns off joystick support and frees up a bit of RAM.
-fullscreenAutomatically launched the game in fullscreen mode, forcing it to limit background app usage.
+fps_max 0Unlocks the FPS limit, allowing the game to run at the highest FPS possible.
-freq xReplace “x” with your monitor’s refresh rate. It forces the game to utilize your monitor’s refresh rate for smoother visuals.

How to Use CS2 Launch Options

What use are the launch options above if you don’t know where to use them? They aren’t as simple as entering CS2 console commands, but they’re definitely close. Here are the steps to use the CS2 launch options above.

  • Open Steam and right-click on CS2.
  • Click on Properties.
  • You should find the Launch Options section under General.
Executing Steam launch commands
Executing Steam launch commands
  • Paste all the launch commands that you’d like to use here.
  • Make sure to include a space between each launch command.
  • Exit the settings and open CS2.

If you have any jump throw binds or practice maps in an auto exec file, you should also include the launch command for them here.

Does Aspect Ratio Affect FPS in CS2?

Showing the 4:3 at 1280x1024 and 16:9 at 1920x1080 comparison
Showing the 4:3 at 1280×1024 and 16:9 at 1920×1080 comparison

Generally speaking, the aspect ratio doesn’t affect FPS in CS2. However, the resolution does. Changing the aspect ratio will also change your resolution, which can result in higher or lower FPS in C2.

Typically, a higher resolution will result in a lower FPS. This is also the reason why many pros prefer playing at lower resolutions, such as 1280×720 for the native 16:9 or 1280×960 for the stretched 4:3 aspect ratios.

Personally, I don’t like the look of the other aspect ratios. I simply prefer playing on the native 16:9 aspect ratio and would lower the resolution instead for more FPS. At the end of the day, it still depends on personal preference. So if you’re looking to get a bit more out of your machine, make sure to experiment with different aspect ratios as well.

Conclusion

Those were the different CS2 settings that you can use for some real CS2 FPS boost action. Hopefully, we were able to help you increase your FPS through these settings.

Did we miss a setting that can help increase FPS? Comment it below to help the community out.

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By Anwell Patdu CS2 & Valorant Expert
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Hey, awesome game enthusiasts! I'm Anwell, diving into the gaming world from the days of the Game Boy Advance SP with Pokémon FireRed, evolving into a pro strategist in the intense showdowns of Valorant and CS2. It's a thrill ride I never want to get off! But hey, I'm not all about the competitive scene. Sometimes I'm kickin' back with the latest indie farming sims, where my farm designs—though not award-winners—bring a quirky kind of peace. As for the tech side, yeah, I've put together a PC or two, and it's a blast. But let’s park that for now; we're all about the gaming vibes here! All this joystick joy turned me into a wordsmith in the gaming universe, with a sea of articles to my credit. And the journey, with you all by my side, just keeps leveling up. So, stay tuned, stay connected, and let’s keep this game-night rolling! Ready for more action and less talk? Onward to our next virtual adventure!
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