How to Get Better FPS in Counter-Strike 2 in 2024

Counter-Strike 2 (CS2) has brought significant improvements and changes, but with these enhancements come higher demands on your system. If you’re looking to boost your FPS (frames per second) for smoother gameplay, here are some tips and tricks to help you out.

1. Optimize In-Game Settings

Adjusting your in-game settings can have a substantial impact on your FPS. Here are the recommended settings:

• Display Mode: Fullscreen
• Resolution: Stick to your monitor’s native resolution, but lowering it can improve FPS.
• Aspect Ratio: 16:9 is standard, but 4:3 can offer better performance.
• Refresh Rate: Match your monitor’s refresh rate.
• Overall Quality: Set to Low or Medium.
• Anti-Aliasing: Disabled
• Texture Filtering: Bilinear or Trilinear
• Shadows: Low
• Effects Detail: Low
• Shader Detail: Low
• Multicore Rendering: Enabled
• V-Sync: Disabled
• Motion Blur: Disabled

These settings help reduce the load on your GPU and CPU, leading to better performance¹².

2. Update Your Drivers

Ensure your graphics card drivers are up to date. Manufacturers like NVIDIA and AMD frequently release updates that optimize performance for the latest games. Check their websites or use their software to keep your drivers current.

3. Adjust Launch Options

You can set specific launch options in Steam to improve performance. Right-click on CS2 in your Steam library, select Properties, and then click on Set Launch Options. Here are some recommended options:

+fps_max 0 -novid -nojoy -high -fullscreen +mat_queue_mode 2

These commands help prioritize the game’s performance and disable unnecessary features³.

4. Close Background Applications

Running multiple applications in the background can significantly impact your FPS. Close any unnecessary programs, especially resource-heavy ones like web browsers, music players, or other games.

5. Optimize Your PC

• Power Settings: Set your PC to High Performance mode in the power settings.
• Disk Cleanup: Regularly clean up your disk to free up space and improve performance.
• Defragment Your Hard Drive: If you’re using an HDD, defragment it regularly. SSD users don’t need to worry about this.

6. Use Performance Monitoring Tools

Tools like MSI Afterburner can help you monitor your system’s performance and make adjustments as needed. You can track your GPU and CPU usage, temperatures, and FPS to identify any bottlenecks.

7. Consider Hardware Upgrades

If you’re still struggling with low FPS, it might be time to consider upgrading your hardware. A better GPU, more RAM, or even a faster CPU can make a significant difference in your gaming experience.

Network settings

Now that we went through in-game and hardware settings that may help improve FPS, let’s dive into network settings that may help as well.

Improving your network settings can significantly reduce ping and enhance your overall gaming experience in Counter-Strike 2. Here are some tips to help you achieve better ping:

1. Use a Wired Connection

Whenever possible, use an Ethernet cable instead of Wi-Fi. Wired connections are more stable and offer lower latency compared to wireless connections¹.

2. Optimize Your Router Settings

• Quality of Service (QoS): Enable QoS on your router to prioritize gaming traffic over other types of traffic.
• Channel Selection: If you’re using Wi-Fi, choose a less congested channel. Tools like Wi-Fi Analyzer can help you find the best channel.
• 5GHz Band: Use the 5GHz band instead of the 2.4GHz band for less interference and better performance¹.

3. Adjust In-Game Network Settings

• Max Acceptable Matchmaking Ping: Set this to a lower value to ensure you connect to nearby servers. You can find this setting in the game options.
• Network Commands: Use the following commands in your autoexec.cfg file or console to optimize network performance:
  rate 786432
cl_cmdrate 128
cl_updaterate 128
cl_interp 0
cl_interp_ratio 1

4. Update Network Drivers

Ensure your network card drivers are up to date. Manufacturers often release updates that can improve performance and stability¹.

5. Close Background Applications

Close any unnecessary applications that might be using your internet bandwidth. This includes web browsers, streaming services, and other online applications¹.

6. Reset Network Devices

Periodically reset your modem and router to clear any potential issues. Simply unplug them for about a minute and then plug them back in².

7. Use DNS Servers

Switch to a faster DNS server like Google DNS (8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4) or Cloudflare DNS (1.1.1.1). This can sometimes reduce latency and improve connection stability³.

8. Registry Tweaks (Advanced)

For advanced users, tweaking the Windows Registry can help optimize network performance. Be sure to back up your registry before making any changes:

• TcpAckFrequency: Set to 1
• TCPNoDelay: Set to 1

These settings can be found under HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Tcpip\Parameters\Interfaces⁴.

Conclusion

Improving your FPS in Counter-Strike 2 involves a combination of optimizing in-game settings, keeping your system updated, and ensuring your PC is running efficiently. In addition, by optimizing your network settings, you can achieve a more stable and lower ping in Counter-Strike 2. These adjustments combined will help you enjoy a smoother and more responsive gaming experience.

Happy gaming! 🎮

Feel free to share your own tips or ask any questions in the comments below!