Best Graphics Settings for MAX FPS in CS2. Ultimate Guide by SCOPE.GG

Shooters require a lot of FPS to play comfortably, and CS2 is no exception. If your PC can't deliver enough FPS, you'll have problems displaying enemy player models, the screen will freeze, and the game performance will suffer.

As we all know, professional gamers play shooters on low settings, except Global Shadow Quality, Texture Filtering Mode and Boost Player Contrast, which are set higher. The main goal is to get the maximum FPS (frames per second) from your hardware, not pretty graphics.

Irrespective of how skilled a player is, if he doesn't have enough FPS, he won't succeed because other players will have an advantage. This article aims to cover all the significant aspects of improving your FPS in Counter-Strike 2.

Boosting FPS for a better CS2 Experience

The frame rate in CS2 relies on the capability of your computer and the appropriate game and graphics configurations.

CS2 Graphics Settings for Better Performance

Every player wants the game to be pleasing to the eye, while the FPS should be at its maximum. Below are CS2's most widely used video settings and a statement indicating the reason for selecting each configuration.

Video Settings

In this section, we will look at Video, Advanced Video, NVIDIA, and Game Settings. Each of them will show how to boost FPS in CS2 to the highest possible.

Video

The video settings are individual. Multiple options are available that vary mainly in screen resolution.

Resolution 1 (4:3 | 1280x960):

Models will be much thicker at this resolution.

• Main Menu Background Scenery
• Brightness — 100% - 130%
• Aspect Ratio — 4:3
• Scaling Mode — Stretched
• Resolution — 1280x960
• Display Mode — Fullscreen
• Refresh Rate — Maximum (60hz - 144hz or 240hz)
• Laptop Power Savings — Disabled

Resolution 2 (4:3 | 1024x768):

The models are identical to those at 1280x960.

• Main Menu Background Scenery
• Brightness — 100% - 130%
• Aspect Ratio — 4:3
• Scaling Mode — Stretched
• Resolution — 1024x768
• Display Mode — Fullscreen
• Refresh Rate — Maximum (60hz - 144hz or 240hz)
• Laptop Power Savings — Disabled

Resolution 3 (16:9 | 1920x1080):

The current resolution increases FOV (field of view).

• Main Menu Background Scenery
• Brightness — 100% - 130%
• Aspect Ratio — 16:9
• Scaling Mode — Native
• Resolution — 1920x1080
• Display Mode — Fullscreen
• Refresh Rate — Maximum (60hz - 144hz or 240hz)
• Laptop Power Savings — Disabled

It is challenging to determine the optimal brightness level because each map has unique lighting, and a specific brightness must be selected for each.

Advanced Video

Below are CS2's most widely used video settings and a statement indicating the reason for selecting each configuration.

• Boost Player Contrast — Enabled

The models will look better against the walls, but if you play on a low-spec PC, you can turn it off.

• Wait for Vertical Sync — Disabled

The primary objective is to increase FPS rather than restrict it. Therefore, turn it off.

• Multisampling Anti-Aliasing Mode — 8X MSAA

Depending on your PC's capabilities, you can choose between 4X MSAA and 8X MSAA. If not, you will notice rough edges all over the place and a reduction in picture clarity.

• Global Shadow Quality — Very High

You can set it to either High or Very High. The player gains an advantage by being able to see the enemy's shadow, making this feature especially beneficial when playing on the Ancient map.

• Model / Texture Detail — Low

This one controls the resolution of textures, which is not an important option. Set to Low to increase FPS.

• Texture Filtering Mode — Bilinear

Improves the texture appearance. Most of the players use Bilinear.

• Shader Detail — Low

Controls lighting and shading effects on surfaces. Set to Low to boost FPS.

• Particle Detail — Low

It adjusts the complexity of the particle effects. We put it on Low to increase the performance of the game.

• Ambient Occlusion — Disabled

Turn this parameter off as it calculates lightning; it is unnecessary.

• High Dynamic Range — Quality

We set Quality so we don't go blind when moving from a darker room to a brighter one.

• FidelityFX Super Resolution — Disabled
  
• Nvidia Reflex Low Latency — Enabled + Boost

It depends on the player's computer, as this setting is quite resource-intensive. Its purpose is to minimize input lag while playing the game. GeForce 900 series and newer* GPUs support NVIDIA Reflex Low Latency mode.

With this preset, you can enjoy a more optimized gaming experience with a good FPS and acceptable picture quality. If you are still experiencing issues with freezes and FPS drops, refer to the Best Settings for Low-End PC Systems section below for helpful information.

Nvidia Settings for CS2

We'll delve into key Nvidia settings to help you get the most out of CS2.

3D Settings:

1. Open Taskbar and find NVIDIA Settings
2. Proceed to the NVIDIA Control Panel
3. Inside the 3D Settings dropdown, select Adjust image settings with a preview
4. Click on Use the Advanced 3D image settings > Take me there
5. Select Program Settings
6. Find cs2.exe in the Select a program to customise section
7. Switch back to Global Settings
8. Set Image Sharpening to off
9. Set Ambient Occlusion to off
10. Set Anisotropic Filtering to off
11. Set Antialiasing - Gamma Correction to off
12. Set Antialiasing - Mode to off
13. Set Antialiasing - Transparency to off
14. Set Background Application Max Frame Rate to Off
15. Set CUDA - GPUs to All
16. Set DSR - Factors to Off
17. Set Low Latency Mode to On
18. Set Max Frame Rate to Off
19. Set Multi-Frame Sampled AA(MFAA) to Off
20. Set Open GL Rendering GPU to On
21. Set Power management mode to Prefer maximum performance
22. Set the Preferred refresh rate to the Highest Available
23. Set Shader Cache Side to Driver Default
24. Set Texture filtering - Anisotropic sample optimisation to On
25. Set Texture filtering - Negative LOD bias to Allow
26. Set Texture filtering - Quality to High Performance
27. Set Texture filtering - Trilinear optimisation to On
28. Set Threaded optimisation to On
29. Set Triple buffering to Off
30. Set Vertical sync to Off
31. Click on Apply

Display Settings (Color):

1. Proceed to the Display section and choose Adjust Desktop colour settings
2. Scroll down and find Digital Vibrance
3. Select the parameter that suits you

Display Settings (Size):

1. Proceed to Adjust desktop size and position
2. Select your Monitor
3. Select Full-screen in Scaling
   

AMD Radeon Settings for CS2

All settings can be changed using AMD Software: Adrenalin Edition. Proceed to Gaming and select cs2.exe. Set the following parameters to get the maximum FPS:

Graphics

1. Radeon Super Resolution: Disabled
2. AMD Fluid Motion Frames – Manual: Disabled
3. Radeon Anti-Lag: Enabled
4. Radeon Chill: Disabled
5. Radeon Boost: Disabled
6. Radeon Image Sharpening: Disabled
7. Radeon Enhanced Sync: Disabled
8. Wait for Vertical Refresh: Always Off

Advanced

1. Anti-Aliasing: Use application settings
2. Anti-Aliasing Method: Multisampling
3. Morphological Anti-Aliasing: Disabled
4. Anisotropic Filtering: Disabled
5. Texture Filtering Quality: Performance
6. Surface Format Optimization: Enabled
7. Tessellation Mode: Optimized
8. OpenGL Triple Buffering: Disabled
9. 10-Bit Pixel Format: Disabled

Game Settings

In this section, we have covered the main settings that directly affect gameplay.

Game

• Max Acceptable Matchmaking Ping: 100
• Max Acceptable Game Traffic Bandwidth: Unrestricted

HUD

• HUD Scale - 0.95

Radar

• Radar Centers The Player - Yes
• Radar is Rotating - Yes
• Toggle Shape With Scoreboard - Yes
• Radar Hud Size - 0.90
• Radar Map Zoom - 0.4

Crosshair

Each player selects a crosshair that suits him. The simplest method of choosing a crosshair is to visit this page, find a professional player whose settings you like, and copy them. To insert the copied crosshair, follow these steps:

1. Proceed to Game
2. Select Crosshair section
3. Find Share or Import (below Crosshair)
4. Insert the code copied from here
5. Press Import

Follow Recoil

A new tweak in CS2 that makes changes to the static crosshair. When firing, your sight will dynamically adjust to the recoil as you fire. The main idea is to show where the player is shooting, even with a recoil.

1. Go to Game settings
2. Select Crosshair section
3. Turn on Follow Recoil

Each weapon in Counter-Strike has its unique spray pattern, which gives us insight into how to deal with recoil issues in different weapon types. Experienced players used to static crosshairs may need time to adapt.

Best Settings for Low-End PC Systems: How to get max FPS

So let's take a look at the graphics configuration for slower computers. We will try to lower the graphics as much as possible to increase the FPS. You can increase some of the settings if you feel that your PC can handle the load. So here are the best CS2 settings for FPS boost.

In this preset, you should pay attention to Global Shadow Quality. Shadows in Counter Strike 2 help you detect the enemy and can give away his position before you see him on your screen. Therefore, you should set this parameter to Medium.

Multisampling Anti-Aliasing Mode is also an important aspect. Try setting it to 4X MSAA for a smoother picture. Change it to 2X MSAA if you notice a drop in FPS.

FAQ

What are the recommended CS2 graphics settings for better performance?

See CS2 Graphics Settings for Better Performance for recommended graphics.

How can I boost FPS in CS2 on a low-end PC?

You can increase the FPS by lowering the settings in CS2. See the Best Settings for Low-End PC Systems section.

Are there specific settings for CS2 on high-end gaming rigs?

There are slight differences that improve the image quality. The main goal is to maximize FPS, not to prioritize graphics.

How to Show FPS in CS2

Currently net_graph 1 has been removed. The available CS2 show FPS commands are: cl_showfps 1 - shows frame rate only; cl_showfps 2 - shows frame rate and ping like old net_graph; cl_showfps 3 - shows frame rate and ping with server ticks stats.