If you’ve spent any time playing Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO), you’re probably very familiar with ‘net_graph’. It was the go-to console command if you wanted to monitor real-time performance stats like FPS, ping, and packet loss… all very important information when you want to optimise your game or troubleshooting lag.
But with the arrival of Counter-Strike 2 (CS2), it may have been that you’re at a bit of a loss – as the familiar ‘net_graph’ command doesn’t work anymore. Valve has completely overhauled the engine and interface, which means that some of the most popular tools have either been reworked or removed completely. So where, exactly, does that leave us?
Well, don’t worry—here at CSDB we’ve looked into it – and here’s everything you need to know about how you can enable netgraph-style functionality in the upgraded version of the game.
What Is Net Graph and Why Does It Matter?
Net Graph, in its original CS:GO form, was an overlay where you could see the main performance stats:
- FPS (Frames Per Second): Which measures the smoothness of your game.
- Ping (Latency) – This shows the delay between your system and the game server.
- Packet Loss – Which measures data that fails to reach the server – which can lead to lag or rubberbanding.
Knowing information like this is really important if you want to understand exactly how your hardware and internet connection are performing in real-time. Whether you want to adjust your settings to minimise lag, diagnose what’s causing the stutter, or you just want to optimise to give yourself a competitive edge, net graph was—and still is—an incredibly important tool for all players, no matter what the skill level.
What Happened to net_graph in CS2?
When Valve changed to CS2, they took away the old ‘net_graph’command… so if you do try to use it in the CS2 console, you’ll get nothing. And, quite understandably, it means that there are now a lot of players who don’t know how to view their network and performance stats when playing.
The good news is that there are a number of workarounds and new built-in options that offer a similar functionality you can use.
How to Enable Performance Monitoring in CS2
So, let’s take a look at how you can do it…
The Easiest Way: The Built-in Telemetry Settings
CS2 now comes with performance telemetry features which you’ll find in the game’s settings menu—you won’t even need to open the developer console. This is the easiest and most accessible way to monitor your performance in real time.
Here’s how you can enable it:
- Click on the Settings icon from the main menu.
- Go to the Game tab and then scroll down to Telemetry.
- Look for the following options and the set them to “Always”:
- Show frame time and FPS
- Show ping
- Show packet loss/misdelivery (optional)
You’ll then see all of these different values in the top-right-hand corner of your screen when you’re playing – which will give you live feedback on your game’s performance.
Pros:
- Easy to access
- You won;t need to enter any console commands
- It’s a clean overlay and gives you access to only the most important information
Console Commands That Still Work in CS2
However, if you are looking for something a bit closer to the old ‘net_graph’-especially if you’re used to getting more detailed information, there are still a few console commands you can try.
1: Enable the Console First
Before you try entering any commands, you need to make sure you’ve enabled the developer console:
- Go to Settings > Game > Enable Developer Console and then set it to ‘Yes’.
- Press the ~ (tilde) key to open the console when you’re in a match. You can also rebind the key in your settings.
2: Use cq_netgraph 1 (Experimental)
This command will add a netgraph-style display to the top-right hand side of your screen. It might not be quite as detailed or customisable as the original command, but it does give some reasonably helpful real-time insights.
Command: cq_netgraph 1
Important Notes:
- This will only work during a live match
- It won’t appear in the main menu or the warm-up screen
- It might not be visible – it depends on resolution or scaling
Use cl_showfps Commands
This is a family of commands that offers various levels of FPS and server tick info.
The Available Options:
- cl_showfps 1: Shows the basic FPS counter under the radar.
- cl_showfps 2: Gives you more detailed FPS values, including maximum and minimum.
- cl_showfps 3: Adds the server tick rate (e.g., 64 or 128 ticks).
- cl_showfps 4: Displays the average FPS, frame times, and server tick data.
These can be really useful if you’re trying to debug a frame-related issue or you want an ongoing summary of performance while you’re playing.
If you want to go ahead and disable any of these commands, enter the command: ‘cl_showfps 0’
Steam’s Built-in FPS Counter
If you’d rather avoid messing with game settings or console commands altogether, them Steam itself offers its own built-in FPS counter you can enable.
To enable it, just follow these steps:
- Open Steam.
- Click on the Steam menu in the top-left and select the Settings option.
- Open up the In-Game tab.
- Activate the In-Game FPS Counter and choose where you want to position it on your screen.
This is less detailed than CS2’s built-in telemetry, but it’s still pretty solid for a bit of casual monitoring.
How to Turn Off Performance Overlays
If your screen is starting to feel cluttered or you just want to hide performance data while playing:
- Telemetry settings: Go to Settings > Game > Telemetry and switch all of the toggles (FPS, ping, packet loss) back to “Never”.
- Console commands: Use ‘cl_showfps 0’ or ‘cq_netgraph 0’ to hide the overlays.
- Steam overlay: Go back into Steam’s In-Game tab and just disable the FPS counter again.
Troubleshooting: Net Graph Not Working in CS2?
Still not seeing anything? Then here are some quick checks you can do:
- Console not opening? Make sure you’ve enabled it in Settings and you’ve set the right bind key.
- Nothing appearing after command entry? Remember, ‘cq_netgraph’ only works in an active match, so make sure you enter a match before you run the command.
- Telemetry options missing? Make sure your game is fully updated as it could be that the settings might have been introduced in a more recent patch.
How to Read the CS2 Net Graph
Once your chosen overlay is active, here’s how you can interpret the information you’re given:
- FPS (Frames Per Second): The higher the FPS, the smoother the gameplay. Try going for a consistent 144+ if you’re using a high refresh monitor.
- Ping: In this instance, the lower the better. A ping under 50ms is ideal – but anything over 100ms is likely to lead to noticeable lag.
- Packet Loss: Under normal conditions, this should be 0%. Any consistent packet loss (e.g., 10% or more) indicates that there could be a potential network problem which will likely lead to stuttering or rubberbanding.
It’s really important that you understand these values as it can help you determine whether the issues you’re having are because of your hardware, your graphics settings, or your internet connection.
Keeping Up with CS2’s Ever-Changing Tools
CS2 might have shaken up the way we monitor in-game performance, but it hasn’t left us with nothing. Whether you’re a more casual player who just wants smooth visuals or you’re a competitive player who’s literally looking to fine-tune every frame to perfection, the tools are still there for you there—you just need to know where to find them.
So, remember:
- Telemetry settings give you built-in FPS, ping, and packet loss overlays.
- Use ‘cl_showfps’ commands if you’re looking for various performance detail levels.
- Try ‘cq_netgraph 1’ if you want a visual netgraph-style overlay.
- Use Steam’s FPS counter if you’re just after a low-effort alternative.
Valve is constantly updating CS2, so it’s always a good idea to keep an eye out for any future updates that could either potentially reintroduce or maybe even expand netgraph functionality. Until then, the methods that we’ve mentioned above will help you stay on top of your performance and focus on what matters—winning! We hope this helped you to Enable Net_Graph in CS2.