In a game like Counter-Strike, where every little detail matters, it is crucial for players to run the game in an acceptable amount of frames per second. Otherwise, it would become a massive disadvantage. It is not optimal to play under low FPS, and it becomes very infuriating when your computer doesn’t run the game well.
In this article, we’ll provide various methods on how to increase CS:GO FPS. However, keep in mind that we will sacrifice many visual graphics and details in exchange for increased performance while playing the game.
Optimizing Game Settings
The in-game graphics and video settings are the best place to start when finding out how to increase FPS on CS:GO.
Reducing Graphics Settings
If you’re playing CS2 on a “potato PC,” you must play on minimum graphics settings to ensure you get the best possible performance from your outdated gaming rig.
Therefore, you need to go to your “Advanced Video Settings” section and apply these changes to your settings:
| Setting | Change Setting To |
| Boost Player Contrast | Disabled |
| Wait for Vertical Sync | Disabled |
| Current Video Values Preset | Custom |
| Multisampling Anti-Aliasing Mode | None |
| Global Shadow Quality | High |
| Model / Texture Detail | Low |
| Texture Filtering Mode | Bilinear |
| Shader Detail | Low |
| Particle Detail | Low |
| Ambient Occlusion | Disabled |
| High Dynamic Range | Performance |
| FidelityFX Super Resolution | Performance |
| NVIDIA Reflex Low Latency | Enabled |
When you finish reducing all your advanced video settings to the minimum, be prepared for your in-game graphics to look terrible. However, when you’re barely getting enough frames to keep up, you can’t complain too much.
The only exception of advanced video settings we’ve made is the “Global Shadow Quality,” which should remain “High.” This is because player shadows can give you a massive advantage in gunfights, so trading that off for a slight performance boost is not worth it.
Using Lower Screen Resolutions
Using a low resolution is the biggest life hack for how to increase FPS in CS:GO. Not only does it boost your FPS by a significant amount, but it also makes player models wider, making it easier to land shots.
Professional players with RTX 4090 graphics cards still prefer playing on low resolution, meaning it’s not that bad.
Typically, players turn to a stretched resolution, which has the most effective results when increasing FPS performance.
Refer to the table below for suggestions of video settings to use:
| Aspect Ratio | Resolution | Description |
| 4:3 (Stretched) | 1152X864 | Best balance between FPS performance and gameplay visuals. |
| 4:3 (Stretched) | 1024×768 | More focused on FPS performance, since it displays the least amount of pixels between the three. (HIGHEST FPS BOOST) |
| 4:3 (Stretched) | 1280×960 | More focused on gameplay visuals, since it displays the most amount of pixels between the three. (LOWEST FPS BOOST) |
It is undeniable that playing on stretched and lower resolutions will make your game look less appealing, but when playing CS2, we’re here to shoot heads, not to appreciate the scenery.
Utilizing Performance Console Commands
Fortunately, Valve has created dozens of helpful console commands that will help players solve the issue of how to increase FPS CS:GO, mainly toning down visual effects to increase performance.
Remember that you must have your CS:GO developer console enabled, or else you won’t be able to type in any of the commands listed below!
Best Console Commands To Increase FPS
Here is a list of the most useful console commands that will boost your computer’s performance in CS2:
| Console Command | Function |
| fps_max 0 | This command is used to remove the FPS limit, allowing you to get the maximum amount of frames per second possible. |
| cl_autohelp false | This command will disable the CS:GO auto help tool which gives players hints on planting the bomb, etc. This tool reduces in-game performance, and should be turned off if you are already familiar with the game. |
| cl_disable_ragdolls true | This command disables ragdolls in the game, which is a feature that makes dead bodies move for realistic visual effects. |
| cl_hide_avatar_images 1 | This command is used to hide the Steam profile pictures of all players in the lobby. Some players use animated profile pictures, which can cause a lot of FPS issues. |
| fog_enable_water_fog 0 | This command will disable water fog details on maps such as Ancient. These visuals offer no competitive advantage, and can be disabled in exchange for better performance. |
| r_drawparticles 0 | This command is used to disable small particles from the game. It is incredibly helpful, as removing particle details can lead to a significant boost in FPS. |
| r_drawtracers 0 | This command will remove in-game weapon tracers, which are small details that can lead to frequent FPS drops. |
| r_csgo_water_effects false | This command is used to turn off water effects, which was one of the main visual changes from the transition of CS:GO to CS2. |
| r_muzzleflashbrightness 0 | This command will disable muzzle flashes, which are lighting effects that show up when players shoot their weapons. Not only is it distracting, but it also reduces FPS performance too. |
| func_break_max_pieces 0 | This command clears small objects on different parts of your screen when playing Counter-Strike: 2, resulting in a slight increase in FPS. |
| vprof_off | This command disables a new visual profiling tool that runs in the background. It was created during the release of Counter-Strike: 2 and is recommended to be turned off for low-end setups. |
None of these console commands will provide players with immense improvements, but they all add up little by little. All these commands to remove particles and visual effects can give you anywhere from 15 to 40 much-needed FPS.
Using Proper Launch Options
Similar to console commands, there are some very useful CS:GO launch options that can increase your computer’s performance when playing the game.
Best Launch Options For FPS
Here are a handful of CS:GO launch options to help improve your FPS while playing the game. Some of these are immensely effective:
| Launch Option | Function |
| -novid | This launch option removes the annoying intro video that plays every time you launch the game, leading to faster launch times and performance. |
| -nojoy | This launch option removes joystick support from your CS2 game. If you have no plans on playing with a controller, it is highly recommended to use this launch option. |
| -fullscreen | This launch option ensures Counter-Strike: 2 will always run in Fullscreen mode, which is the best scaling mode for performance by a large margin. |
| -high | This launch option will force CS2 to run in high priority mode, ensuring your computer puts maximum focus on running the game as best as possible. Other background programs may run slower, but your FPS in CS2 will increase. |
| -vulkan | This launch option switches CS2’s rendering focus from DirectX 11 to Vulkan. Many players have reported that their game has become smoother, but it may not work for everyone. |
| -refresh 144/240 | This launch option is used to determine CS2’s refresh rate. You should align the value with your monitor’s refresh rate. By having a higher refresh rate, you are expected to need more FPS. |
| +cl_forcepreload 1 | This launch option forces the game to load everything on the map while you are loading into the game. Loading times will take longer, but you will experience higher FPS once you are in the game. |
| +r_dynamic 0 | This launch option is used to disable dynamic lighting, which is a visual aspect of CS2. Since it offers no competitive advantage, and is solely for looks, players with low-end PCs should turn it off. |
| -softparticlesdeaultoff | This launch option disables additional particles, specifically soft particles. As we’ve discussed earlier, less particles means more FPS and performance. |
| -d3d9ex | This launch option is used to switch to d3d9ex technology, which may improve FPS performance for some computers, but won’t be effective for all. Make sure to test it out before permanently keeping his launch option. |
| +violence_hblood 0 | This launch option is used to remove blood splatters from the game entirely. Blood splatters are things on your screen that can lower FPS, but can be useful for getting information. Decide for yourself whether a small FPS boost is worth missing out on blood splatters. |
Other than the -high and -fullscreen options, the remaining launch options will not have a massive impact on improving the number of frames you get when playing CS2, but all of them will contribute, even if it’s just by a bit.
Maximizing Computer Capabilities
If you’ve followed all the commands, settings, and options above on how to increase FPS on CS:GO, we’ve done everything possible to boost FPS from within Counter-Strike: 2 itself. The only thing we can do now is tweak our computer settings to enhance the game’s external performance.
Set CS2 To High Priority In The Task Manager
Though we would have already set CS2 to run in high priority mode with the launch option, it’s still a good idea to use the Task Manager to do the same purpose, just in case.
Here are the steps to changing CS2 to high priority mode via Task Manager:
- First of all, launch your CS2 client.
- Next, Open the Task Manager by holding Ctrl + Shift + Esc.
- Go to the Details tab, which has the icon of three bullet points and lines on the left side of the Task Manager.
- Look for cs2.exe and right click it.
- Hover over Set Priority and choose High.
The Task Manager is a powerful tool that can boost CS2’s performance and FPS by pooling in more of your computer’s resources to ensure the game runs better.
Adjust CS2 To High Performance Mode On Windows
Players can tweak their Windows settings to ensure CS2 runs in high-performance mode.
Here’s how you can adjust CS2 to high-performance mode:
- Open your Windows Settings menu by holding Windows + I.
- Next, go to the System section and head over to Display.
- Scroll down to Related Settings and click on Graphics.
- Then, search for CS2. Left click the game and go to Options.
- Select High Performance, then press Save to apply your changes.
Most users have reported that this solution is extremely effective!
Change Your Computer’s Power Plan To High Performance
This following method will indirectly boost your FPS performance in CS2. Here, we will edit our power plan settings to ensure our computer will run at its highest performance.
To change your device’s power plan, follow the steps below:
- Open your computer’s Control Panel.
- Next, go to Hardware and Sound, then Power Options.
- Under Preferred Plans, change your power plan to High Performance or Ultimate Performance, if available.
If you are on a laptop, doing this will drain your battery, so ensure you are plugged in while playing.
Optimize NVIDIA Control Panel Settings
If you’re using an NVIDIA graphics card, we can help you optimize some of its settings to further increase the number of frames you will get when playing CS2. The procedures for AMD graphics cards should be relatively similar.
First, we’ll guide you through the NVIDIA Control Panel and then provide a list of the best settings to apply on how to increase FPS on CS:GO.
For this method, we will only adjust NVIDIA Control Panel settings for our CS2 profile, as we don’t want these settings to be applied to all times we use the computer.
Here’s how you can create a CS2 NVIDIA profile:
- Open the NVIDIA Control Panel.
- Under 3D Settings, click on Manage 3D Settings.
- Then, click on Program Settings.
- Under “1. Select a program to customize,” click the Add button.
- Add Counter-Strike 2 (cs2.exe).
Now, you will be given a list of settings for the CS2 program. Here is a table showcasing the best ones to adjust:
| NVIDIA Control Panel Setting | Change Setting To |
| Power Management Mode | Prefer Maximum Performance |
| Texture Filtering – Quality | High Performance |
| Vertical Sync | Off |
| Antialiasing – Mode | Application-controlled |
| Anisotropic Filtering | Application-controlled |
| Low Latency Mode | Off |
And that’s pretty much it for this guide! By applying all the suggestions we’ve provided in the article, you can expect a noticeable increase in your FPS. If you are still eager to further boost your performance, you can try overclocking your GPU or upgrading your PC.