Best CS2 PC settings: High FPS, resolution, graphics, more

❘ Published: 2023-12-29T13:10:21

Valve

In Counter-Strike 2, your PC settings can affect how you perform as it has a direct impact on the smoothness of the game. From increasing FPS to better audio output, here are the best PC settings you should use in CS2.

Thanks to the Source 2 Engine, Counter-Strike 2, much like Valorant, can at times cross the 500 FPS mark on high-end PCs. This level of optimization coupled with all the new things the developers have added in the sequel is one of the main reasons the game continues to maintain a steady payer count.

Despite all this, you may still need to tweak a couple of in-game settings to make the most out of your PC as it can make a huge difference to your gameplay. Especially if the default ones are not giving you the best performance.

From video to audio and more, here are the best settings for CS2 on PC.

Best PC Settings
Best Video Settings for CS2
Best Advanced Settings for CS2
Game Settings for CS2
Best Audio settings for CS2

Best settings in CS2

To play CS2 with the highest FPS possible, you will need to configure the Video Settings and Advanced Video Settings menus correctly and are the best options available:

Most players prefer better performance over graphics in CS2.

Best Video Settings in CS2 for max FPS

To achieve a higher FPS count in CS2, we recommend using a resolution lower than what your monitor supports, whether it’s 16:10 or 16:9. The remaining video settings that you need to adjust include:

Main menu background scenery: Any
Color mode: Computer Monitor
Brightness: 100%
Aspect Ratio: 16:9
Resolution: Lower than your monitor’s native resolution
Display mode: Fullscreen
Refresh rate: Max
Laptop power savings: Disabled

If you’re not sure which resolution to use, you can simply use your monitor’s native resolution and stick to the 16:9 aspect ratio. While a lot of professional players use 4:3 resolutions, they limit your field of view (FOV) to some degree and aren’t the best to use if you’re not used to them already.

Best Advanced Video Settings for CS2

Here are the best Advanced Video Settings to use in CS2, along with how they impact your game’s FPS:

Boost player contrast: Enabled – Improves player visibility, lowering the chances of enemies blending in with the surroundings

Wait for vertical sync: Disabled – Known to increase input delay and limit FPS to your refresh rate
Current video values preset: Custom
Multisampling Anti-Aliasing Mode: 4X MSAA – Slight FPS boost with lower settings
Global Shadow Quality: Medium – Avoid the low setting as shadows are important around corners and doors in CS2
Model / Texture Detail: Medium – Can be kept as per preference as there’s negligible impact to the FPS with this setting
Texture Filtering Mode: Bilinear – Minimal FPS impact, can be kept as per preference
Shader Detail: Medium – Can be kept at High as well as there’s no major FPS decline
Particle Detail: Low – Higher values lower FPS
Ambient Occlusion: Disabled – Best to keep this disabled as it has no advantage but slightly lowers the FPS when enabled
High Dynamic Range: Quality – Negligible impact to FPS with this setting but a decent visual upgrade
FidelityFX Super Resolution: Disabled – Best to turn this off as it can lead to weird graphics in-game
NVIDIA Reflex Low Latency: Enabled – Improves game’s responsiveness

CS2 offers various settings for players to make their in-game experience better.

Best Game Settings for CS2

While these CS2 game settings will not affect your FPS, they can improve some aspects of the game.

Game

Max Acceptable Matchmaking Ping: 100
Max Acceptable Game Traffic Bandwidth: Unrestricted
Community Notification location: Top right
Enable Developer Console (~): Yes
Install Counter-Strike Workshop tools: No

HUD

Hud scale: 0.90
Hud color: Preference

Team

Show Team Positions in hud: Show location and equipment
Show teammate colors in competitive: Show colors
Use teammate colors on ID: No
Friends lobby default permissions: Friends need invites
Looking to play when Counter-Strike starts: Remember last state

Communication

Player pings: Display and sound
Mute enemy team: No
Mute all but friends: No
Hide Avatar Images: Preference
Clean player names: Preference

Item

Quick Graffiti: Yes
Delay Sniper Rifle un-scope after shot: No
Auto re-zoom sniper rifle after shot: No
Detach Silencer on M4A1-s and USP-S: Disabled
Always show inventory: Yes
Open Buy Menu with Use Key: Yes
Buy Menu Number Keys: Number Keys Buy Items
Buy Menu Donation Key: Left Control

Radar

Radar centers the player: Yes
Radar is rotating: Yes
Radar Hud size: 1
Radar Map zoom: 0.60
Toggle shape with scoreboard: Yes

Crosshair

Crosshair settings depend on player preferences, and while some may keep the default, many like to tweak it to match their playstyle. If you’re interested in utilizing the same crosshairs as those preferred by pro players, our guide on crosshair codes is a must-read.

Best CS2 Audio settings

Your Audio settings in CS2 help you listen to enemy footsteps and communicate effectively with your teammates. These are necessary parts to ensure you have a higher chance of winning, so here are the best Audio settings that you can use in CS2:

Master Volume: Preference
Audio Device: Default Device
EQ Profile: Crisp
L/R Isolation: 50-80%
Perspective Correction: No
Enable Voice: Press to use mic
Streamlined Push to talk: Yes

That’s all you need to know about the best settings for CS2 on PC. If you’re looking for more to explore on Counter-Strike 2, have a peek at our other guides: