CS2 is quite a demanding game, so to play with comfortable FPS, you must have at least the minimum performance components. However, even on medium hardware, the frame rate could be better, especially during intense scenes, like when several Molotov cocktails are burning on your screen, and a frag grenade explodes in front of you. In such moments, finding the optimal video settings is crucial to avoid discomfort during fierce battles.
If you have a fairly balanced computer build, our recommendations will help you not only increase your FPS but also reduce the amount of so-called stuttering in heavy gaming scenes.
Best video settings for CS2
First and foremost, it’s crucial to skillfully adjust your video settings, as this step is fundamental. It’s not necessary to pay attention to the settings of esports athletes like NiKo or s1mple, who can definitely afford incredibly powerful computers that won’t lag under any circumstances; we have a different path.
After testing all the settings for an extended period, the optimal video settings that provide a balance between image quality and frame rate per second were identified. In practice, they look as follows:
But that’s not all; you can confidently set the multisampling anti-aliasing mode to 2XMSAA when the game’s screen resolution is more than 1280×960, as there’s practically no difference. Such a setting will give you an additional approximate 15-20 FPS.
You might wonder why shadows in CS2 are set to the lowest settings, and we acknowledge that it’s a valid observation. However, there’s a caveat. Maximum shadow settings are typically used to see an opponent’s shadow from the light of spotlights on maps like Vertigo or Ancient. But this capability can also be activated on the lowest settings.
It’s sufficient to change one value in a text document, and everything will work as needed. This is completely safe, as it doesn’t modify any file libraries. To find out how to do this in more detail, follow the given link to the corresponding article.
The best resolution for FPS in CS2
If you’re playing on full HD and have a weak computer, the best solution for you would be to switch to a 4:3 stretched resolution or, as a last resort, with black bars. It’s important to understand that, for example, the stretched 4:3 resolution of 1280×960 is the most popular among the majority of players, as well as 50% of professionals. This is the most optimal option, as it provides a pretty good picture quality and significantly increases your FPS. As a last resort, you can use 1280×1024 if you are not satisfied with the image quality.
For example, here’s the FPS with these settings on the Nuke map with fairly average hardware, Ryzen 5 5600X + GeForce RTX 4060:
In addition to the main settings, we strongly recommend closing services and programs that you will not use before playing. For example, if you are not communicating through Discord, definitely close it, as it significantly burdens your processor.