Register
Log In

Best Settings For Counter Strike 2

Boost your frames per second with this guide

by headtr1p, October 10 2023

Counter-Strike 2 is the long-awaited successor of CS:GO. The latest iteration is built on the Source 2 engine and boasts numerous improvements like tick-rate-independent gameplay and redesigned visual effects and audio. To gain a competitive edge, Counter Strike players have always strived to maximise frames per second while reducing input lag. In this guide we'll cover the most important settings for boosting performance. If you're aiming for a significant improvement, trying out cs2 boosting might be beneficial.

To optimise your gameplay in Counter-Strike 2, we will focus on settings that enhance performance, minimise input lag, and provide a competitive advantage. While many of these settings are carried over from CS:GO, there are a few adjustments specific to Counter-Strike 2. Let's explore the recommended settings:


Basic Video Settings

Resolution and aspect ratio comes down to personal preference, and the most commonly used resolutions are 1920x1080 (16:9), 1680x1050 (16:10), and 1280x960 (4:3). Pro players typically use a lower resolution in stretched mode as the enemy player models look wider; for example s1mple plays 1280x960 (4:3) stretched on 240Hz refresh rate. The tradeoff with stretched resolutions is a decreased field of view and downgraded visuals, but it's an acceptable compromise to make for competitive players. Another benefit of lower resolutions is a boost in FPS, and you can get away with an older GPU like a GTX 1650.


Advanced Video Settings

You'll notice that we've set most settings to Low. Global Shadow Quality is one of the exceptions, as this setting is crucial for seeing enemy player shadows; this can give you a big advantage in gunfights. Anti-Aliasing is set to 2X MSAA as the game looks plain ugly with jagged edges. With that said, Anti-Aliasing is GPU-intensive so it is an area where you can score FPS, especially if you're on an older GPU.

CS 2 features redesigned visuals

Mouse & Crosshair

This is another setting that is heavily influenced by personal preference. The vast majority of players use a low sensitivity in Counter Strike, prioritising steady aim and controlled movement. It does take some getting used to, as you have to make big swipes to do 90 and 180 degree turns. Most pros prefer 400 DPI, but you'll also find some using 800 or even 1600 DPI. Astralis pro player dev1ce plays on 400 DPi with an in-game sens of 2. Play around with these settings and find what works for you.

We'd recommend a wireless mouse with a minimum 1000Hz polling rate like the Logitech G Pro X Superlight or Razer Orochi v2. You'll need to ensure your mouse is running at 1000Hz in the mouse's accompanying software; this isn't something you can set in Counter Strike 2.

Try different crosshairs and see which one works for. Simply click on Share or Import in the Crosshair section and paste these codes:

m0NESY CSGO-hzrMn-jXu8b-R7VH4-hQ9aa-OnMHA
Stewie2k Plus CSGO-QVV9H-dfdPZ-G97WJ-E3SxF-tHwzF
rain CSGO-mbppN-WGdqq-XeBH8-bmdyV-fxwPB
FalleN CSGO-TpORA-p9Ley-TLQ3P-HzXJY-U9z6A
Aleksib CSGO-Jp4hk-AfzML-FcpUT-2pfxZ-kSLoD

CS 2 System Requirements

The requirements for Counter-Strike 2 are relatively lightweight compared to other modern games. We would definitely recommend stronger hardware, and this is just the bare minimum to get the game running.

While CSGO was a CPU-intensive game, Counter Strike 2 is more balanced in terms of resource usage, so a strong CPU and GPU is advised to avoid bottlenecks. Our minimum recommended hardware for high FPS:

That's our recommended settings for increasing performance in Counter Strike 2. If you're more of a casual player looking for immersive visuals, just leave everything maxed out!




Also read: Escape From Tarkov Beginner’s Guide