How to increase FPS in CS2 [2026 Update]

Counter-Strike 2 has brought many changes to the classic online shooter, with most new features centered around the different graphic options introduced to the game. Players can still buy, sell and trade CS2 (CS:GO) skins, but many parts of the game have significantly changed. The new engine has introduced a number of new graphics settings for Counter-Strike 2, however, many of them can cause issues for lower-end PCs, even with the best CS2 settings.

When your PC is struggling with the advanced video settings, it can seriously affect your game performance and make competitive play impossible. One of the most common issues that becomes visible when your computer can’t handle the game settings are the FPS drops, which can further cause stuttering and lagging.

If this sounds like a problem you’re encountering – you have come to the right place! Here at SkinsMonkey we offer our new guide on how to increase FPS in Counter-Strike 2!

Quick Answer: How to Increase FPS in CS2

The fastest ways to increase FPS in CS2 are:

1. Lower your video settings, especially shadows and anti-aliasing.
2. Use fullscreen display mode.
3. Update your graphics drivers.
4. Close background applications.
5. Test NVIDIA Reflex or AMD Anti-Lag on and off.
6. Remove unnecessary launch options.
7. Lower your resolution if needed.
8. Disable overlays from Discord, Steam, and GeForce Experience.
9. Upgrade RAM or your graphics card if your hardware is outdated.
10. Keep Windows and CS2 updated.

Combining these optimizations can noticeably raise your FPS, especially on older hardware.

Why Do I Have Low Max FPS In Counter-Strike 2?

Generally low FPS in Counter-Strike 2 is caused by your computer being unable to run the game with your chosen graphics settings. Although CS:GO could easily run on many low-end specs, since the game was over 10 years old, Counter-Strike 2 system requirements need a much more powerful PC to run smoothly on medium settings and higher. Many players report that they even have trouble running CS2 on low settings since the update released.

However, low FPS in CS2 can in some cases also be caused by some other issues, sometimes not related to your hardware. You might be struggling with lags caused by a poor CS2 connection, or there might even be some server issues causing your game to run poorly. Thankfully, there are many different solutions you can try to fix low FPS in CS2.

How Do I Know How Much FPS In CS2 I Have?

Before you try to improve your FPS in CS2, it’s worth figuring out if you actually really have low FPS. Thankfully, CS2 allows you to view exactly how much FPS you have in the game at any given time, by using a special console command. Keep in mind that in order to display FPS count with the console commands, you will first need to enable developer console in CS2. Once you have the console enabled, bring it up by pressing the console button (tilde ~ by default), and type in the following command:

• cl_showfps 1

This simple command will display an FPS count in the top left corner of your screen. You can also disable the FPS count by entering the console command cl_showfps 0.

How To Fix Low FPS In CS2

Once you have the FPS count enabled, you can try to fix any potential issues your CS2 game client might be facing. Configuring your video and game settings to achieve max FPS is crucial for optimal gameplay. If you have low FPS in CS2, here are some solutions you can try:

Lower Your Advanced Video Settings

Most of the time, low FPS in Counter-Strike 2 is caused by setting your graphics settings too high. While everyone wants to play with the best graphics settings in the game, Counter-Strike 2 requires a significantly more powerful set-up to run at the highest quality settings than Counter-Strike: Global Offensive.

While you might have been able to play with the highest settings available in the game in the past, this might no longer be the case in Counter-Strike 2. You can try more optimized settings to get better FPS in-game. Enabling the ‘Boost Player Contrast’ setting can also enhance player visibility, reducing the likelihood of enemies blending in with their environment.

If you’re struggling with low FPS in Counter-Strike 2, the first thing you should try is lowering your graphics settings. Also, you can try to disable all the advanced graphics features that might be affecting your gameplay. Keeping global shadow quality on High can help you spot enemy shadows, but it costs some FPS, so lower it if performance is your priority. In some cases, even if you have a powerful PC, there might still be some graphics settings that are causing low FPS in your game. Try playing around with resolution settings, vertical sync, fullscreen refresh rate, or maybe try playing with disabled high dynamic range. This should allow you to find the best graphics settings for Counter-Strike 2 on your PC. Additionally, adjusting the ‘Texture Filtering Mode’ to Bilinear can provide a slight performance boost without significantly compromising visual quality.

Any of these settings could be causing your FPS drops, so make sure to check them individually and see if they improve your gameplay. Also, be sure to check out our guide on the best graphics settings for Counter-Strike 2.

Check Out If Your PC Meets Counter-Strike 2 System Requirements

Counter-Strike 2 has different system requirements than CS:GO, meaning that if you’ve been able to play Counter-Strike: Global Offensive with normal FPS on low system settings, chances are you might struggle to run Counter-Strike 2 smoothly. If you’re consistently getting low FPS to the point that it makes CS2 unplayable, you might have to upgrade your PC to be able to play. Additionally, some settings can be adjusted based on personal preferences to enhance the gameplay experience.

Set CS2.exe To High Priority In Task Manager

Counter-Strike 2 requires a lot of system resources to run smoothly, and if your computer doesn’t have enough RAM, it will probably struggle with running CS2 alongside different apps and software you might have running on your PC in the background. Thankfully, all Windows editions have an easy way to fix this issue, by allocating more resources to running Counter-Strike 2. To do this:

1. Open Task Manager while CS2 is running
2. Go to the Details tab and find cs2.exe on the list
3. Right-click on cs2.exe, hover over the ‘Set priority’ option, and from the dropdown menu choose ‘High’.

This solution is helpful in particular to the players, who are struggling with running the game on low or middle graphics settings. By moving more system resources to CS2, it can improve your FPS. Also, try closing any background apps by terminating their process in the task manager and see if it helps with your CS2 FPS.

Want to expand your CS2 inventory without spending a dime? Check out the free CS2 (CS:GO) skins giveaways at SkinsMonkey!

Turn Off Nvidia Reflex and Vertical Sync

NVIDIA Reflex Low Latency is a technology supported by modern NVIDIA graphics cards, which is meant to reduce input lag and make the game feel more responsive. Counter-Strike 2 is one of the games that supports this feature, but many players report encountering different issues, when using Nvidia Reflex in the game. Try disabling it, and see if you get better CS2 FPS.

Best Resolution and Refresh Rate for CS2

When it comes to choosing the best resolution and refresh rate for Counter-Strike 2, there are several factors to consider. Resolution refers to the number of pixels displayed on the screen, while refresh rate refers to the number of times the screen is updated per second.

For a competitive game like CS2, a high refresh rate is crucial for smooth gameplay and fast-paced action. A minimum of 144Hz is recommended, but 240Hz or higher is ideal. This will help reduce input lag and provide a more responsive gaming experience.

As for resolution, a lower resolution can improve framerate, but may not be as visually appealing. Many professional players use stretched resolutions, such as 4:3 stretched, which can make character models appear wider and easier to hit. However, this may not be suitable for all players, and a higher resolution such as 1920×1080 or 2560×1440 may be preferred for better visual quality.

Ultimately, the best resolution and refresh rate for CS2 will depend on personal preference and the player’s hardware capabilities.

Launch Options for CS2

CS2 Launch options are a set of commands that can be used to customize the game’s launch settings. In CS2, launch options can be used to improve performance, reduce input lag, and enhance the overall gaming experience.

Here are some common launch options for CS2:

• -high: Launches the game in high priority mode, which can improve performance on lower-end hardware.
• -novid: Disables the game’s intro video, which can save time and improve loading speeds.
• -console: Enables the developer console, which can be used to enter commands and customize the game’s settings.

To add launch options to CS2, follow these steps:

1. Right-click on the game in Steam and select “Properties”.
2. Stay on the “General” tab.
3. Scroll down to the “Launch Options” field.
4. Enter the desired launch options in the text field.
5. Close the window; the changes are saved automatically.

Using these launch options can help you get the most out of your Counter-Strike 2 experience by optimizing performance and reducing input lag. Also, if you want to play around with launch options, make sure you check out our guide for CS2 autoexec file.

Windows Graphics Settings for CS2

Windows graphics settings can have a significant impact on CS2’s performance and visual quality. Here are some tips for optimizing Windows graphics settings for CS2:

• Turn off unnecessary graphics features: Disable any unnecessary graphics features, such as motion blur or anti-aliasing, to improve performance.
• Adjust resolution and quality settings: Adjust the resolution and quality settings to match the player’s hardware capabilities.
• Turn off vertical sync: Vertical sync can cause input lag and reduce performance. Turn it off to improve responsiveness.
• Enable developer console: Enable the developer console to access advanced graphics settings and customize the game’s performance.

To access Windows graphics settings, follow these steps:

1. Press the Windows key + I to open the Settings app.
2. Click on the “System” icon.
3. Click on the “Display” tab.
4. Click on the “Graphics” tab.
5. Adjust the graphics settings as desired.

By optimizing Windows graphics settings, players can improve CS2’s performance and visual quality, and gain a competitive edge in the game.

Turn On AMD FSR In Game Options

While the Nvidia Reflex has been causing some issues to gamers in CS2, CS2 also includes an AMD feature that can improve FPS on most graphics cards. If you’re struggling with low CS2 FPS, you can try enabling AMD FidelityFX (FSR) Super Resolution in CS2 settings. AMD FSR should allow you to extract better performance from CS2 and improve your FPS. This feature can be disabled and enabled in the settings menu. In addition, you can choose many different levels of this feature, ranging from Performance (focused on the most FPS) to Ultra Quality (the best image quality). Experiment with different AMD FSR settings if you can and see if this improves your gameplay.

Better FPS Makes Your Skins Look Better Too

Optimizing your FPS doesn’t just improve responsiveness and competitive performance. A smoother game also makes it easier to appreciate weapon finishes, inspect rare patterns, and enjoy detailed skin designs without stuttering or frame drops. Once your game is running smoothly, it’s the perfect time to refresh your inventory with new skins.

If you’re looking to upgrade your loadout, you can buy, sell, and trade CS2 skins on SkinsMonkey. The platform offers instant bot trading and a large selection of items, making it easy to swap old skins for new additions without leaving the CS2 ecosystem.

In Conclusion

Counter-Strike 2 has changed a lot about the game, so it shouldn’t be surprising that some players report that they are struggling with low FPS. If you have encountered any more issues in CS2 that you’d like to fix, be sure to check out the rest of our blog, where we regularly post news, tips, tricks and guides to CS2! Also, if you ever want to sell CS2 (CS:GO) skins for trading balance, visit SkinsMonkey. If you want real money for your skins instead, use SkinCashier, our sister service.

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