To make CS2 run on a weak computer, set the advanced video settings to a custom preset, drop shadows, model and texture detail, shader detail and particle detail to the lowest values, turn off MSAA and ambient occlusion, set FidelityFX Super Resolution to Performance, then add a couple of launch options. That gives the most noticeable FPS gain. If it is still not enough, GPU driver settings and cleaning up Windows background apps help; both are covered below.
All tips assume your PC meets the minimum CS2 system requirements. If it doesn't, the settings will soften the problem, but the game will still stutter, and an upgrade (usually more RAM or a better graphics card) is the only real fix. To measure the effect, use the built-in counter; see our guide on how to enable FPS in CS2.
Minimum System Requirements for CS2
Before moving on to the CS2 settings, check that your computer meets the official minimum requirements:
Operating system: Windows 10 or newer (Windows 11 works too). Windows 7 and 8 are not supported.
Graphics card: 1 GB of video memory or more, with DirectX 11 and Shader Model 5.0 support.
RAM: at least 8 GB.
Processor: Intel Core i5 750 or better, or an AMD equivalent.
Storage: Valve lists 85 GB of free space.
There are two easy ways to check your hardware. First, open Start, then Settings → System → About, which lists your processor and RAM. Second, press Win+R, type dxdiag and press Enter; the tabs show your system and graphics card details.
CS2 is not officially available on macOS, so Mac settings are not a question. The game does run on Linux.
Adjusting the Graphics (Part 1)
The main cause of lag, stutters and low FPS is graphics settings that don't match what your computer can handle.
To open the right menu, click the gear icon in the upper left corner of the running game, go to the Video tab and open Advanced Video. Go through every item without skipping any, since each one adds to the total gain.
Boost Player Contrast. Leave it on: it has almost no performance cost and makes enemies easier to see. Turn it off only as a last resort.
Wait for Vertical Sync. On a weak PC, it is better off: it caps FPS at your monitor's refresh rate and adds input lag. Turn it on only if screen tearing really bothers you; most competitive players keep it off on any hardware.
Current video values preset. Choose Custom so you can change the remaining CS2 settings manually.
Adjusting the Graphics (Part 2)
Next, continue with the advanced video settings.
Multisampling Anti-Aliasing Mode (MSAA). Turn it off; it is one of the biggest FPS drains. The side effect is jagged edges on objects.
Global Shadow Quality. Set it to Low.
Model / Texture Detail. Lower it to Low as well. The picture gets simpler and you may notice individual pixels, but FPS goes up and stutters become rarer.
Texture Filtering Mode. Pick the lowest option. The trade-off is simple: sharp textures or smooth gameplay.
Shader Detail. This covers effects such as light refracting on water and shading. Set it to Low; a weak graphics card can't handle that load.
Adjusting the Graphics (Part 3)
Now for the remaining CS2 settings.
Particle Detail. Like the rest, set it to Low: you get fewer effects but smoother play.
Ambient Occlusion. It adds contact shadows between objects. Turn it off.
High Dynamic Range. It controls detail in the brightest and darkest parts of the image. Set it to Performance.
FidelityFX Super Resolution (FSR). The game renders at a lower resolution and upscales the image to your screen resolution. The picture gets slightly softer, but FPS rises noticeably. It works on AMD, NVIDIA and Intel cards. Choose Performance.
NVIDIA Reflex Low Latency. It reduces input lag and has almost no effect on FPS. Some players on weak systems have reported stutters with it, so if you have them, try turning Reflex off and compare.
Additional Tweaks
Once the graphics are done, you can push further with commands and launch options. The console opens with the "~" key by default (if it doesn't, enable the developer console in the game settings). Some of these carried over from CS:GO:
cl_forcepreload 1 (console): preloads all map objects so the game doesn't load them mid-round. The downside is longer map loading.
fps_max 0 (console): removes the FPS cap so your PC renders as many frames as it can.
-novid (launch option): skips the intro video.
-nojoy (launch option): disables joystick support and frees a little system load.
Launch options go into Steam: right-click Counter-Strike 2 → Properties → Launch Options. More are collected in our list of the best launch options for CS2, and to keep your commands from resetting, save them in a config; see how to install a config in CS2.
How to Check the Result
Changing settings blindly makes little sense, so check your FPS after each step. The CS:GO net_graph command no longer exists in CS2: the frame rate and latency counters are enabled under Settings → Game → Telemetry. Play a couple of rounds on the same map before and after each change and compare not only the average FPS but also the drops during fights, because those are what you feel as stutters. If one setting makes no measurable difference, you can restore it for better visuals.
The Best Resolution
Resolution has only a modest effect on FPS, but if every extra ten frames matter, this section is for you.
Players compared FPS across resolutions at medium graphics settings. The stretched 4:3 resolutions 1440x1080, 1280x960 and 1024x768 came out on top, and the gap between them was just a few frames.
Interestingly, Full HD (1920x1080) was the most stable in the same tests, with smaller FPS drops than other resolutions. So if 4:3 feels uncomfortable, your monitor's native resolution is still a reasonable choice.
If Adjusting the CS2 Settings Does Not Help
If you have done all of the above and it is still not enough, the issue may be the graphics driver rather than the game settings.
Start by updating your driver to the latest version. NVIDIA users should also check the NVIDIA Control Panel: under Manage 3D Settings, find Low Latency Mode and try turning it off if Reflex is already on in game. Stacking both latency reducers causes stutters on some systems.
If the game won't start or keeps crashing, that is a separate issue covered in our guide on what to do if CS2 won't launch on Steam.
What to Do If Nothing Helps at All
If freezes and stutters remain and the settings above didn't work, the following measures may help.
Raise the process priority. Open Task Manager, find cs2.exe on the Details tab, right-click it, choose Set priority, then High.
Clean up startup apps and close background programs that use CPU and memory.
Check your firewall and antivirus, and add the game folder to their exclusions.
Sort out cooling. Clean dust out of the fans and install software that shows temperatures and can control fan speed: an overheating CPU or GPU throttles its clock speeds.
Overclock the processor. This is a risky step that can damage the CPU. If you decide to overclock, you do it at your own risk.
Defragment the hard drive. This only makes sense for a traditional HDD; SSDs do not need defragmenting. If the game sits on an HDD, moving it to an SSD noticeably shortens loading and texture streaming.
