Counter-Strike 2 looks much better than CS:GO, with updated graphics, lighting, and effects. But the issues with FPS still exist. In this guide, we break down simple, proven methods that actually help improve performance. All solutions are up-to-date for 2025, tested on different systems, and safe to use – whether you're playing on an older PC or a high-end setup.
Update Your Graphics Drivers First
Outdated GPU drivers cause CS2 frame drops more than anything. Driver updates include game-specific optimizations that can boost performance. You can see 10-30% FPS improvement just from this.
For NVIDIA Users:
- Open GeForce Experience from your taskbar
- Click the Drivers tab
- Download any available updates
- Restart your PC after installation
For AMD Users:
- Download AMD Driver Auto-detect tool from AMD's support page
- Run the tool to detect your graphics card
- Install the recommended driver version
- Restart your PC
Driver updates often include game-specific optimizations that can boost performance by 10-30% in CS2.
Optimize CS2 Graphics Settings
Getting the right settings makes a huge difference. Always play in Fullscreen mode, never windowed. Turn off V-Sync completely because it limits your FPS badly. Set your max FPS to double your monitor refresh rate. If you have 144Hz, use 300 FPS max as example.
Set these settings to Low: Texture Quality, Shader Detail, and Shadow Quality. Turn off Anti-Aliasing or use 2x MSAA at most. If your game supports AMD FSR, choose Ultra Quality. You can also try Balanced to get a few more FPS.
Force CS2 to Use Your Dedicated GPU
Lots of laptops accidentally run CS2 on the weak integrated graphics instead of the actual gaming GPU. This kills your performance instantly. Here's the fix: Right-click anywhere on your desktop and pick Display Settings. Scroll down until you see Graphics and click it. Hit the Browse button and find CS2.exe in your Steam folder. It's usually hiding at
Steam\steamapps\common\Counter-StrikeGlobalOffensive\game\bin\win64\CS2.exe.
Once you add it, click Options next to it and choose High Performance. Done.
Set CS2 to High Priority
Launch CS2, press Ctrl+Shift+Esc to open Task Manager, go to Details tab, find CS2.exe, right-click and set Priority to High. This ensures CS2 gets more system resources.
Fix CS2 Tab FPS Drop (Alt-Tab Issue)
The CS2 tab fps drop when you alt-tab is frustrating. Open console with ~ key and type engine_no_focus_sleep 0 then press Enter. This prevents FPS drops when CS2 loses focus. Add this to your autoexec.cfg file so it applies automatically.
Close Background Applications
Background apps can use your CPU, RAM, and GPU. This lowers performance in CS2.
Close Discord, Chrome, Spotify, OBS, GeForce Experience overlay, Steam Overlay, and any RGB software before you play. Open Task Manager, go to Processes, and end any apps that use a lot of resources.
Best Launch Options
Right-click CS2 in Steam → Properties → Launch Options. Use: -novid -nojoy -high -fullscreen +fps_max 0 +cl_showfps 1. These skip intro videos, set high priority automatically, and remove FPS caps.
Fix FACEIT FPS Drop
Many players experience severe FPS drops on FACEIT servers specifically. During freeze time at round start, open console and type record demo1, press Enter, then type stop and press Enter. This fixes the FPS limitation on FACEIT servers.
Useful Console Commands
Open console and enter these for better performance:
r_dynamic 0
mat_queue_mode 2
fps_max 300
rate 786432
cl_interp 0
Disable Fullscreen Optimizations
Go to your CS2 folder and find CS2.exe. Right-click it and choose Properties. Open the Compatibility tab. Turn on Disable fullscreen optimizations. This helps reduce input lag and can stop a CS2 sudden FPS drop.
Network Optimization
In CS2 Settings → Game Settings, set "Max Acceptable Matchmaking Ping" to 100. Use wired Ethernet instead of Wi-Fi, close downloads, and check ping with net_graph 1 console command. Disable Steam's new recording feature in Steam Settings → Game Recording as it causes the CS2 fps drop fix many players need. For additional info and better visualization you can check this video out:
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