CS2 FPS boost: the best video settings
In Counter-Strike 2 stable frame times matter more than a high average. These settings give you more FPS and keep the picture clear enough to spot enemies.
1. Video settings
| Setting | Recommended | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Display mode | Fullscreen | Lowest input delay |
| Boost Player Contrast | Enabled | Players stand out, small FPS cost |
| Wait for Vertical Sync | Disabled | VSync adds input delay |
| Multisampling Anti-Aliasing | 2x or 4x MSAA | Clean edges, cheap in CS2 |
| Global Shadow Quality | Low to Medium | Medium keeps useful player shadows |
| Shader / Particle Detail | Low | Big FPS gain in smokes and molotovs |
| Texture Filtering | Anisotropic 4x | Sharp textures, almost free |
| Ambient Occlusion / HDR | Disabled / Performance | Expensive effects |
| FidelityFX Super Resolution | Disabled | Upscaling makes heads blurry |
| NVIDIA Reflex Low Latency | Enabled + Boost | Less delay between click and shot |
2. Launch options
Most old CS:GO launch options do nothing in CS2 or even hurt. Keep it simple: leave the launch options empty unless you know why you need one. Set your FPS cap in the console with fps_max 0 (no cap) or a value a bit above your monitor's refresh rate.
3. Windows
- Monitor at its full refresh rate (Windows display settings)
- Game Mode and Hardware-accelerated GPU scheduling on
- Mouse: turn off "Enhance pointer precision" in the Windows mouse settings
- Close Discord overlay, browsers and recording tools you don't need
EMP Tweaks and CS2
EMP Tweaks writes these video settings into cs2_video.txt while CS2 is closed (with a backup), applies the Windows, network and GPU tweaks, and measures your real FPS and 1% lows. It never touches the running game, so it doesn't interfere with VAC.
Questions
Does EMP Tweaks work with VAC?
EMP only changes Windows settings and the same video config file the CS2 menu writes, and only while the game is closed. It never injects into CS2.
Should I use fps_max 0?
If your PC stays far above your refresh rate, a cap a little above it gives steadier frame times. Try both.