CS2 is more demanding than CS:GO. Many players lose frames they used to take for granted. The good news is that a few options do most of the work. This guide ranks the CS2 FPS settings by how much they matter, and flags the ones you should not cut just for frames. For a full menu walk-through, see our guide to CS2 video settings.
Measure before you change anything
You need a baseline. Open the console and type cl_showfps 1, or turn on the frame time display under Settings, Game, Telemetry. Our guide on how to show FPS in CS2 explains both. Note your FPS in the same spot on the same map each time. A private server with bots works well.
Which CS2 FPS settings matter most?
All of these are in Settings, Video, Advanced Video unless stated.
| Setting | FPS impact | Suggested for frames |
|---|---|---|
| Resolution | Very high | Lower if needed |
| Ambient Occlusion | High | Disabled |
| Multisampling Anti-Aliasing Mode | High at 4x or 8x | CMAA2 or None |
| Shader Detail | Noticeable | Low |
| Particle Detail | Noticeable | Low |
| Global Shadow Quality | Moderate | Low to Medium (see below) |
| Dynamic Shadows | Moderate | Sun Only or All |
| High Dynamic Range | Small | Performance |
| Texture Filtering Mode | Small | Bilinear to Anisotropic 4x |
| Model / Texture Detail | Small, unless VRAM is full | Low or Medium |
Resolution
Fewer pixels means less work for your graphics card. Dropping from 1920x1080 to a lower resolution is the single biggest lever. Many players use 1280x960 in 4:3. The cost is a softer image and, with 4:3, a narrower field of view.
Ambient Occlusion and anti-aliasing
Ambient Occlusion adds soft contact shadows. It looks nice and costs many frames. MSAA at 4x or 8x is also expensive. CMAA2 smooths edges at a much lower cost.
Shaders and particles
Low Shader Detail and Particle Detail give a clear frame gain. Lower particles also reduce clutter from fire and explosions.
Settings to keep for visibility
Some options help you see enemies. Cutting them for a few frames can cost rounds.
- Boost Player Contrast: keep it Enabled. Guides agree it helps players stand out at little cost.
- Global Shadow Quality: guides disagree here. ProSettings suggests Low with Dynamic Shadows on All. csdb.gg suggests Medium or higher with Sun Only, because very low shadows may not show enemy shadows at full distance. Test both and keep what you can see clearly.
Why should you avoid FidelityFX Super Resolution?
FidelityFX Super Resolution renders at a lower internal resolution and upscales. It raises FPS but blurs distant players. Most guides suggest lowering resolution directly instead. Use FSR only as a last resort on weak hardware.
Frame caps and latency settings
The console command fps_max 0 removes the frame cap. A number such as fps_max 300 sets one. A cap near your lowest stable FPS can smooth frame pacing. Turn off Wait for Vertical Sync, as it adds input lag. NVIDIA owners can enable NVIDIA Reflex Low Latency. Our guide to fixing CS2 input lag covers this in depth.
Launch options rarely add frames. Many CS:GO-era flags such as -threads or -tickrate 128 do nothing in CS2. See our CS2 launch options guide.
Two example starting points
Low-end PC
Start with Ambient Occlusion disabled, MSAA set to None or CMAA2, and Shader and Particle Detail on Low. Use High Dynamic Range on Performance. If frames are still low, drop the resolution one step at a time. Leave FSR as the last option.
Mid-range or better PC
Keep CMAA2 and Boost Player Contrast on. Set shadows to a level where you can clearly see player shadows. Lower shaders and particles if you want extra headroom for busy moments, such as smokes and molotovs landing together.
Either way, these are starting points, not rules. Your graphics card, processor and monitor all change what works best. The same settings can behave differently after a game update or a driver update.
How to test your changes
- Change one setting at a time.
- Check FPS in the same spot and direction.
- Watch the low points, not just the average.
- Keep any change that helps without hurting visibility.
If your frames are still poor after tuning CS2 FPS settings, the cause may be outside the game. Read our guide to fixing low FPS in CS2.
Sources and checks
Facts in this guide were checked on 2 November 2026 against ProSettings CS2 options guide and csdb.gg video settings guide. Menu names can change after updates, so check the in-game menu.
Frequently asked questions
What is the biggest FPS boost in CS2?
Lowering resolution usually gives the largest gain. After that, disable Ambient Occlusion, use CMAA2 instead of high MSAA, and lower shader and particle detail.
Should I turn shadows off for FPS?
Not completely. Shadows can reveal enemies. Guides differ on Low versus Medium, so test which level lets you see shadows clearly.
Does Boost Player Contrast lower FPS?
Guides describe its cost as very small, and it makes players easier to see, so most recommend keeping it on.
