How to Get More FPS in CS2 (and Kill the Stutter)

Updated October 10, 2026 · MyCS2Guru crew

Low FPS in CS2 makes everything harder. Your aim feels floaty, smokes and mollies tank your frames, and fights feel like they're happening a step behind. This guide walks through every fix that actually works, from in-game settings to Windows tweaks to hardware upgrades, in order from easiest to hardest.

Step 1: Check your baseline

Before changing anything, measure. Turn on cl_showfps 1 (or Settings, Game, Telemetry, Show Frame Rate) and play a deathmatch for 5 minutes. Note your average FPS and the lowest FPS you see during big fights. After each fix, test again so you know what actually helped.

Step 2: In-game settings that give the most FPS

Start with ambient occlusion, shaders and particles. They give FPS and don't hurt visibility. Only drop shadows and MSAA if you still need more. See our full video settings guide.

Step 3: Launch options

Right-click CS2 in Steam, Properties, General, Launch Options.

Most old CS:GO "FPS boost" launch options like -high or -threads do nothing or can cause problems in CS2. Keep launch options minimal.

Step 4: Update your drivers

GPU drivers often include performance improvements for CS2. Update through:

• NVIDIA: the NVIDIA App or GeForce Experience.
• AMD: AMD Software: Adrenalin Edition.
• Intel: Intel Arc Control or the Intel driver support assistant.

Also update your chipset drivers from your motherboard or CPU manufacturer's site.

Step 5: Windows tweaks

1. Game Mode on. Settings, Gaming, Game Mode.
2. High performance power plan. Control Panel, Power Options. On laptops, use your manufacturer's performance mode.
3. Graphics preference. Settings, System, Display, Graphics: set CS2 to "High performance."
4. Hardware-accelerated GPU scheduling. Try it on and off and test.
5. Close background apps. Browsers, launchers, RGB software, overlays.
6. Disable unneeded overlays. Steam overlay, Discord overlay and others can cost a few FPS.
7. Windows updates. Keep Windows updated but don't let it update in the background while playing.

Step 6: GPU control panel

NVIDIA

• Power management mode: Prefer maximum performance.
• Texture filtering quality: High performance.
• Shader cache size: Driver default or larger.
• Low latency mode: On (or let Reflex handle it in game).

AMD

• Radeon Anti-Lag: On.
• Radeon Chill: Off.
• Texture filtering quality: Performance.
• Surface format optimization: On.

Step 7: Fix stutters and frame drops

Average FPS isn't everything. Stutters wreck your aim even if your average is high.

1. Install CS2 on an SSD. Hard drives cause loading stutter.
2. Let shaders compile. The first few games after an update can stutter while shaders build. It usually smooths out.
3. Check RAM. 16GB is the comfortable minimum. Enable XMP/EXPO in BIOS so your RAM runs at its rated speed.
4. Cap FPS slightly. If your FPS jumps between 400 and 150, capping at a stable value (like 300) can feel smoother.
5. Verify game files. Steam, CS2 Properties, Installed Files, Verify integrity.

Step 8: Temperatures and hardware health

Overheating causes throttling, which tanks FPS mid-match.

• Check temps with a monitoring tool. GPU under about 85°C and CPU under about 90°C under load is generally fine.
• Clean dust out of your PC or laptop.
• Make sure fans work and the case has airflow.
• On laptops, use a cooling pad and keep vents clear.

Step 9: Network vs FPS

Sometimes "lag" isn't FPS. If your FPS is high but the game feels choppy, check your network:

• Use a wired connection instead of Wi-Fi.
• Close downloads and streams on your network.
• Use cq_netgraph 1 to see ping and packet loss.

Step 10: Hardware upgrades (if nothing else works)

CS2 benefits a lot from a strong CPU, especially at high FPS. If you're on an older quad-core, that's often the limiting factor.

FPS targets by monitor

Going above your refresh rate still lowers input lag, which is why many players aim higher than their monitor.

Common FPS mistakes

1. Monitor at 60Hz. Check your settings.
2. Running on integrated graphics. Force the dedicated GPU.
3. Background apps. Close them.
4. Old CS:GO launch options. Remove them.
5. Not updating drivers.
6. Ignoring temperatures.

Quick FPS checklist

• Lower ambient occlusion, shaders and particles.
• Fullscreen mode, V-Sync off, Reflex on.
• Update GPU and chipset drivers.
• High performance power plan.
• CS2 on an SSD.
• Close background apps and overlays.
• Check temperatures.

Work through it top to bottom and you'll almost always find a few extra frames.

Recommended specs for high FPS in CS2

CS2 loves a fast CPU. If you're building or upgrading specifically for CS2 at high refresh rates, prioritize the CPU and fast RAM.

RAM settings that boost FPS

Many players never enable their RAM's rated speed. By default, RAM often runs slower than it's capable of.

1. Enter your BIOS (usually Delete or F2 on boot).
2. Find XMP (Intel) or EXPO/DOCP (AMD).
3. Enable the profile.
4. Save and restart.

This can give a noticeable FPS boost in CPU-heavy games like CS2. Also make sure you're running RAM in dual channel (two or four sticks in the right slots).

Storage and loading

Installing CS2 on an SSD reduces loading times and can reduce stutters when new areas or effects load. If CS2 is on a hard drive, move it to an SSD through Steam: Settings, Storage, select CS2 and move it.

Overlays and background software that cost FPS

Windows power and performance settings in detail

• Power plan: High performance or Ultimate performance on desktops. On laptops, use your manufacturer's performance mode and stay plugged in.
• Game Mode: On. It reduces background activity.
• Game DVR / background recording: Off if you don't use it.
• Visual effects: You can set Windows to "Adjust for best performance" on low-end PCs.
• Startup apps: Disable apps you don't need launching at startup.

Diagnosing stutter step by step

If your game stutters even with good average FPS:

1. Check temperatures during a match. Throttling causes sudden drops.
2. Check RAM usage. If it's near full, close apps or upgrade.
3. Check disk usage. If your drive is at 100% during play, something in the background is hogging it.
4. Update chipset and GPU drivers.
5. Verify game files.
6. Try capping FPS at a level your PC holds consistently.
7. Reinstall GPU drivers cleanly if problems persist.

FPS myths

Frequently asked FPS questions

Why do I get more FPS in deathmatch than in Premier?

Usually you don't, but busy moments with lots of utility in competitive rounds hit performance harder than spread-out deathmatch fights.

Does resolution affect FPS a lot?

Yes. Lower resolutions like 1280x960 can give a big FPS boost, especially on weaker GPUs.

Should I uninstall and reinstall CS2 for FPS?

Rarely needed. Verify files first. Reinstall only if verification doesn't fix the problem.

Network settings that affect smoothness

Sometimes the game feels choppy even with good FPS because of your connection:

• Use Ethernet instead of Wi-Fi when possible.
• Close downloads and streams on other devices.
• Check packet loss with cq_netgraph 1.
• Set your max acceptable ping in matchmaking settings so you join closer servers.
• Restart your router if you see sudden spikes.

Checking your progress

After applying fixes, run the same test you did at the start: a five-minute deathmatch with cl_showfps 1. Compare your average and lowest FPS. If your lowest FPS during fights improved, your game will feel smoother even if the average didn't move much.

When to accept your limits

If your PC is well below the recommended specs, there's a limit to what settings can do. Focus on getting a stable FPS that matches or exceeds your monitor's refresh rate, even if that means lower visual quality. A smooth, consistent game at low settings beats a pretty, stuttering one.

FPS checklist for laptops

• Plugged in, performance mode on.
• Dedicated GPU selected for CS2.
• Cooling pad, vents clear.
• External high refresh monitor if your screen is 60Hz.
• Lower resolution and shadows if needed.
• Close manufacturer bloatware.

Quick wins in order (do these first)

1. Set your monitor refresh rate correctly in Windows and in game.
2. Update your GPU driver.
3. Turn off ambient occlusion and lower particles and shaders.
4. Close your browser and overlays.
5. Turn on Game Mode and a high-performance power plan.
6. Make sure CS2 is on an SSD.
7. Enable XMP/EXPO for your RAM.

In our experience, these seven steps fix the majority of low-FPS problems without spending a cent. If you're still struggling after them, look at the hardware table above to find your bottleneck.

FPS final checklist

Drivers updated, CS2 on SSD, XMP on, settings tuned, background apps closed, Game Mode on, monitor refresh rate set. Do these and most PCs run CS2 well.

Related guides

• Video settings
• Show FPS tip
• Mouse settings

Final thoughts

Stable FPS is the base of good aim. Spend an hour fixing it once and every match feels better.

Example: fixing a stuttering mid-range PC

A player with a mid-range PC got 200 average FPS but felt stutters during fights. Their 1% lows were dropping below 80. They turned off ambient occlusion, lowered particle and shader detail, enabled XMP for their RAM and closed a browser with 30 tabs open. Their average only rose a little, but the 1% lows jumped above 140 and the game felt dramatically smoother. That's the kind of fix to aim for.