Best CS2 Settings: Video, Mouse, Audio and Console

The best CS2 settings are the ones that hold a stable frame rate at your monitor's refresh rate, keep enemies easy to see, and leave your aim consistent from one day to the next. For most players that means low to medium graphics, V-Sync off, Reflex on, stereo headphones, and a sensitivity you stop changing.

Every value below is a starting point. Published guides disagree on several of them, and those disagreements are noted so you can decide by testing on your own PC. Checked against Valve's update notes through late October 2026.

What are the best CS2 video settings?

Stable frame times matter more than a high average, because drops tend to hit during smokes and fights. Start here, then raise anything your PC can afford.

Setting	Starting value	Trade-off
Display mode	Fullscreen	Fullscreen windowed makes alt-tabbing easier, and some guides link it to more input lag
V-Sync	Off	Prevents tearing but adds latency; only worth considering if your FPS always stays above your refresh rate
NVIDIA Reflex Low Latency	On	Boost mode keeps GPU clocks higher, which costs extra power and heat
Anti-aliasing (MSAA)	None or a low level	Off gives more FPS, while a low level gives cleaner edges; guides split on this one
Global shadow quality	Low to medium	Lower is faster, but the image is less detailed
Model/texture detail	Low or medium	Mostly a VRAM and looks decision
Texture filtering	Anisotropic 16X	Usually left high in published recommendations; lower it if you are short on performance
Shader and particle detail	Low	Less load in smokes, fire and explosions, with fewer visual effects
Ambient occlusion	Off or low	Faster, with flatter-looking corners
High Dynamic Range	Performance	Trades some image quality for speed
AMD FSR	Off at native resolution	Upscaling can rescue a weak GPU but softens the picture
Boost Player Contrast	On	Makes player models stand out; turn it off if you dislike the look

Should you play stretched 4:3 or native 16:9?

Neither is correct for everyone. Stretched 4:3 makes models look wider, and lower resolutions usually add FPS. Native 16:9 gives a sharper image and a wider horizontal view, which helps you spot movement at the edge of the screen. If your PC holds a steady frame rate at native, there is no performance reason to leave it. Since an August 2025 update, rendering resolution and aspect ratio can also be changed in fullscreen windowed mode.

What should the FPS limit be?

Use the Maximum FPS In Game slider in the Frame Pacing section, or fps_max. Note that fps_max can no longer be changed while connected to a server, so set it before you join. Guides disagree on whether to uncap (fps_max 0) or set a cap. Uncapped gives the highest numbers, while a cap you can actually hold may feel smoother because frame times vary less. Try both for a few matches.

What mouse settings and eDPI should you use in CS2?

eDPI is your mouse DPI multiplied by your in-game sensitivity. It lets you compare setups: 800 DPI at 1.0 and 400 DPI at 2.0 both equal 800 eDPI. Work yours out with the eDPI calculator.

There is no agreed ideal number. Published ranges include 600 to 1,200, 800 to 1,000, and 800 to 1,600, and claims about what "most pros" use are hard to check and change over time. Lower eDPI tends to help small, precise corrections at range. Higher eDPI makes fast turns easier and needs less desk space. If you can turn 180 degrees comfortably and still stop on a head at long range, your number is fine.

Setting	Common choice	Why
DPI	400 or 800	Both are widely used; pick one and leave it
Polling rate	1000 Hz or higher	Higher rates may reduce delay slightly but can use more CPU
Windows "Enhance pointer precision"	Off	Keeps mouse movement predictable
In-game acceleration	Off, if your menu offers it	Same distance on the mousepad, same turn in game
`zoom_sensitivity_ratio`	Default, then adjust	Matters mainly if you use scoped weapons

Raw input is another point of disagreement. Some guides tell you to enable it, while one reference says CS2 removed the m_rawinput command because raw input is always active. If your menu has no such toggle, there is nothing to do.

The biggest gain usually comes from staying consistent. Frequent sensitivity changes reset your muscle memory, so once you settle on a value, pair it with the routine in how to improve your aim.

What are the best CS2 audio settings?

Use stereo headphones, because footsteps, reloads and defuses are easier to place with clear left and right channels. Then adjust these options by ear:

EQ Profile: Crisp emphasises higher frequencies, where footsteps and reloads stand out. The more balanced profile may tire your ears less.
L/R Isolation: Guides commonly suggest 50 to 70 percent. Higher values separate the sides more strongly, which some players find unnatural.
Perspective Correction: Sources directly contradict each other. One says it aligns sound with your view, another says it distorts direction. Test each option in a practice match with a friend or bots before choosing.
Master volume: Loud enough to catch distant steps without gunfire being uncomfortable.
Music: Lowering music sliders removes distraction. Since September 2026 you can set music volume per game mode.
Ten-second warning: Keep this track audible, as it gives you a useful cue on bomb timing.

Old CS:GO audio commands are a common trap. Valve removed several legacy audio commands when CS2 launched and several snd_ mixer commands in May 2025, so older configs may do nothing or print errors.

Which CS2 console commands are useful?

Enable the console first under Settings, Game, Enable Developer Console. These are the commands worth knowing:

Command	What it does
`sensitivity 1.0`	Sets in-game sensitivity (replace the value with yours)
`fps_max 0`	Removes the frame cap; change it outside a server
`cl_showfps 1`	Shows your frame rate
`cl_hud_telemetry_frametime_show 2`	Always shows frame time and FPS in the telemetry HUD; `net_graph` no longer exists
`cl_hud_telemetry_ping_show 2`	Always shows ping in the telemetry HUD
`viewmodel_fov 68`	Moves the weapon model further out at its maximum
`bind`	Assigns commands to keys, such as buy binds
`host_writeconfig`	Saves current settings

For a persistent setup, save the commands as autoexec.cfg in Counter-Strike Global Offensive\game\csgo\cfg and add +exec autoexec.cfg to your Steam launch options. Do not bother with cl_interp, which Valve locked in 2024, or cl_updaterate and cl_cmdrate, which references list as removed. -tickrate 128 also does nothing on official servers.

Launch options are another disputed area. -novid and -high still appear in many lists, while another reference calls -novid obsolete and notes that the benefit of -high is debated. It is safe to start with no launch options except your autoexec.

Did the 2026 crosshair update change settings?

Yes. In September 2026 Valve moved crosshairs to a new Crosshair/Scopes tab, made them resolution independent, and changed the default to Dynamic Quad. Thickness, length and gap now use pixels, and values rescale automatically if you change resolution. The share code format also changed later that month, so older crosshair values copied from guides may not look the same. Rebuild yours in the menu rather than trusting an old config. Expect further changes, because this system is still being adjusted.

FAQ

What is a good eDPI for CS2?

Published recommendations mostly fall somewhere between 600 and 1,600, with no official or agreed best value. Choose the lowest number that still lets you turn comfortably, then keep it.

Do low graphics settings give you an advantage in CS2?

They give you more FPS on most PCs, which can reduce latency and make gameplay more consistent. If your PC already holds a stable frame rate above your refresh rate, you can raise settings you care about.

Are CS:GO configs still valid in CS2?

Only partly. Many network and audio commands were removed or locked, and crosshair settings changed in 2026. Rebuild your config using commands that still run, and read the console for errors. Once your setup is done, the CS2 economy guide is a useful next stop.