Question:

What could be causing low and inconsistent FPS in CS2 with high-end hardware?

I have a high-end gaming PC with an i7 13700k 5.4 GHz CPU, an RTX 4090 GPU, and 64 GB of DDR5 RAM. However, when I play CS2, I experience low and inconsistent FPS, ranging from 180 to 300, which is lower than what I expected from my specs. I have tried adjusting the graphics settings and resolution, but nothing seems to improve the performance. I have attached a link to an 8-minute benchmark of a casual match that shows the FPS fluctuations. Is there anything unusual or wrong with the benchmark? How can I fix this issue and achieve higher and more stable FPS in CS2?

Answer:

Counter-Strike 2 (CS2) is a popular first-person shooter game that requires fast reflexes and smooth gameplay. However, some players have reported low and inconsistent FPS (frames per second) in CS2, even with high-end hardware. FPS is a measure of how many images the game can display per second, and it affects the responsiveness and fluidity of the game. Low and inconsistent FPS can cause stuttering, lagging, and input delay, which can ruin the gaming experience.

There are many possible factors that could cause low and inconsistent FPS in CS2, such as graphics settings, CPU and GPU usage, background processes, power plan, drivers, and more. In this article, we will discuss some of the common causes and solutions for low and inconsistent FPS in CS2 with high-end hardware.

Graphics Settings

One of the first things to check when experiencing low and inconsistent FPS in CS2 is the graphics settings. CS2 has about ten graphic settings that affect FPS and performance, such as global shadow quality, ambient occlusion, fidelity FX super resolution, and more. Some of these settings can have a significant impact on FPS, while others may not make much difference. Generally, lowering the graphics settings can improve FPS, but it can also reduce the visual quality and clarity of the game.

The optimal graphics settings for CS2 depend on the personal preference and hardware of each player, but there are some general guidelines to follow. For example, global shadow quality and ambient occlusion can provide a gameplay advantage by making enemies more visible in dark areas, so it is recommended to set them to high or very high. Fidelity FX super resolution, on the other hand, can make the game look blurry and smudgy, so it is advised to disable it. Other settings, such as texture filtering, effect detail, and shader detail, can be adjusted according to the desired balance between performance and quality.

To change the graphics settings in CS2, launch the game and click the cog icon at the top left to open the settings menu. On the video tab, navigate to advanced video and scroll down to see the graphics options. Adjust the settings according to your preference and click apply to save the changes.

CPU and GPU Usage

Another possible cause of low and inconsistent FPS in CS2 is the CPU and GPU usage. CPU (central processing unit) and GPU (graphics processing unit) are the main components of the PC that handle the game’s calculations and graphics. If the CPU or GPU is overloaded or underutilized, it can result in low and inconsistent FPS in CS2.

To check the CPU and GPU usage in CS2, launch the game and press the Windows key + G to open the Xbox Game Bar. Click on the performance widget to see the CPU and GPU usage, as well as the FPS, RAM (random access memory), and VRAM (video RAM) usage. Alternatively, you can use a third-party software, such as MSI Afterburner, to monitor the CPU and GPU usage.

Ideally, the CPU and GPU usage should be balanced and high, but not too high, to ensure optimal performance and FPS in CS2. If the CPU usage is too high, it can cause a bottleneck, which means that the CPU cannot keep up with the GPU and limits its performance. If the GPU usage is too high, it can cause overheating, throttling, and instability, which can affect the FPS and performance. If the CPU or GPU usage is too low, it means that the game is not utilizing the full potential of the hardware and wasting resources.

There are several ways to optimize the CPU and GPU usage for CS2, such as:

• Setting the CS2.exe to high priority in the task manager.

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  can give the game more resources and attention from the CPU and improve the FPS and performance. To do this, launch CS2 and go to the desktop. Right-click on the taskbar and click on task manager. Go to the details tab and look for CS2.exe in the list. Right-click on it and click on priority. Set it to high and click OK.

• Using the right graphics card for CS2. If you have a dedicated GPU, such as an RTX 4090, you should make sure that CS2 is using it instead of the integrated GPU, which is usually weaker and slower. To do this, go to the Windows start menu and search for display settings. Open it and scroll down to the graphics section. Click on it and then click on browse to add the CS2 executable. Go to the CS2 installation directory and navigate to game\\bin\\win64. Select CS2.exe and click on add. Then, click on options and set the GPU to high performance. Click save to apply the changes.
• Turning off Nvidia Reflex in CS2. Nvidia Reflex is a feature that reduces the system latency and improves the responsiveness of the game. However, some players have reported that Nvidia Reflex can cause low and inconsistent FPS in CS2, especially with high-end hardware. To turn off Nvidia Reflex, launch CS2 and go to the settings menu. On the video tab, navigate to advanced video and scroll down to the bottom. Disable Nvidia Reflex via the drop-down menu and click apply.
• Turning on AMD FSR in CS2. AMD FSR (FidelityFX Super Resolution) is a feature that enhances the image quality and performance of the game. It can increase the FPS and reduce the GPU load by rendering the game at a lower resolution and then upscaling it to the native resolution. To turn on AMD FSR, launch CS2 and go to the settings menu. On the video tab, navigate to advanced video and scroll down to the bottom. Enable AMD FSR via the drop-down menu and choose the quality mode that suits your preference. Click apply to save the changes.

Background Processes

Another possible cause of low and inconsistent FPS in CS2 is the background processes. Background processes are the programs and services that run in the background of the PC, such as antivirus, updates, browsers, and more. Some of these processes can consume a lot of CPU, GPU, RAM, and disk resources, which can affect the FPS and performance of CS2.

To check the background processes, open the task manager and go to the processes tab. Sort the processes by CPU, GPU, RAM, or disk usage and see which ones are taking up the most resources. If you find any unnecessary or unwanted processes, right-click on them and click on end task to close them. However, be careful not to end any essential or system processes, as this can cause instability or errors.

Some of the common background processes that can cause low and inconsistent FPS in CS2 are:

• Antivirus software. Antivirus software can scan the PC and the game files for viruses and malware, which can slow down the PC and the game. To fix this, you can either disable the antivirus software temporarily while playing CS2, or add CS2 to the antivirus software’s exception list, so that it does not scan the game files.
• Windows updates. Windows updates can download and install new features and security patches for the PC, which can improve the performance and stability of the PC and the game. However, sometimes, Windows updates can also cause low and inconsistent FPS in CS2, especially if they are downloading or installing in the background while playing CS2. To fix this, you can either pause the Windows updates temporarily while playing CS2, or schedule them to run at a different time when you are not playing CS2.
• Browser tabs. Browser tabs can display web pages and run scripts, which can use a lot of CPU, GPU, RAM, and network resources, which can affect the FPS and performance of CS2. To fix this, you can either close the browser tabs that you are not using while playing CS2, or use a browser extension, such as The Great Suspender, to suspend the inactive tabs and free up the resources.

Power Plan

Another possible cause of low and inconsistent FPS in CS2 is the power plan. Power plan is a setting that controls how the PC uses the power and adjusts the performance and battery life. There are three default power plans in Windows: balanced, power saver, and high performance. Balanced power plan is the recommended option, as it provides a balance between performance and energy consumption. Power saver power plan reduces the performance and energy consumption of the PC, which can save battery life, but also lower the FPS and performance of CS2. High performance power plan increases the performance and energy consumption of the PC, which can improve the FPS and performance of CS2, but also drain the battery faster.

To change the power plan, go to the Windows start menu and search for power options. Open it and select the power plan that suits your preference. For CS2, it is recommended to use the high performance power plan, as it can boost the FPS and performance of the game. However, if you are using a laptop, make sure to plug in the charger, as the high performance power plan can drain the battery quickly.

Alternatively, you can also use the ultimate performance power plan, which is a hidden power plan that provides the maximum performance and energy consumption of the PC. To enable the ultimate performance power plan, you need to use the command prompt. To do this, go to the Windows start menu and search for command prompt. Right-click on it and click on run as administrator. Then, type the following command and press enter:

powercfg -duplicatescheme e9a42b02-d5df-448d-aa00-03f14749eb61

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