Best CS2 Settings (2026): Video, Game and Audio
Good settings in CS2 do two things: they make enemies easy to see, and they keep your frame rate high and stable. Visual beauty comes last. This guide goes through the video, game and audio options and explains what each one changes, so you can make your own choices instead of copying random numbers.
Video settings
Open Settings › Video › Advanced Video. The table below favors visibility and FPS, the choice of most competitive players:
| Setting | Recommended | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Boost Player Contrast | Enabled | Makes player models stand out from the background. |
| Wait for Vertical Sync | Disabled | V-Sync adds input delay. |
| NVIDIA Reflex Low Latency | Enabled | Lowers input delay on supported graphics cards. |
| Multisampling Anti-Aliasing | 2x or 4x MSAA | Smoother edges; lower it first if you need FPS. |
| Global Shadow Quality | Medium or High | Shadows can reveal players around corners. |
| Model / Texture Detail | Low or Medium | Little effect on visibility, frees up FPS. |
| Shader Detail | Low | Fewer effects, clearer image. |
| Particle Detail | Low | Less visual noise from effects. |
| Ambient Occlusion | Disabled | Costs FPS without helping you spot enemies. |
| High Dynamic Range | Performance | Faster, with a very similar image. |
| FidelityFX Super Resolution | Disabled | Upscaling makes the image blurry, bad for spotting far enemies. |
Change one setting at a time and check your FPS with cl_hud_telemetry_frametime_show 2. The right settings are the ones that keep your FPS stable on your PC.
Resolution and display mode
Use Fullscreen as display mode for the lowest input delay. For the resolution, there is no single best answer: native 16:9 gives the sharpest image and the widest view, while 4:3 stretched makes models look wider. Our stretched resolution guide explains the trade-offs in detail.
Game and HUD settings
- Radar: zoom out with
cl_radar_scale 0.35and usecl_radar_always_centered 0so the radar shows more of the map. Make it bigger withcl_hud_radar_scale. - Viewmodel:
viewmodel_fov 68pushes your weapon away and shows more of the screen. - HUD color: pick a color you read easily with
cl_hud_color. - Telemetry: show your FPS and ping in Settings › Game › Telemetry to spot performance problems.
- Crosshair: start from a pro crosshair or build yours in the crosshair generator.
cl_radar_scale 0.35
cl_radar_always_centered 0
cl_hud_radar_scale 1.15
viewmodel_fov 68Audio settings
- Play with headphones: CS2's positional audio is made for them.
- Try each EQ Profile in the audio settings and keep the one where footsteps sound clearest to you.
- Keep the main
volumefairly high and turn down the music instead (round start, MVP, menu music). - Lower the voice chat with
snd_voipvolumeif your teammates cover the footsteps.
snd_roundstart_volume 0
snd_mvp_volume 0
snd_menumusic_volume 0Commands in this guide
Best CS2 Settings FAQ
What are the best CS2 settings for FPS?
Lower Shader, Particle and Model/Texture Detail, disable Ambient Occlusion and FidelityFX Super Resolution, set High Dynamic Range to Performance, and keep V-Sync off. Then check your FPS with the telemetry display.
Should I enable Boost Player Contrast in CS2?
Yes. It makes player models stand out from the background, which helps you spot enemies faster.
Is FidelityFX Super Resolution good for CS2?
Usually not for competitive play: it renders the game at a lower resolution and upscales it, which makes far enemies blurry.
What audio settings do pros use in CS2?
Most play with headphones, keep the main volume fairly high and mute the music (round start, MVP, menu) so footsteps are easier to hear.