Counter-Strike 2 System Requirements and Best Graphics and Sensitivity Settings

Almost a month since Counter-Strike 2's launch, gamers have been partaking in what Valve has delivered upon the transition from CS: GO. The Source 2 Engine has been a massive upgrade for the title with the game getting a complete visual overhaul. However, the upgrade also came with significant system requirements changes. While most low-end PC users were forced to upgrade, there are ways to optimize the title for better framerates.

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Also read: New CS2 Update Stuns The Gaming Community - Valve Withdraws Support For MacOS

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Counter-Strike 2 System Requirements for Windows and SteamOS + Linux

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Counter-Strike 2 demands a slight upgrade from gamers when it comes to their PC configurations. 

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Official CS2 System Requirements on Windows (Minimum)

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• OS: Windows® 10
• Processor: 4 hardware CPU threads - Intel® Core™ i5 750 or higher
• Memory: 8 GB RAM
• Graphics: 1 GB VRAM or higher GPU with DirectX 11 and support for Shader Model 5.0
• DirectX: Version 11
• Storage: 85 GB available space

Estimated CS2 System Requirements for Stable 144 FPS+ on Windows (Recommended)

• OS: Windows® 10/ Windows® 11
• Processor: 6 hardware CPU threads - Intel® Core™Intel Core i7-9700K (recommended)
• Memory: 16 GB RAM DDR5 Memory
• Graphics: 4 GB VRAM or higher GPU
• DirectX: Version 11/12
• Storage: 85 GB available space

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Official CS2 System Requirements on SteamOS + Linux

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• OS: Ubuntu 20.04
• Processor: 4 hardware CPU threads - Intel® Core™ i5 750 or higher
• Memory: 8 GB RAM
• Graphics: AMD GCN+ or NVIDIA Kepler+ with up-to-date Vulkan drivers. Support for VK_EXT_graphics_pipeline_library is highly recommended.
• Storage: 85 GB available space
• Sound Card: Highly recommended

Best Video and Graphics Settings for Counter-Strike 2

While players can customize and adapt to a video setting that suits their overall gameplay experience, one can also opt for an in-game configuration that can deliver the most frames at a set resoltion. Gamers can adapt to the following graphics settings with a few personal tweaks in Counter-Strike 2. (These settings have been curated with both visibility and frame rates in mind)

Video

• Resolution: 1280x960 
• Aspect Ratio: 4:3 (or 16:9, resolution is purely personal preference, this is just a reference point)
• Scaling Mode: Stretched (helps make character models appear larger)
• Color Mode: Computer Monitor
• Brightness: 130%
• Display Mode: Fullscreen

Advanced Video

• Boost Player Contrast: Enabled
• Wait for Vertical Sync: Disabled
• Multisampling Anti-Aliasing Mode: Off
• Global Shadow Quality: Very High (helps render shadows that reveal enemy positions)
• Model/Texture Detail: Low
• Texture Filtering Mode: Anisotropic 16x (helps texture clarity when viewed at an angle, max performance hit of 3-5 fps)
• Shader Detail: Low
• Particle Detail: Low
• Ambient Occlusion: Disabled
• High Dynamic Range: Performance
• FidelityFX Super Resolution: Disabled
• NVIDIA Reflex Low Latency: Disabled (Ideally, Nvidia Reflex helps input latency, but between builds of CS2, this feature's implementation may break. Currently, building muscle memory with stable input response is better)

Best CS2 Sensitivity Settings for AWPing and Rifling

Each gamer brings their unique take on the competitive title and carries a different playstyle. When it comes to sensitivity, gamers usually prefer to use customized values in games like Counter-Strike 2. For most players, determining your own sensitivity is the best way to go. That said, for those looking for a baseline value, here are the general sensitivity settings that most players use while using the AWP and Rifles in CS2.

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Best Sensitivity Settings in CS2

• DPI: 800
• Sensitivity: 1.5
• Zoom Sensitivity: 1
• Polling Rate: 1000
• Windows Sensitivity: 6

Having a uniform sensitivity with no mouse acceleration is ideal for getting to grips with CS2 and its unique spray patterns. As of now, CS2's netcode is fairly flawed and is undergoing a bunch of changes behind the scenes. While Valve fixes the subtick system and interpolation, players can use these settings to familiarize themselves with the game.

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