CS2 FPS guide: frame limit, Reflex, G-Sync and other settings

Frame rate in Counter-Strike 2 depends on your hardware, drivers and display as well as a handful of in-game options, and some of those options trade smoothness against input latency. This guide covers what Valve, Steam Support and NVIDIA document about each setting and what it costs.

Since the Aug. 14, 2025 update, fps_max can no longer be changed while you are connected to a server. NVIDIA said CS2 is more GPU-intensive than CS:GO and demands modern GPUs to reach earlier performance benchmarks. Steam Support said results differ from machine to machine, even at the same resolution.

Start with the basics Steam Support lists

Steam Support’s performance article says poor FPS can have many causes that are hard to diagnose remotely. It lists these steps; the first three are ordered from most to least effective:

1. Disable background applications. Remove unnecessary startup programs and stop unneeded apps in the task manager (Ctrl+Shift+Esc on Windows).
2. Free up memory. Too little RAM leads to disk swapping, which has a noticeable effect on FPS.
3. Disable video card software that forces particular video modes.
4. Update your drivers. Outdated CPU, GPU and audio drivers may fail to use your machine fully.
5. Use an optimal resolution. Raising the resolution or any video option beyond your recommended settings has an immediate negative effect on FPS.

Steam Support also says that meeting a game’s system requirements does not guarantee high FPS. Upgrading the video card and memory can have an immediate effect.

Reset to automatic settings

For Valve games, Steam Support suggests the -autoconfig launch option as a first troubleshooting step, since those games can detect your hardware and set reasonable graphics settings. If FPS improves, raise your video settings slowly. Stop when you find an acceptable frame rate.

Run your display at its highest refresh rate

Steam Support generally recommends playing in the mode with the highest refresh rate your display supports. A high-refresh monitor may not be running in that mode.

In windowed and fullscreen windowed modes, the refresh rate comes from your system’s display settings. On Windows 10, Steam Support points to “Advanced display settings.” Since the June 25, 2024 update, the “Refresh Rate” setting in CS2 shows your display’s current refresh rate in those two modes. The game also shows a popup at startup if the refresh rate is below the display’s maximum.

Set the frame limit in the Frame Pacing section

The June 25, 2024 update added a “Frame Pacing” section to the Advanced Video page.

In the gameSettings›Video›Advanced Video

Since the Aug. 14, 2025 update, fps_max can no longer be changed while you are connected to a server. Set it before you join.

Steam Support explains the downside of a frame rate above the display’s refresh rate: it can cause screen tearing and microstuttering. V-Sync addresses both but adds input latency (see below).

Use G-Sync or FreeSync

On a fixed 60 Hz mode, a game that misses a frame deadline makes the display repeat the previous frame, which looks like 30 Hz. NVIDIA G-Sync and AMD FreeSync let the display change its refresh rate to match the game. Steam Support says that if the game’s frame rate is above the mode’s refresh rate, they have no effect but should not hurt, and it recommends enabling them where possible.

• NVIDIA G-Syncenable it outside the game in the NVIDIA Control Panel. Depending on the display, you may need to select several checkboxes.
• AMD FreeSyncenable it in the AMD Software app.

Restart CS2 after either change. The Frame Pacing section has an “NVIDIA G-Sync” row showing whether G-Sync is active. Valve wrote that the row may be hidden with the Vulkan renderer or on a non-NVIDIA card.

Combine V-Sync, G-Sync and NVIDIA Reflex

V-Sync makes the game wait for the next display refresh, which usually removes tearing and microstuttering. The cost is higher input latency, because the game is not reading mouse and keyboard input while it waits.

NVIDIA Reflex inserts a sleep interval before input processing so the game collects newer input before rendering. Steam Support says Reflex can remove the latency V-Sync adds when G-Sync is also on. Because the interval is an estimate, a frame can miss a refresh, but G-Sync adjusts the display so there is no stutter.

CS2 can detect at startup that you have G-Sync but not V-Sync or Reflex, and shows a popup. The “Apply Changes” button applies the recommendation.

Turn on Reflex manually

NVIDIA lists these steps:

In the gameSettings›Video›Advanced Video

Set “NVIDIA Reflex Low Latency” to “Enabled.”

NVIDIA says compatible cards can cut system latency by up to 35% with Reflex on. Reflex works best when the system is GPU-bound, because it keeps the CPU from running ahead of the GPU and filling the render queue.

The “Enabled + Boost” option can reduce latency further, at the cost of extra power use and a slightly lower frame rate. NVIDIA only recommends it in CS2 for players who put the lowest latency ahead of the highest frame rate.

Check frame rate and hitches with the telemetry HUD

The built-in Telemetry HUD helps you tell whether a hitch comes from your PC or your network.

In the gameSettings›Game›Telemetry

Each element can be set to never show, always show or show only when conditions are “poor.” You set the thresholds, and a value that passes its threshold turns red.

• Left number (ms)the maximum, or slowest, recent frame time. It is useful for spotting brief spikes.
• Right numberthe average FPS, which Steam Support says is good for measuring overall performance.

The two numbers are often not exact reciprocals, because one is a worst-case frame time and the other an average. A 20 ms frame time would correspond to 50 FPS if every frame took the same time.

For the network side, Steam Support suggests a low tick miss rate threshold such as .1% or .5%. The “Buffering to smooth over packet loss / jitter” option under Settings > Game can hide network problems, but it adds latency.

Shader caching and driver fixes

Steam added Shader Pre-Caching in a client update on Dec. 13, 2017. Where hardware and driver support allow, Steam can download pre-compiled shaders for your video card. Valve wrote that this reduces load times and in-game stuttering during the first few launches of OpenGL- and Vulkan-based games. The feature may use a small amount of extra bandwidth, and at the time a new entry in the Steam Settings dialog could disable it. That note does not say whether it applies to CS2.

For AMD GPUs, Valve wrote in the Oct. 6, 2023 release notes that shader compilation hitches can be fixed with a driver update.

CPU Cores Usage Preference

The Dec. 18, 2024 update added a setting for CPU Cores Usage Preference. It controls how the game uses high-performance and power-efficiency cores on CPUs with variable cores.

What recent updates changed

• June 25, 2024the Frame Pacing section and the refresh rate, G-Sync and Reflex popups arrived.
• Dec. 18, 2024the CPU Cores Usage Preference setting was added.
• Aug. 14, 2025Valve wrote of “Rendering performance improvements across most maps.” Rendering resolution and aspect ratio can now be changed in fullscreen windowed mode, and fps_max is locked while connected to a server.

FAQ

Where do I set the FPS limit in CS2?

In the Frame Pacing section of the Advanced Video page, using the “Maximum FPS In Game” and “Maximum FPS In Menus” sliders. They control fps_max and fps_max_ui.

Can I change fps_max during a match?

Not since the Aug. 14, 2025 update. Valve wrote that fps_max can no longer be changed while you are connected to a server.

Does NVIDIA Reflex raise FPS?

NVIDIA describes Reflex as reducing system latency, by up to 35% on compatible cards. The “Enabled + Boost” option can slightly lower the frame rate in exchange for lower latency.

Why does my frame rate stop just below my refresh rate?

Steam Support says enabling V-Sync, G-Sync and Reflex together limits the frame rate to slightly below the monitor’s refresh rate. It calls this by design.

How do I see my FPS in game?

Turn on the Telemetry HUD under Settings > Game > Telemetry. It shows average FPS and the maximum frame time.