CS2 low FPS, stuttering or input lag: how to fix it
Low FPS, stuttering and delayed aim feel like the same thing mid-match, but they have different causes. Start by figuring out which one you have.
Rise TeamGuide written by the Rise team. The steps work with or without Rise; the facts about the game come from the sources at the end of the page, with the date we checked them.
Short answer
In CS2, low FPS, stuttering and delayed aim have different causes, so measure before you change anything. For delayed aim, turn off V-Sync, play in exclusive fullscreen and turn on NVIDIA Reflex if you have an NVIDIA card. For low FPS, lower one video setting at a time and compare on the same map.
First, find out what is holding you back
| Symptom | Likely cause | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Aim feels delayed | V-Sync holds back the whole system and adds delay[2] | Turn off V-Sync in the game and in the graphics card control panel, and turn on Reflex[2] |
| Stutters even with high FPS | Average FPS hides spikes in frame time | Check frame time in the Steam performance monitor[4] |
| Low FPS on every map | PC close to the minimum requirements or graphics card at its limit[1] | Lower one video setting at a time and measure again |
| Image doesn’t keep up with the monitor | Monitor set below its maximum refresh rate[2] | Check the refresh rate in Windows display settings[2] |
| Program blocked or kicked from the match | Trusted Mode blocks programs that try to get into the game[5] | Close the program and reopen CS2 |
Swipe the table sideways to see every column.
How to measure FPS in CS2
Before you change anything, measure. Steam has its own performance monitor that shows FPS and, at the more detailed levels, the minimum and maximum time of each frame and CPU, GPU and memory usage.
- In Steam, open Settings and then In Game.
- In the performance monitor section, pick a level that shows FPS details.
- Load into a map and write down the numbers at the same spot, before and after each change.
- Change one thing at a time. If you change several at once, you won’t know which one helped.
Delayed aim: how to reduce input lag
Input lag is the time between your click and what shows up on screen. NVIDIA’s latency guide points to these settings, and none of them requires buying new parts:
- Turn off V-Sync in the CS2 menu and in the graphics card control panel. With it on, the display holds back the rest of the system.
- Play in exclusive fullscreen, which bypasses the Windows compositor.
- On an NVIDIA card, turn on Reflex in the game menu. It makes the CPU hand off work to the GPU at the right time. Boost mode keeps the GPU clock high, but uses more power.
- Make sure your monitor is at its maximum refresh rate in Windows display settings.
Low FPS: what to lower first
In the advanced video settings, MSAA, shadows, ambient occlusion and particles usually cost the most. Lower one at a time and compare on the same map. Textures depend on your graphics card’s memory: if it has plenty to spare, lowering textures changes little.
With a card at its limit, be careful with dynamic shadows: they show other players’ shadows, so turning them off can cost you information in the match.
Optimizers, Trusted Mode and VAC
Trusted Mode is on for everyone and blocks programs that try to inject into CS2. If you open a program that isn’t compatible with the game while it’s running, you may get kicked from the match until you reopen the game. That’s why you should be wary of any optimizer that messes with the game’s internals or promises to get around this protection.
What your PC needs to run CS2
| Item | Minimum |
|---|---|
| OS | Windows 10[1] |
| Processor | 4 threads, Intel Core i5 750 or better[1] |
| Memory | 8 GB of RAM[1] |
| Graphics card | 1 GB or more, DirectX 11 compatible with support for Shader Model 5.0[1] |
| Storage | 85 GB of available space[1] |
Swipe the table sideways to see every column.
The minimum requirement gets the game to open. To play competitive on a high refresh rate monitor, your PC needs headroom above it.
What Rise does in CS2
Everything here shows what changes before you apply it.
- CS2 video presetWrites the graphics settings to cs2_video.txt, the file the game itself rewrites when you apply the video menu, based on your graphics card’s memory. Shows what changes first. It was checked against files in the game’s format: after applying, open the video menu and check the values.Games › CS2 · Rise Premium
- Reflex and Anti-Lag 2Turns on the game’s own latency option when it’s off, on an NVIDIA or AMD card. The Boost setting you chose stays as it is. On an Intel card, it doesn’t touch anything.Inside the preset
- Config ProApplies public pro player configs. The autoexec.cfg belongs to Config Pro alone and, in the video file, whatever you applied last wins.Games › CS2 · Rise Premium
- Windows, graphics card and networkWhat matters in any game: power plan, background programs and your PC’s Windows, graphics card and network settings. Each optimization shows what changes before you apply it.Optimizations · Rise Basic and Premium
- Before-and-after BenchmarkRuns the same 3D scene before and after your tweaks and compares average FPS, 1% low and stutters on your PC.Benchmark · Rise Basic and Premium
What Rise does not do in CS2
- Doesn’t touch VAC and doesn’t inject anything into CS2.
- Doesn’t write launch options without showing you first.
- Doesn’t improve your internet’s route to the server.
- Doesn’t promise an FPS number: measure before and after on your PC.
Frequently asked questions
How do I increase FPS in CS2?
Measure with the Steam performance monitor. Then, in the advanced video settings, lower one setting at a time, starting with MSAA, shadows, ambient occlusion and particles, and compare on the same map. Close heavy programs before playing.
How do I fix input lag in CS2?
Turn off V-Sync in the game and in the graphics card control panel, play in exclusive fullscreen and turn on NVIDIA Reflex if you have an NVIDIA card. Also make sure your monitor is at its maximum refresh rate.
Why does CS2 stutter even with high FPS?
Average FPS hides spikes: some frames can take much longer than others. Check frame time in the Steam performance monitor, on the same map, before and after each change.
Can a PC optimizer get you VAC banned?
What Valve punishes is messing with the game: programs that inject or detour engine functions. In 2023, even an AMD driver feature led to bans for that reason. Rise doesn’t inject anything and doesn’t touch VAC: the preset writes the video file the game itself uses. Still, be wary of anyone who promises you can’t get banned.
Is Reflex with Boost worth it?
Boost keeps the GPU clock high when the CPU is the limit. That cuts the delay a bit more, but uses more power. For most players, Reflex on without Boost does the job.
What’s the difference between the preset and Config Pro in Rise?
The preset tunes the video settings for your PC. Config Pro applies a pro player’s config and is the only one that writes autoexec.cfg. In the video file, whatever you applied last wins.
Sources
- Steam: Counter-Strike 2 and requirements (checked on Oct 31, 2026)
- NVIDIA: system latency optimization guide (checked on Oct 31, 2026)
- NVIDIA: how Reflex works (checked on Oct 31, 2026)
- Steam: in-game performance monitor (checked on Oct 31, 2026)
- Steam Support: CS2 Trusted Mode (checked on Oct 31, 2026)
- PCWorld: Anti-Lag+ and CS2 bans (October 2023) (checked on Oct 31, 2026)
Spotted something out of date? Let us know on the Rise Discord and we will fix it. Report on Discord
Want CS2 set up and your PC measured?
See what each plan unlocks and how to pay. On your first purchase, you have 7 days to cancel for a full refund.
More CS2 guides
CS2 stuttering with high FPS or on a high-end PC: how to fix it
CS2 stuttering even with high FPS? Learn how to read frame time in the game’s telemetry, tell your PC apart from your network and fix the most common causes. With Valve sources.
CS2 FPS capped at 60 or at your monitor’s refresh rate: how to uncap it
CS2 FPS stuck at 60 or always slightly below your refresh rate? Find where the cap comes from: fps_max, V-Sync, G-Sync with Reflex, your graphics driver or a laptop on battery.