How to fix stuttering & lag issues in CS2
ValveCounter-Strike 2 is a live-service game, which means having a smooth and lag-free performance is important to win games. Since the latest graphical improvements can take a toll on your GPU, here’s how to fix stuttering and lag issues easily in CS2.
CS2 is one of the biggest FPS titles released in 2023, and it is evident from its massive player count even after months since launch. While Valve have upgraded to sub-tick servers, which have enhanced the gameplay experience, optimization can still be an issue for many.
Some CS2 players have come across frame drops and lag issues which might be a result of certain unoptimized settings in the game. But, there are ways to solve it from your end and improve your PC’s performance for running CS2.
Here’s how to fix stuttering and lag issues in CS2 to improve your game’s performance.
ValveCS2: How to fix stuttering & lagging
You can fix lagging and stuttering issues in CS2 by applying the following changes:
Upgrade your graphics drivers
If you ever face lag while playing a game, make sure to check if your graphics drivers are up to date. Players tend to ignore driver update notifications and run games with their outdated drivers. This makes certain new games more or less incompatible with the old drivers, which causes unpleasant stutters during gameplay.
Simply head to your GPU manufacturers’ official website and download the latest gaming drivers for your graphics cards. This will not only be helpful for running CS2 smoothly but also for other games.
Lower your graphics settings in CS2
The most basic cause of frame drops can be found right inside the game’s settings. If you’re playing at a higher graphical preset than your GPU can handle, you will run into massive frame drops and lag issues in Counter-Strike 2.
Make sure to check the system requirements for CS2 and make sure that you use the best PC settings to have a smoother experience. Also, run the game in fullscreen mode, as being windowed can eat up frames a lot of the time.
ValveMake sure to use a dual-channel RAM setup
Although this will be a minor fix, upgrading to a dual-channel RAM setup can work wonders at times in terms of frames per second in a game. This means that instead of having a single stick of 8 GB or 16 GB RAM slotted in your system, use 4×2 or 8×2 GB RAM sticks in your system.
Using a direct connection Ethernet cable
Using an Ethernet cable for your internet can vastly improve ping and reduce lag in CS2, as you will draw out the full potential of your internet. Instead of using a Wi-Fi connection, use the cable to connect the router directly to your PC to get the lowest ping possible for your internet.
That was everything you had to know to fix stuttering and lag issues in Counter-Strike 2. For more on CS2, have a look at the following:
How to convert Valorant to CS2 mouse sensitivity | Best CS:GO & CS2 crosshair codes used by pros | Is Counter-Strike 2 on macOS or Linux? | How to show FPS in Counter-Strike 2: Enable & disable commands | Counter-Strike 2: Best settings to avoid input lag | Counter-Strike 2 Competitive vs Premier: What are Premier ranks & CS rating?