Advanced CSGO guide

[carlcooper]

CS:GO is the world’s most famous shooter, which has attracted the attention of every gamer worldwide. But how did it all start? Well, let’s go back to the late ‘90s. In 1998, Valve released the Half-Life game mode “Counter-Strike".

How to optimize your PC for playing CS:GO

If you do not have a super powerful computer, but really want to play CS:GO, then you should make sure that your PC is ready to withstand high loads.

There are some simple rules to optimize PC for playing CS:GO:

• Keep your computer clean: both inside (do not download any third-party software) and externally (do not forget to periodically clean it from dust)
• Update the drivers! One of the most simple but effective rules, which can sometimes give a boost which is equivalent to buying a newer video card
• Close all third-party software before starting the game! Especially browsers! Having a test with an open browser and closed, you will be surprised how much Google Chrome eats memory.

Launch settings

Many players do not know what startup settings are. In short, these are special console commands that are automatically applied when you are entering the game. So there is no need to apply them each time.

Wondering how set launch settings?

• Right-click the game icon in the Steam games library
• Select Properties
• Click Set Launch Settings to enter the needed commands

Here is just a small list of useful commands:

-novid - skips loading video in the begging of a game
-console - turns on the console in the game
-freq “number” - the screen refresh rate, for example 120 (-freq “120”)
-high - high priority game launch

Read the full csgo guide

[R3KT1337]

Thanks for this tutorial never knew -freq existed

[deathsecrets]

Thanks for this tutorial never knew -freq existed

-freq is just the new "-refresh" command, I also suggest using "-d3d9ex" command due to the new csgo update for performance gains.


How to enable -d3d9ex
-d3d9ex is enabled over the launch options.
Simply right click CS:GO > Properties > Set Launch Options > Copy and Paste: -d3d9ex
Done.

In 2019 an update added the launch option -d3d9ex to cs:go.
This command will finally make cs:go run better, more smoothly with higher FPS and make alt tabbing super fast!

– Added an optional -d3d9ex command line switch to reduce CPU memory use by about 40%.
If you encounter graphics problems with this feature, please send an email to CSGOTeamFeedback@valvesoftware.com with the subject “D3D9EX”.


-d3d9ex presumably enables DirectX 9Ex which supports the flip model presentation mode. This makes drawing to screen use less memory.
According to Microsoft: Flip Mode Present [which is added in 9Ex] reduces system memory usage by reducing the number of reads and writes by the Direct3D runtime for the windowed frame composition by [the Windows window manager]. This reduces the system power consumption and overall memory usage.
Shoutout to reddit user u/birjolaxew