What are CS:GO launch options?
Launch options are a set of commands that allow you to customise the game settings before you even start playing. These settings ensure that you get the most out of your hardware and improve the smoothness of the game. There are several options available, whether you want to improve the graphics, increase FPS, or adjust hardware settings. A short explanation accompanies all launch options to better your understanding.
Let’s look at how you can change the launch options.
How to set the launch options?
To add or change the launch options, right-click on the Counter-Strike in your Steam library, select “Properties”, and then go to the “General” tab. In the “Set Launch Options” box, enter the options you want to use, separated by a space.
So, what are the best launch options?
Essential Launch Options
The following are what we see as the most essential launch options.
Copy paste them directly into your own settings.
-tickrate 128 +fps_max 0 -novid -nojoy +cl_forcepreload +exec autoexec.cfg
-tick rate 128
Sets the tickrate of any offline server you make. Choose between 64 tick and 128 tick. 128 tick is known for providing a smoother gameplay experience.
+fps_max 0
Remove the FPS cap and likely give you a smoother experience.
-novid
Skips the intro video when you start up the game
-nojoy
Disables joystick support, potentially freeing up RAM.
+cl_forcepreload 1
Preloads all models, sounds, and other files when loading a map, improving FPS and reducing stuttering.
+exec autoexec.cfg
Preload your own config file. In this case the autoexec.cfg
Top Launch Options for Improved FPS
Some launch options can possibly boost your FPS, especially if you play a on low-end PC. It’s important to note that while these options can potentially increase your FPS, they may also have the opposite effect and lower it. Therefore, you should always test each option individually to see how it affects your specific setup.
-high
Sets CS:GO as a high-priority process, ensuring that your computer gives more RAM and CPU power to the game.
-forcenovsync
Deactivates the VSync function, which can sometimes limit FPS.
-limitvconst
Limits the number of vertex shaders to 256, which can improve performance on mid to low-end graphics cards.”
+r_dynamic 0
Turns off some in-game lighting features and may slightly increase FPS.
-softparticlesdefaultoff
Limits FPS drops when a utility explodes near you in-game by changing the way the game renders particles.
+mat_queue_mode:
Allocates all threads and cores to CS:GO. You need to add a value after the command. The values range from -1 to 2. Setting it to 2 enables multi-threaded mode.
Additional launch options
Finally, we included several launch options that have been reported by some players as being helpful
-console
Force the console to open once the game is started
-refresh
Sets your monitor’s refresh rate.
-fullscreen
Starts the game in full-screen mode.
-language english
Allows you to use the game in English even if your Steam client is in a different language
