Playing CS2 and facing lags and stutters? Ugh… We understand the frustration you may be experiencing. These lags usually appear when your PC is either under-equipped to run the application or too busy to allocate necessary resources. Either way, the playing experience especially in a real-time game such as Counter-Strike 2 is ruined because of is stuttering.
Several factors lead to performance lag and stuttering. The primary is an outdated graphics driver. Therefore, to avoid facing issues with gaming performance and display keeping the graphics driver updated is recommended. The best way to update the driver is by using a third-party tool called Advanced Driver Updater.
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However, if you have technical skills, you can update it through Device Manager.
Now that you know how to fix the primary reason let us understand the other reasons for lag and stutters in Counter-Strike 2.
What Causes Issues in Running Counter Strike 2 on Windows?
Although outdated graphics drivers are the primary reason for lag and stuttering in CS2. There are other culprits too. These include –
- Occupied resources of the PC
- Unstable Internet Connection
- Misconfigured Graphics Settings
- Outdated Hardware/Software
If you have already understood where you are lacking, simply scroll down and find the relevant fix for your PC. If you have yet to detect the area of error, we recommend you start implementing fixes one after the other, as these are regular maintenance fixes that will only help your PC perform better.
Without any further ado, let’s jump straight to the fixes!
5 Ways to Fix Lag And Stuttering in Counter-Strike (CS2)
Fix 1 – Ensure Your PC Meets the Requirements to Run Counter Strike 2
Though it is not that heavy of a game to support, some users are trying to run CS2 on older PCs. One of the prime reasons why you may be facing lag and stutter in Counter Strike 2 is the lack of resources and system requirements. The following are the required resources you must have on your PC to run CS 2 on your PC seamlessly.
- Operating system: Windows 10 (64 bits)
- CPU: Intel Core i5 2500k or AMD FX-6300.
- Memory: 4 GB of RAM.
- Graphics: GTX 1060 or AMD RX 580.
- Storage: 60 GB of free space on the Hard Disk
If your PC does not have all these resources, you might need to upgrade!
Fix 2 – Close Background apps Before Launching
If you meet the system requirements on the borderline, your PC may not have enough resources to support a lag-free playing experience. Hence, it is recommended that you close all the apps running in the background so that the resources are freed.
Step 1 – Press Ctrl+Shift+Esc to open the Task Manager
Step 2 – You may find all the apps using your current resources in the Task Manager.
Step 3 – Select the apps and right-click on them to find the End task. Click on it to close the app.
Repeat the same steps for all the other apps running in the background so that most of your memory and RAM can run CS2 without lag on Windows.
Fix 3 – Use a LAN Connection/Troubleshoot Network
Since it is an online multiplayer game, you need a solid internet connection without interruptions. This can only be achieved if you have a high-speed internet connection or switch your connection mode to LAN. You can also use the start menu and search for Internet Connection Troubleshooter.
If you are facing issues while using a WiFi connection, either the range is low or your WLAN driver is not working properly. Either way, your PC will need help to fetch the appropriate bandwidth, and you will face lag and stutter while playing Counter-Strike 2.
The ideal solution is to switch to a wired connection. This way, you will have better bandwidth to feed the game so that there are no frame drops in CS2.
Fix 4 – Update Graphics Drivers
If the game keeps lagging after sorting the requirements and internet errors, you must look for driver updates on your PC. These updates will help you fix multiple errors on your PC. For instance, if the WLAN driver is not working properly, you can resolve that, too, by updating drivers on your PC.
If you are wondering how to update the drivers, we have the simplest yet most effective solution: Advanced Driver Updater.
The application is an automatic driver updater with a vast database regularly updated to keep the latest updates flowing. All you have to do is –
Step 1 – Install the app
Step 2 – Run a scan to identify outdated drivers
Step 3 – Click on Update All to install the latest versions.
3-Easy steps, and you are good to go! Download the application now to see the results yourself.
Fix 5 – Manage Graphics Configuration on Windows
Exceeding GPU limits with high graphical presets causes lag and potential game crashes due to frequent frame drops. Hence, you are requested to navigate to the game settings and set your video quality settings to optimal so the system completely supports it.
Other than these fixes, you must ensure that your PC is up to date and that you are using an original copy of the game. That is all for this post. Thanks for reading, and good luck!