11 long years have passed since Valve released Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, the hugely popular fourth instalment in the series.
Sure, the studio has added maps, weapons, and modes, tuned the engine, and generally given the vast army of CS players and eSports fans plenty of love over the last few years.
But Counter-Strike 2, released just last month, is the first major leap forward for the series in a decade.
Developed from the ground up in Valve’s cutting edge Source 2 engine, it boasts enhanced lighting, some ultra-clever clever smoke physics, and improved server technology.
So how come it’s so laggy every time you try and have a game?
The list of possible reasons is endless, but we can help you troubleshoot some of the main causes of multiplayer lag. Follow these steps and hopefully you’ll be able to make unfair misses and humiliating lag-induced knife kills things of the past.
First-up, you need to know your limits, hardware-wise. It’s all too easy to blame server and network issues for the jerky horror unfolding before your eyes, but an underpowered CPU or GPU are just as likely to be the culprit.
Likewise, the speed of your RAM can determine the performance of the game, and by extension your performance on the battlefield.
When it comes to solutions, there’s only one thing for it: upgrade your PC. Get some better RAM, buy a new motherboard, find a better CPU, source a more powerful graphics card. Do whatever it takes to meet or exceed the game’s minimum specs.
The pain of your enemies will be your reward.
And once you’re up and running with a monstrously specced up PC, why not treat yourself to a few cases?
Best ways to get CS:GO cases
In case you didn’t know, cases in Counter-Strike 2 are a fantastic way to acquire new weapons, skins, and other items quickly.
For our money, the best way to buy these CS:GO cases is through Clash, a specialist CS:GO unboxing site created by one of the game’s most seasoned players. Click here to check it out.
Of course, it’s just possible that you’re not in a position to buy a monster PC, which can comfortably cost as much as a second-hand car. You might be stuck with the PC you’ve got, in which case, read on. We can help.
Start by tweaking your graphics settings. The lower you go in terms of texture quality, shader detail, particle detail, and so on, the higher your frame rate will soar in response. Take your resolution down as well. 1080p or lower is fine.
Fortunately, you don’t have to go in and change these settings manually, unless you really want to achieve the perfect balance of beauty and performance. Instead, you can just use the game’s presets, such as Low and Medium.
If you’re still struggling, it’s always a good idea to close unnecessary background apps. This will free up RAM and CPU power, allowing your PC to dedicate more resources to Counter-Strike 2.
A tool like MWSoft is great for optimising your PC’s performance too.
We can’t promise you a lag-free experience, but if you follow these steps you’re likely to get a little bit closer.