FPS has been one of the most popular terms in the Counter-Strike scene since its inception in CS 1.6. The Frames Per Second (FPS) measures the refresh rate of the image on the screen in a specific video game. The higher FPS, the more fluidity and realism we will have in our gaming experience since the images will be updated faster.
Framerate is extremely important in the gaming world, especially in competitive esports. If we have a smooth image without interruption, the gaming experience will be unparalleled.
In addition, for FPS (First-Person Shooter) video games like Counter-Strike: Global Offensive and soon CS2, framerates are of utmost importance, as we all know that every millisecond counts when it comes to in-game battles.
However, when talking about First-Person Shooters, FPS refers to a genre of video games in which players assume the first-person perspective; that is, they see through the eyes of the character they control. These games focus mainly on gun combat and fast-paced action.
The FPS is related to the images per second that our screen or, in its case, the graphic card of our PC can process. The number we have observed as FPS indicates the frame rate or Framerate, which indicates the speed at which images are processed within a video medium.
In other words, the framerate is responsible for indicating precisely whether the images we watch on the screen are presented smoothly concerning the human eye or whether they are in slow motion. As a result, the general rule regarding this term, widely used in the Gaming world, is: "The higher the Framerate, the smoother the movement we will observe on the screen."
In Gaming, FPS is of utmost importance for those who wish to play with the best possible experience. For games to have the perfect smoothness or fluidity, it will make it possible for all users to demonstrate their full skill without being hampered by technical limits. To boost FPS is one of the main goals besides increasing one’s individual skill.
Speaking specifically of First-Person Shooter games, we can take as an example Call of Duty: Warzone 2. In this video game of the Battle Royale genre, having high FPS is of utmost importance since we will have much smoother animations, it reduces effects such as tearing or ghosting, and we will be able to see the rivals a few milliseconds earlier. In addition, having a higher FPS will considerably reduce the overall latency of your system, which will help improve players' reaction times.
Now, focusing on our beloved CS:GO or CS2, which will be released in summer 2023, having high and, above all, stable FPS is the real reason for success. FPS directly affects the gameplay of all CS2 players, as Counter-Strike has historically been characterized as a very fast game, and the more fluidity there is in the game, the better decisions and the better results we will have.
When we are in a CS:GO game, it is really easy to identify when we have low FPS, because by observing the image displayed on the screen in detail, we will realize that it is not smooth or fluid. So that is, if we are in a game and we begin to notice that the movements of the models, grenades, and even the shots are not fluid, at that moment, we can notice that there is a loss of FPS.
In this situation, there is no doubt that it can be completely unplayable since the movements you will see on your screen are much slower than those that your opponents will see. As a result, you will have a disadvantage, although it is milliseconds, this is fundamental in games like CS:GO and CS2.
Now, if you want to know how many FPS you have on your PC in CS:GO, there are two ways to do it.
By following these steps, when you start CS:GO or CS2, you will eventually see the FPS in the location you selected in the previous step.
Now, the simplest option that all CS:GO players have used for many years is directly within the game.
This will display information regarding FPS, PING, PacketLoss, and other statistics at the bottom of the screen.
On the subject of FPS, there can be many debates about what are the "ideal" FPS to play Counter-Strike. However, to play competitively and professionally, it is essential that, in addition to the FPS being high, they are constant; that is to say, they do not suffer any FPS-Drops.
On the other hand, we must also consider that, as technology advances, GPU and processor developers are creating new hardware that undoubtedly improves the user experience.
Currently, having so-called "good FPS" in CS:GO is synonymous with reading the framerate at 400 or more. A PC that can maintain 400 FPS in CS:GO can be considered good, with excellent FPS, that way, players will have a perfect gaming experience.
However, some PCs can offer more FPS but suffer drops that will undoubtedly directly affect our performance in the game. This FPS drop phenomenon is known as Bottleneck.
A bottleneck is when the processor or CPU does not perform on par with the graphics cards or GPU. As a result, in-game FPS will suffer constant drops that will directly affect gameplay.
This is one of the main questions or concerns many players have, especially those who do not have a high-end PC to play CS:GO.
Players need to lower the graphics quality within the game to optimize the FPS in CS:GO. This means that, within the game, you should click on Settings menu, and then in the Advanced Graphics settings, players should set the graphics quality as low as possible. However, an option called "Multicore Rendering" directly influences the FPS of the game, so it is always better to have it "Disabled”.
There is a noticeable difference between playing at high and low settings. While it is true that high-end PCs can run Counter-Strike: Global Offensive with all the high settings, these graphical details may not be noticeable to gamers. That is why it is much better to have the settings low to increase our FPS and thus have a smooth gaming experience.
In addition, it is also advisable to set CS:GO to low shader detail, because the lower the amount of shadows the computer has to process, the higher the performance it will have. As a result, you will have much more FPS by disabling this option.
Another way to optimize the FPS in CS:GO is through the launch parameters. With a series of commands, we will show below, players will tell the game to run in a way that takes advantage of all system resources. As a result, FPS and overall game performance should remain stable.
To do this:
On the other hand, it is also worth noting that you should close background applications on your PC, as these can cause unnecessary resources to be consumed, which can cause performance problems in the game.
Finally, remember that the more up-to-date the software on your PC is, the better performance it will have. This is specifically concerning the video card, either NVIDIA or AMD. Both companies constantly update their GPU software to give users better performance in their favorite games.
Another term that tends to generate much debate in competitive video games, in this case, CS:GO, is input lag.
Input lag, also known as input latency, is the time from the moment we press a button on the mouse or keyboard until the relevant action is executed on the screen.
In general terms, peripherals and video games currently process information in very few milliseconds, which is imperceptible to gamers in many cases. However, this time is sometimes extended, and we can easily notice it on our screens.
Many will wonder why the response time or input lag occurs, and, no doubt, there are different answers for it. First, it may be an issue regarding the Internet connection (conventional lag) since having a bad connection at a certain time; the video game does not process the information quickly. Another cause may be poor PC performance and poor optimization.
The concept of input lag and FPS is often confused since both are directly related to computer performance. However, they are two completely different concepts. While FPS refers directly to the processing speed of an image on the screen, input lag is the time it takes for a computer to process the information coming from a peripheral, be it a controller, keyboard, or mouse.
In conclusion, the more FPS a PC has, the lower its input lag will be, because the computer works properly and its information processing capacity is optimized.
If you have reached this point, it means that you have soaked in the topic regarding the importance of having high FPS and, above all, keeping it constant to have a better gaming experience in CS2.
As mentioned, every millisecond in FPS video games like CS:GO and CS2 is valuable. Having a high FPS advantage can help you considerably improve your level of play at a competitive level.
With all these actions, you can increase FPS in CS:GO and CS2, allowing you to have a great experience when playing one of the most popular multiplayer video games in esports history. In addition, with a smooth gaming experience, you can reach the Global Elite rank much quicker and easier.
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