How to Show FPS in CS2

The fastest way to display your FPS is through the developer console. This method works entirely within CS2 and requires no external software.

• Step 1: Make sure the developer console is enabled. Go to Settings, then Game, and set "Enable Developer Console" to Yes.
• Step 2: Press the tilde key (~) to open the console.
• Step 3: Type cl_showfps 1 and press Enter. Your FPS counter will appear in the top-left corner of the screen.
• Step 4: To disable it, type cl_showfps 0.

The cl_showfps command has several modes. Using cl_showfps 1 shows a basic FPS counter. Values of 2 through 5 display additional information like frame time, render time, and server performance. For most players, cl_showfps 1 is all you need. You can also use net_graph 1 for a more detailed overlay that includes network information alongside FPS.

Steam has a built-in FPS counter that works across all Steam games, including CS2. It is minimal and unobtrusive.

• Step 1: Open Steam and go to Steam (menu) then Settings.
• Step 2: Navigate to the "In Game" section.
• Step 3: Find "In-game FPS counter" and set it to your preferred screen corner (top-left, top-right, bottom-left, or bottom-right).
• Step 4: Optionally enable "High contrast color" for better visibility against dark backgrounds.

The Steam overlay FPS counter is small and clean, making it a good choice if you want a persistent counter that does not clutter your screen. It updates in real-time and works without any in-game commands.

GPU manufacturers provide their own overlay tools that display FPS along with additional hardware metrics:

• NVIDIA GeForce Experience: Press Alt+R to toggle the performance overlay. Shows FPS, GPU temperature, clock speeds, and more.
• AMD Adrenalin Software: Enable the performance overlay in Adrenalin settings. Displays FPS, GPU usage, VRAM, and temperatures.
• MSI Afterburner + RivaTuner: A popular combination that works with any GPU. Highly customizable -- you can display FPS, frame time, CPU/GPU usage, temperatures, and clock speeds.

Third-party overlays are ideal if you want to monitor hardware performance alongside FPS. They help identify whether CPU or GPU bottlenecks are causing frame drops. For more information on system-level commands, visit the Valve Developer Community.

Each method has its strengths depending on your needs:

• cl_showfps: Best for quick checks during gameplay. No setup required beyond enabling the console. Use net_graph 1 if you also want network stats.
• Steam overlay: Best for a persistent, minimal counter that works across all games. Set it once and forget it.
• Third-party tools: Best for troubleshooting performance issues. Use when you need to see GPU temperature, CPU usage, and frame time alongside FPS.

Most competitive CS2 players use either the console command or Steam overlay for everyday monitoring. Third-party tools are pulled out when something feels off and you need to diagnose the cause.

Once you can see your FPS, the next step is making sure it stays high and stable. Here are the most impactful settings to adjust:

• Shadow Quality: Lowering shadow quality provides one of the biggest FPS gains. Set to Low or Medium.
• Shader Detail: Reducing shader detail improves FPS without drastically changing how the game looks.
• Global Shadow Quality: Set to Medium or Low. High shadow quality is one of the most demanding settings.
• Anti-Aliasing: MSAA is expensive. Consider using FXAA or disabling anti-aliasing entirely for maximum FPS.
• Launch options: Add performance-related launch options through Steam. Visit our launch options guide for recommended settings.

For a comprehensive walkthrough of every graphics setting and its performance impact, read our FPS optimization guide.