What Are the System Requirements for CS2?
Counter-Strike 2 has relatively modest system requirements compared to modern AAA titles. The minimum requirements are an Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 or AMD equivalent with 2 GB of RAM and a graphics card equivalent to NVIDIA GeForce 8600 GT or AMD equivalent. These minimum specs allow the game to run on older hardware, though performance will be limited.
For a smooth competitive experience, Valve recommends an Intel Core i5 processor, 8 GB of RAM, and an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 or equivalent. These specs provide 120+ FPS at 1080p medium settings on average systems. Most gaming laptops and PC builds from the last 5-10 years can meet or exceed these requirements.
High-end competitive play typically requires a high-refresh-rate monitor and powerful GPU to maintain 240+ FPS consistently. Popular GPUs for this include RTX 3070 and newer, or RTX 4070 for ultra-high refresh rates. Storage should be on an SSD for optimal loading times and consistency.
Internet speed is also important: a minimum of 20 Mbps download is recommended for smooth gameplay with stable connection to Valve's servers.
Key Points
- Minimum: Core 2 Duo, 2GB RAM, GeForce 8600 GT
- Recommended: i5 CPU, 8GB RAM, GTX 1060
- SSD storage recommended for faster loading
- 20 Mbps internet minimum recommended
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Assuming CS2 needs expensive high-end hardware
- Using HDD instead of SSD for storage
- Not considering monitor refresh rate for competitive play