Networking and Servers
Connection, latency, servers, and network issues. Browse 6 detailed answers below.
Understanding Ping and Latency
Quick answer: Ping: data travel time to server. Lower is better (under 50ms ideal). Affects hit registration.
Ping: round-trip data travel timeIdeal ping: 0-50msHigh ping: affects hitreg and responsiveness
Selecting Your Server Region
Quick answer: Play in lowest-ping region. Valve auto-selects best servers. Manual selection available in settings.
Valve auto-selects lowest-ping regionManual region selection possible via settingsPrioritize lowest-ping region
Handling Connection Drops and Lag Spikes
Quick answer: Diagnose with ping test. Restart router. Use wired Ethernet. Disable bandwidth-consuming apps.
Connection drops: internet failureLag spikes: temporary network congestionDiagnose with ping tests
Server Performance and Client-Side Prediction
Quick answer: CS2 uses client-side prediction. Your client predicts movements locally. High ping causes errors.
Client-side prediction systemLocal movement predictionServer confirmation
Tick Rate and Hit Registration Understanding
Quick answer: Tick rate: server update frequency. 128-tick standard. Affects hitreg precision.
Tick rate: server update frequencyHigher = better hitregValve: 128-tick
3D Audio and Sound Positioning
Quick answer: Use 3D audio to locate enemies. Premium headsets improve directionality. Audio alone can locate enemies.
3D audio determines directionProfessional skillHeadset quality matters