Not achieving the best frame rate in CS:GO
Not achieving the best frame rate in CS:GO
I've been curious about why my expected FPS isn't being achieved while playing my preferred game, CS:GO. The PC I assembled two years ago has seen several upgrades to enhance my visual experience. Initially, it came with a GTX 970 graphics card, an i7 9700K processor, 16GB of 3200MHz RAM, and a 250GB 2.5" SSD. I believed this setup would comfortably deliver 300-400 FPS for CS:GO, since the game isn't particularly demanding. Yet, achieving such performance in a computer game is unusual compared to titles like LoL, Rocket League, or CoD. To my surprise, CS:GO ran at 200-250 FPS, which was quite unexpected. I began experimenting with overclocking, adjusting the BIOS and following tutorials. I successfully increased my CPU to 5.0GHz and upgraded my RAM, but the improvement in FPS remained minimal.
CS:GO is among the top First Person Shooter titles in esports, and maintaining optimal FPS is crucial at competitive levels. By now, I've upgraded my CPU from an i7 9700K to an I9 9900K (overclocked), swapped out my old 3.5" HDD for newer models, and added a 500GB M.2 SSD for Windows and main games like CSGO. The only remaining component from my original build is the PSU, which I feel is likely the weakest point affecting performance.
Despite these efforts, I'm not very familiar with PC components, so I'm seeking advice from others. I've tried various guides to maximize FPS while minimizing background cache and loads. I'm currently using Empty Standby List, CPU Priority, Process Lasso, and Malwarebytes Premium. My most recent PC reset occurred 2-3 weeks ago, where I performed a factory reset.
Here are my current specs:
- CPU: Intel Core i9 9900K (overclocked to 5.0GHz)
- CPU Cooler: NZXT Kraken X53 Liquid
- MBD: MSI MPG Z390 Gaming Pro Carbon
- RAM: Corsair Vengeance LPX 2x8GB DDR4 3200MHz
- GPU: MSI RTX 2070 Tri FroZr
- SSD1: Kingston KC2000 500GB M.2 NVME
- SSD2: Samsung 850 EVO 250GB 2.5"
- HDD1: Seagate Barracuda Compute 4TB 3.5"
- HDD2: Seagate Barracuda Compute 2TB 3.5"
- PSU: XFX Proseries XXX Edition 850W
- Case: Corsair Crystal 460X RGB ATX Midi Tower
- OS: Windows 10 Home 64-bit
Consider disabling adaptive sync if your GPU can handle frames at your monitor's refresh rate. This may cause screen tearing at higher FPS. Also, note that low latency mode on ultra restricts the CPU's frame preparation for the GPU. Try modifying it for better performance. I don't see a preferred refresh rate in your settings—does it default to the highest available?
Tried both off, but it didn't boost the FPS. I only began using Malwarebytes and Process lasso recently because of the FPS tutorial, so I understand my previous performance. For my monitor, I have a 240Hz refresh rate, and I'm using 1920x1080 (Native) resolution, which also works in CS:GO. Here are my Nvidia 3D Settings (in Norwegian, unfortunately):
https://imgur.com/a/MdRZpBj
View: https://imgur.com/a/MdRZpBj
Consider disabling adaptive sync if your GPU can handle frames at your monitor's refresh rate. This may cause screen tearing at higher FPS. Also, note that low latency mode on ultra restricts the CPU's frame preparation for the GPU. Try modifying it for better performance. I don't see a preferred refresh rate in your settings—does it default to the highest available?
I realized that the "Adaptive" Vsync Mode actually restricted my FPS to match the monitor's refresh rate, not just lowering the overall FPS for smoother gameplay. I didn’t understand why it would consistently cap at a lower frame rate. After disabling Vsync, my CS:GO FPS jumped from around 240 to 600 or more, so I set a maximum of 400 in my Autoexec CFG for CS:GO. This made the game run much more fluidly. I also changed Low Latency Mode from "Ultra" to "On." I think I had it set to "Off" previously, but then noticed screen tearing when Vsync was off, which is no longer an issue now.
I’ve only tested this on a few benchmark maps and aim practice maps both offline and online. I haven’t played any matchmaking games yet to evaluate the full experience. I plan to test it later today and provide more detailed feedback.
Thanks a lot for your assistance!
🙂
-J3nga