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Best launch options for CS:GO in 2022

Steam Launch Options CSGO

The best launch options for CS:GO in 2021

These are the best launch options for running Counter-Strike: Global Offensive optimally. 

Quick overview

-novid

Removes Valve intro video that normally occurs at game start.

-tickrate 128

Makes your offline game servers run with 128tick instead of 64tick.

-freq144

Replace “144” with your current monitor Hz. A must if your monitor runs a frame rate higher than 60 Hz.

high

Makes your PC prioritize CS:GO and can improve FPS in some cases. Can decrease other times.

+cl_forcepreload 1

Can improve FPS for most users by preloading all game details when loading maps instead of while playing.

-nod3d9ex

makes alt-tab faster while running the game.

-nojoy

Removes the support for joystick.

-exec autoexec.cfg

Applies your custom autoexec file to the game.

Copy & Paste for launch options:

-novid -tickrate 128 -freq144 -high +cl_forcepreload 1 -nod3d9ex -nojoy -exec autoexec.cfg

Generally speaking, the launch options won’t help your frame rates much, so if you are looking for ways to improve your frame rates then I recommend you to head over to our FPS boost guide for CS:GO, where we provide troubleshooting, methods, and more.

Full description of the best launch options for CS:GO

If you are looking for the best launch options on the market for Counter-Strike: Global Offensive then you’ve come to the right place. In the table above are the best settings and they have been tested and analyzed for the best result. Let’s go through each and every one of the top launch settings so that you can get the best understanding of what they are and what they do.
Novid:

Novid:

By default, the game has a set intro video for the game that plays on your screen every time you launch the game. So if you haven’t had this command in your launch options then you know exactly what intro video I’m talking about. It’s the bald guy with the valve build into the back of his head, of course. There’s nothing wrong with video game intros as they can create some immersion or give some well-deserved credit to the developer. But when you are playing a game like Counter-Strike: Global Offensive then you’ll find yourself looking at that intro every single day and most likely multiple times a day. So it becomes quite annoying in the long run, doesn’t it?

With this command in your launch options, you’ll quickly wish you had done it earlier as it makes your launch time much faster. The command simply removes the whole intro from the game. If you have an old or slow computer and you have a limited time to join a game then this command can be a lifesaver!

Tickrate 128:

All Valve’s official servers run on 64 tick rates and so does your own private/offline servers. Luckily you can actually decide the tick rate of the servers you make yourself, such as the offline workshop maps or private hosted servers. By using this command all the servers you create on your own will automatically be played at 128 tick rate.

If you only play on Valve’s official servers such as Matchmaking, Wingman, and so on then, you might not be aware of how big a deal 128 tick is. If you on the other hand are used to playing Faceit or ESEA then you know exactly how much nicer 128 tick is compared to 64 tick rated servers. It’s a game-changer! The difference is huge and everything is way more smooth on 128 tick.

Freq144:

This command is one of the more important ones and you need to make sure this matches your data. This setting controls what refresh rate the game should run at and that refresh rate should match the one your monitor runs at. If you don’t know what the Hz/refresh rate is then we will do a very quick explanation because it is important to know.

Your monitor has a certain refresh rate build into it and the refresh rate is the number of times your monitor shows a new picture also known as frames. That number of “Hz” on your monitor should match the refresh rate of the game so that you get the most out of your settings. If your monitor got 144hz then the command should be “-freq144” and if your monitor only runs with 60hz then it should be “-freq60”.

high:

This specific launch option is one of those that works for some people and others it does nothing at all. So the best way to find out if you are to try it out and check your framerates for improvements.

This command tells your computer that CS:GO is a high-priority task when opened on your computer. Most computers already know that games and open programs always should be run as a high priority but for some, this command can help immensely on your frame rates.

+cl_forcepreload1:

As it even states in the name it forces CS:GO to preload the game details before you play it. If you happen to experience stuttering or low FPS when you play CS:GO then this command can be your solution. Instead of loading all the game details as you are playing then it will load them in advance while you are loading a map. It might make the load time between maps slower but it can be worth it if you want your FPS to increase.

If you do not see any improvements after adding this command to your launch options then you can remove it again and keep your commands to a minimum.

nod3d9ex:

adding “-nod3d9ex” to your launch options is one of many methods to make your game close/open faster when pressing “alt-tab”. Unless you always stay 100% focused on the game then you probably minimize the game in between rounds to kill time or do other tasks. This command simply tries to shorten the amount of time it takes to minimize and open the game.

nojoy:

nojoy removes the game’s ability to support a controller/joystick. You might think that’s a silly command to add but it has been shown to increase the performance of the game a tiny bit for some players. And unless playing with a joystick is your only option then I can’t see a situation where you would need a joystick to play Counter-Strike.

exec autoexec:

This is the most important command to have added to your launch options if you have a personal autoexec file. Most players these days have created their own autoexec file to personalize their game settings and to improve cetain aspects of the game. This command makes sure that the game reads that file and applies your settings to the game. If you do not know what an autoexec file is then you can read all about autoexec and config files in CS:GO here.

Thank you for reading and taking interest. If you wan’t to become a better CS:GO player then head over to our CS:GO guide.

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