How to fix stuttering in CS2
Why CS2 stutters even at high FPS and how to fix it: shader cache, FPS cap, overlays, SSD and RAM.
Stutters are short freezes of the image even when your average FPS is high. They usually appear in the first rounds on a map, in fights and when grenades explode.
🔧 1. Cap your FPS
Unstable FPS feels worse than slightly lower but steady FPS.
fps_max 240
Set a value slightly below your minimum FPS in fights.
📌 2. Shader cache
In the NVIDIA Control Panel: Manage 3D settings → Shader Cache Size → 10 GB or Unlimited.
The first rounds on a new map after a game or driver update can always stutter — shaders are compiling.
🖥️ 3. Background apps
Disable Discord, Steam and NVIDIA overlays, and Xbox Game Bar.
Close browser videos and recording software.
Check your antivirus: add the CS2 folder to exclusions.
💾 4. Hardware
The game must be on an SSD.
Enable XMP/EXPO in BIOS — without it, RAM runs slower.
With 8 GB of RAM, stutters are almost unavoidable — 16 GB is recommended.
🎯 5. GPU scheduling
Try toggling Settings → Display → Graphics → Hardware-accelerated GPU scheduling. On some PCs turning it on helps, on others turning it off does.
⚠️ Tip
Change one thing at a time and test — that way you know what actually helped.