INTRODUCTION

Optimal settings can be the difference between a good performance and a great performance. However, customising your game config can seem daunting at first if you're unsure where to begin! In this article, we will go over basic and advanced game settings, how to use them and what they mean to get you on your way to finding your optimal settings!

NOTES

Before we begin, you will need to navigate to our config folder and create an autoexec if you haven't already. The default location is:

Local Disk (C:) > Program Files (86x) > Steam > steamapps > common > Counter-Strike Global Offensive > csgo > cfg

To create an autoexec, create a new text document (.txt), select "File," then "Save As..." and change the "save as type" to All Files. Add "autoexec.cfg" as the File Name and save the file. Now right-click and open the file with Notepad or Notepad++, which is what we will use to add most of our commands to the config. Copy and paste these commands to your autoexec, and customise values based on your preference where applicable.

OPTIMAL NETWORK SETTINGS

Copy and paste:

rate 128000
cl_updaterate 128
cl_cmdrate 128
cl_interp_ratio 1
cl_interp 0
cl_lagcompensation 1

rate refers to the bandwidth allocated to CS:GO. A low rate could cause some data like enemy movement or gunfire to display inaccurately, or not at all, or could cause lag.

cl_updaterate sets the maximum amount of packets the client receives from the server per second. Note that servers running lower tickrates will automatically force this setting to coincide with the server's tickrate. Setting it to 128 will ensure that the maximum allowed updaterate is used on every server you play on, regardless of the tickrate.

cl_cmdrate sets the maximum amount of packets the client sends to the server per second. The same note applies as the updaterate: servers running lower tickrates will automatically force this setting to coincide with the tickrate, and setting it to 128 will ensure that the maximum allowed cmdrate will be used on every server you play on.

Interpolation is a method Counter-Strike uses to interpret the differences in latencies between players. If you consistently play on servers with a ping lower than 80ms, leave these settings as they are. If you have a consistent ping of 80+ change the cl_interp_ratio to 2, as this will aid the game in interpreting your actions more accurately and provide a better experience for you.

cl_lagcompensation is essential to Counter-Strike, just as it is to every online FPS. Lag compensation is necessary since everything taking place in the server is theoretically not instantaneous, and Counter-Strike needs to compensate for the variance in latencies between players. Default is on, and leaving this on will ensure you have a smooth game.

VIEWMODEL SETTINGS

Simply put, your viewmodel is the model of your character in your view, like the gun, gloves, view bobbing and so forth. While this doesn't affect gameplay all that much, it can be adjusted so that it causes less of a distraction—or more if you're into that!

While there is no "right" viewmodel setting, some are better than others. To make the weapon slightly smaller and remove all the bobbing while moving, copy and paste this into your autoexec:

viewmodel_fov 68
viewmodel_offset_x 3
viewmodel_offset_y 3
viewmodel_offset_z -3
cl_bob_lower_amt 0
cl_bobamt_lat 0
cl_bobamt_vert 0

Note: Crashz' Viewmodel Generator can be found in the CS:GO Workshop on Steam. It allows you to adjust your viewmodel to your liking with great ease, without the fuss of editing the viewmodel using console commands!

CUSTOM ACTION BINDS

A custom action bind refers to actions that cannot be bound in the in-game control menu, such as jumpthrows. While these are entirely legal in CS and cannot result in bans, it has to be pointed out that competitive leagues may have rules against certain custom action binds, like the banning of jumpthrows. These are NOT external/illegal scripts. They are just custom actions.

Example:

alias +smokealign "cl_crosshairsize 9999"
alias -smokealign "cl_crosshairsize 1"
bind mouse3 "+smokealign"

This custom bind extends the crosshair while pressing mouse3, and returns the crosshair to normal upon release. Very useful for lining up grenades!

Creating your own custom action bind is fairly simple. Just as we would bind a key to do a default action like jump, we will bind a key to do a custom action/series of actions like jump and crouch. Following a formula, we can easily create custom action binds:

alias +CustomName "Command;Command;Command:
alias -CustomName "Command;Command"
bind key "+CustomName"

Looking back at our example, we can see differences in the two alias lines. The first line (with + before the name) refers to the commands/actions that will take place when the key is pressed, while the second line (with - before the name) refers to the commands/actions that will occur once the key is released. By pressing and holding mouse3, we execute the "cl_crosshairsize 9999" command which stretches it over our screen. Upon releasing it we execute the "cl_crosshairsize 1" command (back to original crosshairsize). Now that our alias lines have been created, we can bind the new custom action to a key of our choosing. Note that there isn't a limit on commands for one alias, therefore it could be used for simple actions like extending our crosshair or more complex actions like purchasing and dropping a primary weapon to a teammate, all with one push of a button.

BASIC CUSTOM ACTION BINDS

Copy and paste. Remember to change the key and certain values to your preference!

- Jumpthrow: Used to consistently throw grenades that require a jump. You will need to prime the grenade, and once you press the jumpthrow key (in this case it's "v") your character will jump and release the grenade at the same time, and it will always be consistent.

alias +jumpthrow "+jump;-attack"
alias -jumpthrow "-jump"
bind "v" +jumpthrow

- Quickswitch: Similar to double-tapping "q" to unscope after shooting an AWP. Pressing this key once will result in your character rapidly switching to your knife and back to your primary. Holding down this key will pull out the knife, and releasing it will swap back to your primary. Very useful for AWPing! Works with all primary weapons.

alias +qswitch "slot3"
alias -qswitch "lastinv"
bind "q" +qswitch

- Crouchjump: Instead of separately pressing jump and crouch, we can use only one key to do both and make crouchjumping a lot easier. Note that just tapping spacebar will result in a jump, and holding it in will result in a crouchjump. Let go of spacebar to stop crouching.

alias +cjump "+jump;+duck"
alias -cjump "-jump;-duck"
bind "space" +cjump

- Game Instructor toggle: This will turn on the game instructor messages while the key is held, and will disable them again once the key is released. Very situational, but useful nonetheless. Shows the exact position of the planted bomb if you are within a few feet of it, which is useful for defusing in smoke!

Note: This does NOT unbind "e" as the use key. It will remain your use key, and will still be used to open doors, pick up weapons, and so forth!

alias +use_instructor "+use;gameinstructor_enable 1"
alias -use_instructor "-use;gameinstructor_enable 0"
bind "e" +use_instructor

- Quick C4 drop: Allows you to drop the bomb without cycling to it. Drop it with a weapon in hand. Also sends a message to your team informing them you've dropped the bomb.

alias +c4drop "use weapon_knife;use weapon_c4;drop;slot2;slot1"
alias -c4drop "say_team "Dropping the bomb!"
bind "t" +c4drop

RADAR SETTINGS

Optimal radar settings will give you the ability to see and collect information easily and more clearly.

Copy and paste for the same settings as pictured above:

cl_radar_always_centered 0
cl_radar_scale 0.35
cl_radar_icon_scale_min 1
cl_hud_radar_scale 1.3

cl_radar_always_centered, when active, places your position on the radar in the center. This costs a lot of space on the radar (note the blank area) and disabling this will allow more of a map overview at all times.

cl_radar_scale refers to the zoom, or how much of the map is visible in the radar.

cl_radar_icon_scale_min adjusts the size of icons such as teammates and enemies among others.

cl_hud_radar_scale refers to the size of the radar itself. Notice in the BEFORE image how the radar is smaller when set to default (1), and larger in the AFTER image when set to 1.3.

BUY BINDS

Buy binds are keys bound to purchase specific items. This could range from full sets of grenades, kevlar, defuse kits and weapons. There are many great buy bind generators available online which will take all the hassle out of creating them yourself. These binds are extremely useful and save a lot of time and effort in the buy area.

Smoke, molotov/incendiary, flash x2:

bind kp_pgup "buy smokegrenade;buy molotov;buy incgrenade;buy flashbang;buy flashbang"

Smoke, HE grenade, flash x2:

bind kp_uparrow "buy smokegrenade;buy hegrenade;buy flashbang;buy flashbang"

Smoke, molotov/incendiary, HE grenade, flash:

bind kp_home "buy smokegrenade;buy molotov;buy incgrenade;buy hegrenade;buy flashbang"

Note: When creating a buy bind intended to buy multiple grenades, always add the flashbangs last! This will ensure that if you save a flashbang into the next round you will not buy another flash instead of your intended set of grenades!

CONCLUSION

While optimising your game will not take you from bad to great instantly, it will definitely kick start your journey to becoming a great player. It is up to you to configure your CS:GO until it becomes YOUR ultimate game!

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