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Counter-Strike: Global Offensive

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Although this product has been released, it remains under active development - information may change frequently and could be outdated or irrelevant.
Counter-Strike: Global Offensive
Counter-Strike: Global Offensive cover
Developers
Valve Corporation
Hidden Path Entertainment
Engines
Source
Release dates
Windows August 21, 2012
macOS (OS X) August 21, 2012
Linux September 22, 2014
Counter-Strike: Global Offensive on Wikipedia
Counter-Strike
Counter-Strike 2000
Counter-Strike: Condition Zero 2004
Counter-Strike: Source 2004
Counter-Strike NEO -White Memories- 2005
Counter-Strike Online (series)
Counter-Strike: Global Offensive 2012
Counter-Strike 2 2023

Key points

Steam Workshop integration.

General information

Official game blog
Counter-Strike Wiki
Steam Community Discussions

Availability

Source DRM Notes Keys OS
Steam
Icon overlay.png
Windows
macOS (OS X)
Linux
All versions require Steam DRM.

Essential improvements

Skip intro videos

Use the -novid command line argument[1]
-no-browser disables server video ads.

Increase performance

The game has some compatibility issues with older operating systems such as Windows 7 due to the outdated graphics stack (WDDM).[2]
Change operating system[citation needed]
  1. Back up your files and programs.
  2. Go to Microsoft site.
  3. Select at will the type of transition to Windows 10.
  4. Upgrade to Windows 10 or reinstall from scratch.
  5. Download and install the latest drivers for your configuration, in particular the video card.
  6. Turn off the transparency of the desktop interface in the system settings in the personalization color section.
  7. You can also turn on the game mode in the system settings to ensure a higher priority of the game in automatic mode.
This action is the cornerstone of stability and smoothness of the gameplay, as Windows 10 has more advanced basic elements that the game requires.
You can also disable the function of HPET which is a technology of high-precision timer in the motherboard.
This can sometimes cause performance problems.
Disable HPET[2]

Method 1:

  1. Tap on the Windows-key, enter cmd, right-click cmd.exe in the results listing and select to run the command prompt with administrative privileges.
  2. To enable HPET as the only timer run the command bcdedit /set useplatformclock true
  3. To disable HPET in Windows run the command bcdedit /deletevalue useplatformclock
  4. Restart your computer.

Method 2:

  1. Search "Device Manager" on your PC.
  2. Scroll down to "System Devices" and open the sub-menu.
  3. Scroll to "High Precision Event Timer" and click it.
  4. Click "Actions" at the top of the window, and from that pop-up menu, click "Disable".
  5. Restart your computer.

Increased Stability (32-bit Operating Systems)

CS:GO can crash when loading the next map if you're on a 32-bit operating system. To address this, you'll need to edit a txt file.
The crash is caused by going over 4 GB total memory usage, which isn't possible for a 32-bit OS.
setting.mem_level[citation needed]
  1. Go to <Steam-folder>\userdata\<user-id>\730\local\cfg
  2. Open video.txt.
  3. Find setting.mem_level and replace "1" with "0"
  4. Launch the game, and load several maps in a row to make sure it worked.

Notes

Turning down settings such as shadow or model resolution can also help to prevent CTD's.

Make current custom community server joinable

CS:GO won't broadcast the server you're connected to if you're playing on a community server.

Use the cl_join_advertise 2 command[3]

Host 128 tickrate servers

By default self-hosting a server will always launch in 64 tickrate.

Use the -tickrate 128 command line argument[1]

Config Generator

Special singleplayer map that allows you to configure settings that aren't normally accessible via in-game UI.

Game data

Configuration file(s) location

System Location
Steam <path-to-game>/csgo/cfg/
It's unknown whether this game follows the XDG Base Directory Specification on Linux. Please fill in this information.

Save game cloud syncing

System Native Notes
Steam Cloud
Approx. 1.5 GB available.

Video settings

In-game video settings.
In-game video settings.

Template:Video settings

Input settings

In-game keyboard/mouse settings.
In-game keyboard/mouse settings.
In-game gamepad settings.
In-game gamepad settings.

Template:Input settings

Audio settings

In-game audio settings.
In-game audio settings.

Template:Audio settings

Localizations

Language UI Audio Sub Notes
English
Brazilian Portuguese
Bulgarian
Simplified Chinese
Traditional Chinese
Czech
Danish
Dutch
Finnish
French
German
Greek
Hungarian
Italian
Japanese
Korean
Norwegian
Polish
Portuguese
Romanian
Russian
Spanish
Swedish
Thai
Turkish
Ukrainian

Network

For more information, see the "Source Dedicated Server" section of the Source engine article.

Multiplayer types

Type Native Notes
Local play
LAN play
Use Offline with bots mode and set sv_lan 1 in the console. [4]
Online play

Connection types

Type Native Notes
Matchmaking
Peer-to-peer
Dedicated
Self-hosting
Direct IP
Open the console (~) and use connect followed by the IP and port.[5]

Ports

Protocol Port(s) and/or port range(s)
TCP 27014-27050
UDP 3478, 4379-4380, 27000-27030
This game does not support Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) for automatic port configuration.

Issues unresolved

Surround sound

Reportedly other issues with surround sound with the Logitech G35.[6]

Issues fixed

"An issue with your computer is blocking the VAC system. You cannot play on secure servers."

See the official Steam support page here


Game crashes with window "Wait for the program to respond"

Need use 4gb patch[7]
  1. Go to NTCore site [3].
  2. Download the 4GB Patch.
  3. Open archive 4g_patch.zip and run 4g_patch.exe.
  4. Select executable file of game csgo.exe for patch.
Despite the actions for patching the launch file of the game, this does not lead to a VAC ban account.
It is also possible to increase the performance of the game due to the increase in the address space after the patch.
Delete appcache

If you get this error message without have used any 3rd party applications, this quick fix should solve your issue.

  1. Shut down Steam.
  2. Go to <Steam-folder>.
  3. Delete the folder appcache.

Game changes microphone gain at launch

Modify configuration file[8]
  1. Go to the configuration file(s) location.
  2. Open config.cfg.
  3. Find the line voice_mixer_volume, it should be near the bottom of the file. If the line doesn't exist you may create it.
  4. Set the value to whatever you prefer your mic volume to be, I set mine to .5 which translates to 50% gain.

Notes

Removing the line does not work.
This will set a fixed value, and might not be a solution for people who are using dynamic gain which Windows (or other applications) automatically adjusts.
Disable exclusive control of microphone (Windows)[9]
  1. Right click on the speaker icon located at the tray bar.
  2. Select Recording devices.
  3. Double click on your microphone in the newly opened window.
  4. Go to Advanced and untick Allow applications to take exclusive control of this device.

Notes

Most applications ignores this, and many users are reporting that it isn't working.

Game crashes without error message when loading into a server

Reduce in-game resolution[citation needed]
  1. Before joining a server, set your resolution in-game down to the next lowest setting (e.g, if you're running 1920x1080, go down to 1776x768).
  2. Once you get in, set your game resolution back to whatever you normally use. You don't need to use this workaround again until you restart the game.

Failed to find and connect to an acceptable dedicated server

Windows Firewall[citation needed]
  1. Open the firewall and enable the following:
  • steaminstall
  • steam
  • hl
  • hl2
  • steamTmp
  • csgo
Adjust your maximum acceptable ping to official servers[citation needed]
  1. Type mm_dedicated_search_maxping "150" in your game console.

Notes

You might want to add the above command to your autoexec.

Error 55

Opt out of the Steam beta client[10]
  1. Open the Steam menu at the top left in the Steam Client and click on Settings.
  2. Click Account at the left hand of the window.
  3. Go to the 'Beta participation' (It will say 'Steam Beta Update' if you are opted in) and click Change....
  4. Open the drop-down menu and change it to None - Opt out of all beta programs.
  5. Click OK.
Re-enable the Steam service[11]
  1. Exit Steam.
  2. Type C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\bin\Steamservice.exe /Install at the Run prompt.
  3. Restart Steam.
Delete ClientRegistry.blob and AppUpdateStats.blob[12]
  1. Go to <Steam-folder>.
  2. Delete ClientRegistry.blob and AppUpdateStats.blob.

Purple and black broken textures

A generic fix for this issue can be found on our Source engine page.

Some maps are way too dark on Intel HD GPUs

Maps using ambient occlusion (e.g. de_lake, de_canals, ar_baggage) can be very dark on Intel HD Graphics.

A generic fix for this issue can be found on our Source engine page.

FPS drops and/or stuttering

Exclude CS:GO folder from your anti-virus[citation needed]
Update Realtek audio drivers[13]
Disable HRTF in the audio menu[citation needed]

Crashes of the game / FPS drops and/or stuttering of sound / var value jumps

[14] [15] Problem visualized here

Add launch parameter in Steam cl_disablehtmlmotd 1
Delete csgo.exe from Steam\Steamapps\common and "verify integrity of game files" in properties of the game on Steam
Check whether all options in properties>comaptibility of csgo.exe are unchecked

30 FPS cap after Win10 Anniversary Update

Some people report that games run worse (not only CS:GO). It is also known that the AU update broke graphics card drivers. Should be noted that an update for the game was released which added a warning for users who have XboxDVR enabled.

Disable Game Bar
  1. Open the Settings App
  2. Select the "Gaming" section
  3. Set "Record game clips, screenshots, and broadcast using Game Bar" to off

Microphone not working

Visit the archlinux Wiki[citation needed]

Game crashes since Danger Zone Update on Linux

Unplug the Xbox Controller

Other information

API

Technical specs Supported Notes
Direct3D 9
OpenGL 2.1 OS X and Linux only.
Shader Model support 3
Executable 32-bit 64-bit Notes
Windows
macOS (OS X)
Linux

Middleware

Middleware Notes
Physics Havok Heavily modified variant.
Audio Miles Sound System Version 9.3k. Uses Phonon3D for HRTF. Alternatively snd_legacy_surround="1" forces use of DirectSound (which makes posibility of injecting custom dsound.dll of e.g. DSOAL (with its own HRTF or w/o if alsoft.ini unpresent), IndirectSound, Creative Alchemy. [18]
Interface Panorama[16] Scaleform[17] Panorama
4.2.23 Scaleform is no longer used in latest updates
Multiplayer Steamworks

Console commands

Games running on the Source engine can utilize Source Engine Console Commands for various tasks.
Enabling the console in Source games[citation needed]
  1. Launch the game.
  2. From the main menu select Help & Options.
  3. Select the Game Settings menu item.
  4. Click the arrow next to Enable Developer Console (~) so that it says Yes.
  5. Click Back.

Notes

Press ~ to open the console. You might need to rebind your console key if not using a US keyboard.
Some commands may first require you enabling sv_cheats. You can do so with sv_cheats 1.
Many servers will not allow you to play with cheats enabled, or will disable them upon entering the server.

Command line arguments

View this Steam Support Article regarding launch options as well as the relevant Valve Developer wiki page for further information and a list of useful Source engine launch options.
Example of an advanced autoexec.
Enabling a launch parameter[citation needed]
  1. Find the game in your Steam Library.
  2. Right-click the game name.
  3. Select Properties.
  4. Select Set Launch Options....
  5. Input your selected launch options and separate each command with a space.
  6. Press OK.
  7. Launch the game.
Command Output
-novid Skip intro videos.
-no-browser Disables video ads.
-console Launch console at start.
-high Set csgo process to high priority.(obsolete)
-threads x Sets the number of threads your machine has.(obsolete)
-nod3d9ex Turns off some DX9 extensions for performance boost.
-freq x OR -refresh x Set your refresh/hz.
-nojoy Disables joystick support.
+exec autoexec.cfg Executes the autoexec.cfg (file containing commands).

System requirements

Windows
Minimum
Operating system (OS) 7, 8.1, 10
Processor (CPU) Intel Core 2 Duo E6600
AMD Phenom X3 8750
System memory (RAM) 2 GB
Hard disk drive (HDD) 8 GB
Video card (GPU) 256 MB of VRAM
DirectX 9.0c compatible
Shader model 3.0 support
Windows XP and Vista were previously supported, but as future updates for this game and Steam occurred; the support was dropped, even with retail copies.
macOS (OS X)
Minimum
Operating system (OS) 10.7 (Lion)
Processor (CPU) Intel Core Duo 2.0 GHz
System memory (RAM) 2 GB
Hard disk drive (HDD) 8 GB
Video card (GPU) ATI Radeon HD 2400
Nvidia GeForce 8600M
Linux
Minimum
Operating system (OS) Ubuntu 12.04
Processor (CPU) Intel Dual Core 2.8 GHz
AMD Dual Core 2.8 GHz
System memory (RAM) 4 GB
Hard disk drive (HDD) 8 GB
Video card (GPU) ATI Radeon HD 2600/3600
Nvidia GeForce 8600M/9600GT
OpenGL 2.1 compatible
Sound (audio device) OpenAL compatible
Other Graphic Drivers: Nvidia 310, AMD 12.11

References