Best GPU for CS2 in 2024 – Top graphics cards for Counter-Strike 2
In this article, we’ve rounded up the best GPU for CS2 to ensure your system is up to the task. CS2 took a shot at revolutionizing the gaming scene, so it’s crucial to equip your PC with a graphics card that can handle the game’s enhanced graphics and physics, providing you with seamless, immersive, and above all, competitive gameplay.
After years of stability, the world of Counter-Strike got a dramatic shift with the arrival of Counter-Strike 2. The refreshed version achieved its goal of outshining its predecessor, CSGO, with its significant enhancements in graphics and physics. What’s more, while CSGO could run smoothly on most systems, CS2 demands a bit more from your computer’s graphics card to maintain optimal performance. Without further ado, let’s jump into this graphics card lineup that we’ve cherry-picked to serve the dedicated players of Counter-Strike 2.
Products at a Glance
How we picked the best GPU for CS2
Picking the best GPU for CS2 is not a task taken lightly. We sift through an abundance of information, considering various aspects such as performance, compatibility, cooling efficiency, and build quality. While we also analyze publicly available benchmarks and reviews from trusted sources to gauge the real-world performance of the GPUs, it’s worth noting that this is a lineup we’ve exclusively reviewed. Yep, you heard it: we’ve reviewed the RX 7900 XT, the RTX 4090, the Intel Arc A770, and the RTX 4070 Super. What you’ve got is a lineup of stellar gaming graphics cards from across the price spectrum, with options from Team Red, Team Green, and Team Blue. So, we can pull on our hands-on experience and in-house benchmarks to authentically choose cards that will hold up in realistic CS2 gaming scenarios. Of course, if you’re interested in what goes on behind the curtain, you can read up on how we review cards right here.
As well as drawing on our topic knowledge and reviews, our selection process also takes into account the diverse needs and budgets of different gamers. We always want to make sure every audience is catered for, and Counter-Strike 2 has quite a diverse one: with around 1,525,000 peak concurrent players on Steam in March 2024 (via Steambase.com), CS2 attracts a mix of casual and competitive gamers. Of course, if you follow the game you’ll know that it’s recently had its first-ever Counter-Strike 2 Major, called PGL Copenhagen 2024 – a tournament sponsored by Valve where teams from across the world compete for a hefty cash prize.
So, whether you’re looking for a high-end GPU to push the graphical limits of CS2, or a budget-friendly option that still offers good performance without breaking the bank, our recommendations aim to cover a broad spectrum of requirements. If you want to broaden out from looking at the CS2-specific, we’ve also got guides to the best GPU for Warzone, and a more generalized one focusing on the best GPU for 4K gaming, too.
Product Reviews
- Strong value for money, similar performance to RTX 4090 and way cheaper
- Reliable CS2 performance, as proved by our own benchmarks
- It's got the slightly slower GDDR6 memory
- Nvidia cards offer stronger features overall, such as DLSS 3
- You can't change the RGB color on the fans
It may be puzzling to some why we have chosen an AMD option as our best GPU for CS2 pick. Well, although Counter-Strike 2 is a demanding game, it does not require the complete power of a Nvidia GPU – meaning you will pay more when you needn’t have to. The AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX offers solid gaming performance at a significantly lower price. It might not be the Sapphire Pulse AMD Radeon RX 7900 XT we used in our review, but the design and performance of the PowerColor Hellhound AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX are still standouts. With a silent boost clock speed of 2500 MHz, a whopping 24 GB of VRAM, and a 384-bit memory interface, you’re getting a 4K card that’s only overshadowed by the absolute beast that is the 4090. Of course, this comes at the steep price of $950, but for second-to-none visuals, speed, and responsiveness in Counter-Strike 2, this card is a perfect match.
Furthermore, the cooling abilities are top-notch thanks to the fan design and optimum heatpipe arrangement, while maintaining quieter operation even during demanding tasks. Prioritizing a quieter system over a few degrees difference in temperature is often the way to go, as competitive gaming is best left uninterrupted. Moreover, power consumption is commendable, aligning with that of the reference AMD card.
In our own benchmarking conducted by WePC’s Sebastian Kozolowski, the AMD Radeon RX 7900 XT averaged 313 FPS in CS:GO at 4K, and 555 FPS at 1440p – a truly commendable and super smooth performance.
In terms of cons, the AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX has demonstrated potential concerns with AMD drivers. A recent update for CS2 caused issues, resulting in Valve issuing VAC (anti-cheat) bans. While the situation is expected to improve with gradual rollbacks, such incidents can be frustrating for users. Make sure to bear this in mind.
- Top of the range Nvidia, unparalleled in the GPU market
- DLSS 3 Frame Generation meaning you won't miss out on a second of the action
- Ultra-fast graphics card packing in 16,384 CUDA cores
- High-end price point, one of the most premium graphics cards out there
- Honestly, this might be an overkill GPU for Counter-Strike 2
- Big specs means a big power draw, so you'll need at least an 850W PSU
The MSI Gaming Trio RTX 4090 is an absolute beast of a graphics card, and if you don’t want to miss out on a single second of the in-game action, it’s bound to deliver in abundance. Equipped with the cutting-edge Nvidia Ada Lovelace architecture and a colossal 24GB of GDDR6X memory, it is a step up from most GPUs and handles modern demanding graphics with ease, and therefore less demanding titles, such as CS2, to extremely realistic levels. At Max Settings, our benchmarks saw the RTX 4090 delivering impressive heights of 596 FPS at 1440p, and 377 FPS at 4K.
Forget about frame drops and overheating – the triple-fan cooling system keeps things running smoothly, even during epic marathons on games such as Counter-Strike 2. To truly leave the competition in the dust, the MSI Gaming Trio RTX 4090 boasts features like Reflex and DLSS 3, minimizing lag and maximizing frame rates for the ultimate competitive edge. If you’re serious about gaming, this graphics card means business, and as the top of the range, you won’t need to worry about upgrading for a good few years.
The MSI Gaming Trio RTX 4090 is very much a premium option though, and as a serious upgrade, it’s worthy of being paired with the best CPU for the 4090 so you don’t encounter any overclocking and the like. It goes above and beyond most specifications required for CS2 – meaning it may be overkill for most gamers. Is it overkill for casual Counter-Strike 2 players? Well, potentially. On the flip side, it is one of the best GPUs that money can currently buy.
- Impressive ray-tracing that leverages AI-enhanced upscaling
- 16GB GDDR6, which is a lot considering its aggressive pricing
- Funky RGB lighting makes this a really neat-looking little GPU
- This model is priced $70 higher than the MSRP
- Outperformed by the competition, including the 4060 Ti
So, while we’ve given both AMD and Nvidia options, it feels only right to offer Team Blue fans an option for a GPU. We’ve chosen the Predator BiFrost Intel Arc A770 as the best Intel GPU for CS2. Intel’s Arc graphics card lineup represents a refreshing addition to a market typically dominated by AMD and Nvidia, and this one is a commendable 1080p player that’s got a really aggressive price point of $399. Specs-wise, you’re looking at an OC Boost Clock of 2.4GHz, 16GB GDDR6 VRAM, and a 256-bit Memory that, although not as maxxed out as the 4090, will more than deliver performance for Counter-Strike 2. In terms of connectivity, you’ve got one HDMI 2.1 and three DisplayPort 2.0 inputs. In line with its humble hardware, this card is on the more compact side, but the wow-factor is still delivered from its unique RGB fan setup.
Built on the foundation of Intel’s Arc A770, this card shows promise and performs well under specific circumstances (while playing CS2). Our benchmarking was a testament to this, with demanding titles such as Cyberpunk 2077 reaching a moderate 77 FPS at 1080p and 54 FPS at 1440. This suggests that a less taxing game such as CS2 will be more than satisfactory. However, its performance may vary across different titles and software due to ongoing driver issues from Intel. While this visually appealing card holds potential for improvement as drivers mature, for gamers seeking consistent performance today, we suggest considering options like the Nvidia RTX 4060 Ti and AMD 7600 XT, which tend to be better and more reliable choices.
- One of the more affordable ways to get an Ada GPU
- Good graphics performance at 1080p, more than enough for CS2
- Strong, but not the best on market in terms of price-to-performance
- Annoyingly, this card still uses the 16-pin adapter
Like its Nvidia counterparts, the Nvidia RTX 4070 Super OC is also a strong contender for the best GPU for CS2, and this ASUS RTX 4070 Super OC is no exception. However, we like to think of it as a solid option for those who are not too fussed about top-of-the-range, but instead just looking for a positive all-round performance without completely breaking the bank. Coming in at $599, this GPU is the way to go for pure middle-of-the-pack performance, and with its understated yet militaristic design, it’s definitely one of the best graphics cards for Counter-Strike. What’s more, this card has effectively removed any need to go out and buy the original 4070 model.
The RTX 4070 Super OC’s strong points include its overclocking abilities and price point. It’s got a neat AD104 die, boost clock speed of 2550 MHz, and 12 GB VRAM, bundled together with NVIDIA DLSS3, ultra-efficient Ada Lovelace arch, and full ray tracing. Realistically, you’re getting an excellent well-rounded mid-range gaming GPU that will see you soaring through competitive playing in CS2, Warzone, and the like. Additionally, the GPU is also capable of 4K performance, while still getting the benefits of the new generation of hardware including the great efficiency, power, and Nvidia Reflex.
What to consider when buying the best GPU for CS2
Counterstrike 2 system requirements
Valve has established relatively simple system prerequisites for CS2, requiring GPUs with at least 1 GB of RAM and Shader Model 5.0 support. While numerous contemporary GPUs are likely to meet these specifications, for an enhanced gaming experience, we’ve outlined a comprehensive selection of the finest GPUs available in the modern market space, accommodating gamers of all wants and needs. Other system requirements to keep in mind are the minimum OS of Windows 10, a processor of Intel Core i5 750 or higher, and 8 GB RAM of memory.
Optimizing your setup
It’s all well and good choosing you want a new GPU for playing Counter-Strike, but what makes the real difference in gaming performance is optimizing your PC by pairing your graphics card with a complimentary processor and PSU to get things running in harmony from the inside out. Essentially, you need to find a good balance that’s optimal for gaming; to prevent bottlenecking, you need to pair a midrange GPU with a midrange CPU, and so on and so forth. Of course, we’ve covered some ground with our picks of the best CPU for CS2 , but that’s only part of the process. Your setup obviously includes your peripherals as well as your hardware, as keyboards optimized for gaming will give you a faster response time for in-game accuracy. You’ll be unsurprised to hear we’ve covered the best keyboard and best gaming mouse for CS2.
What is the best GPU for Counter-Strike 2?
The best GPU for Counter-Strike 2 is the MSI Gaming X Trio RTX 4090 from Nvidia. It is a top-of-the-range, high-end graphics card that delivers unparalleled performance. With that being said, its performance capabilities are above and beyond the minimum specs required for CS2. Users may find more comfort in the AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX with its more modest price and strong overall performance across CS2 platforms.
Our Verdict
In concluding our exploration of the best GPUs for CS2, it’s clear that varying needs and budgets will guide the ultimate choice. For those yearning for robust performance without a daunting price tag, the AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX is the standout pick. It does everything needed to be a well-rounded GPU which packs a punch but also provides bang for your buck. Be sure to check it out.