CS2 Ping Optimizer 🚀

A simple guide to optimize your ping in CS2 through Windows Registry tweaks and in-game settings adjustments by @OhLasFar on Twitter.

Disclaimer ⚠️

Always be cautious when making changes to the Windows Registry. It's recommended to back up your registry before making any changes. The effectiveness of these tweaks may vary based on individual system configurations and network conditions.

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Windows Registry Optimization 🖥️

Optimize your network settings by modifying the Windows Registry. This guide includes steps for adjusting various settings to potentially improve network performance.

1. Access the Registry Editor:

   • Press Win + R and type regedit, then press Enter.

2. Modify TCP Settings in Network Interfaces:

   • Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Tcpip\Parameters\Interfaces.
   • Identify your local IP address:
     • Press Win + R, type cmd, and press Enter.
     • In the Command Prompt, type ipconfig and press Enter.
     • Look for the "IPv4 Address" (or "IP Address" on some systems), usually 192.168.X.X or 10.X.X.X.
   • Locate the IPAddress or DhcpIPAddress in the Registry that matches your IP.
   • Right-click > New > DWORD (32-bit) Value for each of the following:
     • TcpAckFrequency: Set value to 1 (Hexadecimal)
     • TCPNoDelay: Set value to 1 (Hexadecimal)
     • TcpWindowSize: Set value to 65535 (Decimal)

3. Set NonBestEffortLimit:

   • Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Psched.
   • Right-click > New > DWORD (32-bit) Value > Name it "NonBestEffortLimit".
   • Modify the value to 0 (Hexadecimal).

4. Adjust NetworkThrottlingIndex:

   • Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Multimedia\SystemProfile.
   • Right-click > New > DWORD (32-bit) Value > Name it "NetworkThrottlingIndex".
   • Modify the value to FFFFFFFF (Hexadecimal).

5. Apply Changes:

   • After adding and modifying these values, restart your PC to apply the changes.

CS2 Game Settings 🎮

Append the following settings to your autoexec.cfg:

If you're unsure where to find the autoexec.cfg file, note that by default, this file might not exist and you'll need to create it manually. Here's how:

1. Navigate to the following path: C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Counter-Strike Global Offensive\game\csgo\cfg
2. Check if autoexec.cfg is present. If not, create a new text file and name it autoexec.cfg.
3. Open autoexec.cfg and paste the provided commands/settings.

// NETWORK SETTINGS
rate 1000000							//Sets data receive rate limit.
cl_predictweapons 1						//Enables weapon prediction.
cl_lagcompensation 1 						//Allows lag compensation.
net_client_steamdatagram_enable_override 1			//Toggles Steam Datagram Relay.
net_maxroutable 1200						//Sets maximum packet size.
mm_session_search_qos_timeout 20				//Affects matchmaking QoS timeout.
mm_dedicated_search_maxping 25				        //Limits matchmaking server ping. (You might want to adapt this setting depending on your location)
mm_csgo_community_search_players_min 3			        //Sets minimum players for community search.
cl_resend 0.5							//Controls packet resend rate.
cl_timeout 30							//Sets server response timeout.
lobby_default_privacy_bits2 0					//Manages lobby privacy settings.
ui_setting_advertiseforhire_auto 1				//Auto-settings for in-game hire advertisement.
cl_join_advertise 2						//Controls game join advertising.
cl_invites_only_friends 0					//Restricts invites to friends.
cl_invites_only_mainmenu 0					//Manages invites in main menu.

5. After saving the file, right-click on autoexec.cfg, select Properties, check the Read-only option, and then click OK.
6. To ensure the game uses the settings from the autoexec.cfg file when launched, follow these steps to add it to the Steam launch options:
   • Open Steam and navigate to your game library.
   • Right-click on Counter-Strike 2 and select Properties.
   • In the General tab, scroll down to the Launch Options section and enter +exec autoexec.cfg.
   • Close the properties window.
7. You're all set! You can now launch CS2, and the game will utilize the settings from the autoexec.cfg file.

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Explanation of CS2-Ping-Optimizer Tweaks 📚

1. Windows Registry Tweaks 🔧:

• TcpAckFrequency: This setting controls the frequency of acknowledgments sent for received TCP packets. By default, Windows might delay the acknowledgment briefly to see if it can be bundled with outgoing data. Setting this to 1 ensures that Windows acknowledges packets immediately.
• TCPNoDelay: Essentially, this toggles the Nagle's algorithm. When enabled (set to 1), it ensures that data packets are sent as soon as possible without grouping.
• TcpWindowSize: Increases the TCP window size, which can improve data transfer efficiency and reduce packet loss.
• NonBestEffortLimit: Disables the limit on reserved bandwidth for Quality of Service (QoS), ensuring more bandwidth is available for gaming and other applications.
• NetworkThrottlingIndex: Disables network throttling, potentially reducing latency and improving network performance for gaming and multimedia applications.

Both of these tweaks aim to reduce latency by ensuring that packets are sent and acknowledged without any delay.

2. In-game settings 🔧:

The provided settings adjust various network-related parameters in the game. For instance:

• rate 1000000: Controls the maximum amount of data (in bytes) that the server can send to the client per second. A higher value can improve connection quality, especially on faster internet connections.
• cl_predictweapons 1: Enables weapon prediction on the client side, making gameplay feel smoother.
• cl_lagcompensation 1: Enables lag compensation, improving player actions' responsiveness in online games.
• net_client_steamdatagram_enable_override 1: Forces the use of Steam's Datagram Relay service for a more stable connection.
• net_maxroutable 1200: Sets the maximum size of packets sent from the client to the server.
• mm_session_search_qos_timeout 20: Relates to matchmaking and sets a timeout for Quality of Service when searching for a game session.
• mm_dedicated_search_maxping 50: Sets the maximum ping for dedicated servers in matchmaking.
• mm_csgo_community_search_players_min 3: Sets the minimum number of players for community server searches.
• cl_resend 0.5: Determines the time before the client resends a packet to the server.
• cl_timeout 30: Sets the time before a client disconnects due to no server response.
• lobby_default_privacy_bits2 0: Sets default privacy settings for game lobbies.
• ui_setting_advertiseforhire_auto 1: Related to the "Looking to Play" feature in CS2.
• cl_join_advertise 2: Allows friends to join your game.
• cl_invites_only_friends 0: Determines who can send you game invites.
• cl_invites_only_mainmenu 0: Determines when you can receive game invites.

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CS2 Ping Optimizer & Effectiveness 📉

After applying the tweaks, you may experience improved ping and reduced lag in CS2, especially on distant servers. These methods are commonly used by players to reduce latency in online games. However, their impact can vary based on individual system configurations, network conditions, and the game itself.

It's important to note that while these tweaks modify how your system and game handle network traffic, the actual benefits might not be consistent for everyone. Always back up the Windows Registry before making changes, given the risks associated with modifications.

In essence, while the guide offers legitimate methods to optimize ping, the outcomes can differ based on various factors.

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Connect with Me! 🌐

If you found these tweaks helpful, consider giving a follow:

• 🐦 Twitter: @ohlasfar
• 🎥 Streaming: I stream on Twitch.tv/LasFar every Tuesday at 8:15 PM EST and during the day aswel (sometimes).

Feel free to drop by during a stream or tweet at me to share your experience with the tweaks! Your feedback is appreciated. 😊

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