When it comes to Counter-Strike, every setting counts. From launch options to mouse sensitivity, players obsess over the tiniest tweaks in search of the perfect competitive edge in an attempt to take their gameplay to the next level. To this end, one of the most hotly debated settings in the history of CS has always been resolution. Since the days of CRT monitors, players who take CS seriously have been trying, falling in love with, and swearing by a variety of different resolutions in an attempt to gain some form of advantage. Today, we will take a look at three of the most popular resolutions, offering pros and cons for each, so you can tweak your setup like a pro.
Of course, when it comes to a discussion about resolutions, we have to start the way the developers intended us to. Native resolution – that is, 1920×1080 at an aspect ratio of 16:9 – is the way the game is ‘supposed’ to be experienced. It is the cleanest, crispiest, highest-quality resolution, and will make everything from player models, to skins, to those little raindrops on Train look beautiful.
Pros
Cons
Next, we’re going to look at arguably the most popular resolution on the pro scene. Whilst CS2 has led to a shift in resolution usage at the top level, 1280×1960 (at an aspect ratio of 4:3) is still the most popular res, much like it was throughout the majority of CS:GO. This is an inherently nostalgic resolution, harking back to the days of CRT monitors, but the reasons for playing 1280×960 are not solely down to the wistful memories of days gone by.
Pros
Cons
Throwing in a slightly less popular resolution here, we’re going to be taking a leaf out of Nikola “NiKo” Kovač’s book. The Falcons rifler has been popularising the 16:10 aspect ratio for a while now, playing on 1600×1024 for a lot of his games. Let’s take a look at the pros and cons, and what makes 16:10 stretched different to 4:3 stretched.
Pros
Cons
So, we’ve taken a look at three of the most popular resolutions in CS2. Whilst the most used resolution at the top level of the game is currently 1280×960, there are far more people playing on native or 16:10 than there were back in the days of Global Offensive. This begs the question – which of the multitude of resolutions is the best for CS2?
Of course, the truth is that it’s all down to personal preference. Whatever feels the best for you is what you should go for. If you play casually and want to revel in the beauty of Source 2’s graphics, then native is the way forward. If you’re an oldhead from the days of LAN cafes who wants that authentic Counter-Strike feel, perhaps 1280×960 is your best bet. There are plenty of resolutions to choose from, each with subtle differences, pros, and cons. Our advice is to try them all and land on whichever makes you feel the best.
If you want a more detailed look at how different resolutions actually function, you can check out our handy video guide here.
One thing is for sure: you’ll never be good if you don’t practice, no matter what resolution you use. Whether you’re looking to compete with the best or just break in your new settings, there’s no better way to practice than with Refrag. With code resolution15 you can save 15% off of your initial subscription. Happy fragging!