A Guide to Tweaking Counter Strike Source (for all computers)
This guide will show you how to make Counter Strike Source run better on slower computers, or how to enhance graphics on faster computers. Included are definitions, graphics settings, and an optimized autoexec.cfg file that will execute commands every time counter strike is started.
Important: Always backup all settings, including any autoexec.cfg that you overwrite.
The guide below shows you what settings to use for what computer speeds.
Below the guide is intructions on how to download and install the autoexec.cfg file, and definitions of all of the settings, and terms used.
Recommended Counter Strike Source Graphics Settings:
Computer Spec's
Brand Spanking New PC:
(as new as this article)
ATi: newer than 1850xt
Nvidia: newer than 7800gt
(More than 256MB)
Command Line Parameter: -heapsize 512000
Recommended Settings:
Resolution: 1280x1024
Model Detail: High
Texture Detail: High
Shader Detail: High
Shadow Detail: High
Water Detail: Simple Reflections
Anti-Aliasing: 4x - 6x
Anisotropic Filtering: 4x- 6x
High Dynamic Range: HDR
New Computer
(less than 1 year old)
ATi: 9800pro-1850xt
Nvidia: 5700 - 7800gt
(128M and higher)
Command Line Parameter: -heapsize 384000
Recommended Settings:
Resolution: 1024x768
Model Detail: High
Texture Detail: High
Shader Detail: High
Shadow Detail: High
Water Detail: Simple Reflections
Anti-Aliasing:2x
Anisotropic Filtering: 2x
High Dynamic Range: HDR
Average Age PC
(1-3 years old)
ATi: 9000 - 9800pro
Nvidia: 4600 - 5700
(About 64-128MB)
Command Line Parameter: -heapsize 192000
Autoexec File: Average
autoexec.cfg
Recommended Settings:
Resolution: 800x600
Model Detail:Medium
Texture Detail: Medium
Shader Detail: Low
Shadow Detail: High
Water Detail: none
Anti-Aliasing: none - 2x
Anisotropic Filtering: Trilinear
High Dynamic Range: Off - Bloom
Old Computer
(More than 4 years old)
ATi: before 9000 Radeon
Nvidia: before 4600
(64MB less)
Command Line Parameter: -dxlevel 70
Autoexec File: Slow
autoexec.cfg
Recommended Settings:
Resolution: 640x480
Model Detail: Low
Texture Detail: Low
Shader Detail: Low
Shadow Detail: Low
Water Detail: none
Anti-Aliasing: none
Anisotropic Filtering: bilinear
High Dynamic Range: Off
Download the correct autoexec.cfg file for your computer by right clicking the link and 'save link as'.
Installing autoexec.cfg
To install autoexec.cfg on your version of Counter Strike Source:
Put the file into: \Program Files\Valve\Steam\SteamApps\--username or email--\counter-strike source\cfg\
After this, every time you start Counter Strike Source, it will run the file autoexec.cfg
Adding command line parameters to Counter Strike Source
In order to add command line parameters to Counter Strike Source, launch Steam. Go to the 'my games' menu, and right click Counter Strike Source. Go to properties, and check the tabs for a place to enter Counter Strike Source Command Line Parameters ( set launch options). An example of the syntax- '-heapsize 512000' without the quotes.
Graphics Definitions:
Model Detail:The detail of players, and small objects like cans, phones, and some tables
Texture Detail: The detail level of walls, and most surfaces on non-moveable objects
Shader Detail: Special effects supported by your graphics card. Mostly un-noticeable, but uses a lot of GPU power.
Water Detail: The detail of reflections on water surface, hardly noticeable, big hit on GPU
Shadow Detail: The detail of shadows, this is noticeable, and allows you to tell where people are pointing by the shadows if you have high detail enabled.
Color Correction: Tries to make color more realistic. Doesnt work very well, and doesnt use more GPU power either way.
Anti-Aliasing: Makes edges of objects and surfaces smoother. Takes a lot of GPU, but also makes a big difference.
Anisotropic Filtering Mode: Clears up distant objects, and makes them visible from farther away. Noticeable, but takes a lot of GPU power.
High Dynamic Range: Describes the level of lighting realism in the game. None is how Counter Strike Source looked when it was released, Bloom was added later to increase lighting detail, and HDR was added most recently, making lighting very realistic, but takes a lot of graphics power.
Computer Definitions:
GPU: Graphical Processing Unit- the part of your computer that turns data into what is displayed on your screen. This is HIGHLY important to how fast Counter Strike Source can run on your computer.
CPU: Central Processing Unit- the part of your computer that turns physics equations into data that shows where items are located
RAM: Random Access Memory- Counter Strike Source loads the current map into this area on your computer. It loads commonly used files into this area, because it is faster storage than a hard drive.
Lag: Slow connection speeds between your computer and the server
