Prepare for an adrenaline-pumping experience as we dive into the world of Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) – the iconic first-person shooter that has redefined competitive gaming. Valve’s masterpiece, renowned for its tactical gameplay, teamwork emphasis, and skill-based mechanics, continues to captivate players worldwide. Now, the thrill of CS:GO takes on new dimensions on the Steam Deck, providing an enthralling portable gaming experience. Discover the best configurations that will ensure you achieve the utmost precision and dominate the battlefield as you take on opponents in intense matches — all from the palm of your hands on the Steam Deck!
Counter-Strike: Global Offensive Best Steam Deck Settings
<table
style="
margin: 1rem auto;
color: #ddd;
background-color: #23262F;
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<tr bgcolor="#3F434F">
<th colspan="2" style="padding: 0.5rem">Compatibility Settings</th>
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<tr>
<td style="padding: 0.5rem">Proton Version</td><td style="padding: 0.5rem">Default</td>
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<tr bgcolor="#3F434F">
<th colspan="2" style="padding: 0.5rem">BIOS Settings</th>
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<tr>
<td style="padding: 0.5rem">UMA Frame Buffer Size</td><td style="padding: 0.5rem">4G</td>
</tr>
<tr bgcolor="#3F434F">
<th colspan="2" style="padding: 0.5rem">CryoUtilities Settings</th>
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<tr>
<td style="padding: 0.5rem">Swap File Size</td><td style="padding: 0.5rem">16GB*</td>
</tr>
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<td style="padding: 0.5rem">Swappiness</td><td style="padding: 0.5rem">1</td>
</tr>
<tr bgcolor="#3F434F">
<th colspan="2" style="padding: 0.5rem; text-align: right"><sub>*Set to as large as your Steam Deck will allow</sub></th>
</tr>
</table>
Compatibility Settings |
Proton Version |
Default |
BIOS Settings |
UMA Frame Buffer Size |
4G |
CryoUtilities Settings |
Swap File Size |
16GB* |
Swappiness |
1 |
*Set to as large as your Steam Deck will allow |
No need for tweaking and tinkering — CS:GO runs great on the Steam Deck. The only issue players have reported is the small text, but this is a shooter; not an RPG. Jump in and start having fun!
Recommended — High Performance Settings (Native@Uncapped | ~1h45m)
When it comes to a competitive shooter like CS:GO, performance is king. This is doubly so if you’re planning on playing ranked on your Steam Deck (please use a keyboard and mouse). This configuration turns everything down to low to give us the highest possible framerate. Yes, the Steam Deck’s screen is only 60Hz, but leaving the framerate uncapped affects the responsiveness of your inputs. A few milliseconds of delay in Counter-Strike can mean the difference between a headshot or a total whiff. And honestly, it doesn’t look bad on the Steam Deck’s 7-inch screen.
<table style="margin: 1rem auto; color: #ddd; background-color: #23262F; border-radius: 0.5rem; padding: 0; border-collapse: separate;">
<tr bgcolor="#3f434f">
<th colspan="2" style="padding: 0.5rem;">Video Settings</th>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 0.5rem">Aspect Ratio</td>
<td style="padding: 0.5rem">16:10</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 0.5rem">Resolution</td>
<td style="padding: 0.5rem">1280x800</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 0.5rem">Display Mode</td>
<td style="padding: 0.5rem">Fullscreen Windowed</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 0.5rem">Laptop Power Savings</td>
<td style="padding: 0.5rem">Disabled</td>
</tr>
<tr bgcolor="#3f434f">
<th colspan="2" style="padding: 0.5rem;">Advanced Video Settings</th>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 0.5rem">Global Shadow Quality</td>
<td style="padding: 0.5rem">Very Low</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 0.5rem">Model/Texture Detail</td>
<td style="padding: 0.5rem">Low</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 0.5rem">Texture Streaming</td>
<td style="padding: 0.5rem">Disabled</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 0.5rem">Effect Detail</td>
<td style="padding: 0.5rem">Low</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 0.5rem">Shader Detail</td>
<td style="padding: 0.5rem">Low</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 0.5rem">Boost Player Contrast</td>
<td style="padding: 0.5rem">Enabled</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 0.5rem">Multicore Rendering</td>
<td style="padding: 0.5rem">Enabled</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 0.5rem">Multisampling Anti-Aliasing Mode</td>
<td style="padding: 0.5rem">None</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 0.5rem">FXAA Anti-Aliasing</td>
<td style="padding: 0.5rem">Disabled*</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 0.5rem">Texture Filtering Mode</td>
<td style="padding: 0.5rem">Bilinear</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 0.5rem">Wait for Vertical Sync</td>
<td style="padding: 0.5rem">Disabled</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 0.5rem">Motion Blur</td>
<td style="padding: 0.5rem">Disabled*</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 0.5rem">Triple-Monitor Mode</td>
<td style="padding: 0.5rem">Disabled</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 0.5rem">Use Uber Shaders</td>
<td style="padding: 0.5rem">Disabled</td>
</tr>
<tr bgcolor="#3f434f">
<th colspan="2" style="padding: 0.5rem; text-align: right"><sub>*Set to personal preference</sub></th>
</tr>
</table>
Video Settings |
Aspect Ratio |
16:10 |
Resolution |
1280×800 |
Display Mode |
Fullscreen Windowed |
Laptop Power Savings |
Disabled |
Advanced Video Settings |
Global Shadow Quality |
Very Low |
Model/Texture Detail |
Low |
Texture Streaming |
Disabled |
Effect Detail |
Low |
Shader Detail |
Low |
Boost Player Contrast |
Enabled |
Multicore Rendering |
Enabled |
Multisampling Anti-Aliasing Mode |
None |
FXAA Anti-Aliasing |
Disabled* |
Texture Filtering Mode |
Bilinear |
Wait for Vertical Sync |
Disabled |
Motion Blur |
Disabled* |
Triple-Monitor Mode |
Disabled |
Use Uber Shaders |
Disabled |
*Set to personal preference |
<table
style="
margin: 1rem auto;
color: #ddd;
background-color: #23262F;
border-radius: 0.5rem;
border-collapse: separate;
"
>
<tr bgcolor="#3F434F">
<th colspan="2" style="padding: 0.5rem">Steam Deck Performance Menu Settings</th>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 0.5rem">Refresh Rate</td><td>60</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 0.5rem">Framerate Limit</td><td>Off</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 0.5rem">Allow Tearing</td><td>Off</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 0.5rem">Half Rate Shading</td><td>Off</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 0.5rem">Thermal Power (TDP) Limit</td><td>Off</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 0.5rem">Manual GPU Clock Control</td><td>Off</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 0.5rem">Scaling Filter</td><td>Linear</td>
</tr>
</table>
Steam Deck Performance Menu Settings |
Refresh Rate |
60 |
Framerate Limit |
Off |
Allow Tearing |
Off |
Half Rate Shading |
Off |
Thermal Power (TDP) Limit |
Off |
Manual GPU Clock Control |
Off |
Scaling Filter |
Linear |
Balanced Settings (Native@Uncapped | ~1h30m)
If you can’t stand having everything turned all the way down, this configuration is for you. Thankfully, the Steam Deck still manages to push out more than 60 frames per second at higher presets, so we’ve tuned the in-game settings to Medium graphics quality. Depending on how sensitive you are to delay changes, you may notice your inputs are a bit slower, but casual players shouldn’t have too much of an issue.
<table style="margin: 1rem auto; color: #ddd; background-color: #23262F; border-radius: 0.5rem; padding: 0; border-collapse: separate;">
<tr bgcolor="#3f434f">
<th colspan="2" style="padding: 0.5rem;">Video Settings</th>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 0.5rem">Aspect Ratio</td>
<td style="padding: 0.5rem">16:10</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 0.5rem">Resolution</td>
<td style="padding: 0.5rem">1280x800</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 0.5rem">Display Mode</td>
<td style="padding: 0.5rem">Fullscreen Windowed</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 0.5rem">Laptop Power Savings</td>
<td style="padding: 0.5rem">Disabled</td>
</tr>
<tr bgcolor="#3f434f">
<th colspan="2" style="padding: 0.5rem;">Advanced Video Settings</th>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 0.5rem">Global Shadow Quality</td>
<td style="padding: 0.5rem">Medium</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 0.5rem">Model/Texture Detail</td>
<td style="padding: 0.5rem">Medium</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 0.5rem">Texture Streaming</td>
<td style="padding: 0.5rem">Enabled</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 0.5rem">Effect Detail</td>
<td style="padding: 0.5rem">Medium</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 0.5rem">Shader Detail</td>
<td style="padding: 0.5rem">Medium</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 0.5rem">Boost Player Contrast</td>
<td style="padding: 0.5rem">Enabled</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 0.5rem">Multicore Rendering</td>
<td style="padding: 0.5rem">Enabled</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 0.5rem">Multisampling Anti-Aliasing Mode</td>
<td style="padding: 0.5rem">2x MSAA</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 0.5rem">FXAA Anti-Aliasing</td>
<td style="padding: 0.5rem">Enabled*</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 0.5rem">Texture Filtering Mode</td>
<td style="padding: 0.5rem">Anisotropic 4X</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 0.5rem">Wait for Vertical Sync</td>
<td style="padding: 0.5rem">Disabled</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 0.5rem">Motion Blur</td>
<td style="padding: 0.5rem">Disabled*</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 0.5rem">Triple-Monitor Mode</td>
<td style="padding: 0.5rem">Disabled</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 0.5rem">Use Uber Shaders</td>
<td style="padding: 0.5rem">Disabled</td>
</tr>
<tr bgcolor="#3f434f">
<th colspan="2" style="padding: 0.5rem; text-align: right"><sub>*Set to personal preference</sub></th>
</tr>
</table>
Video Settings |
Aspect Ratio |
16:10 |
Resolution |
1280×800 |
Display Mode |
Fullscreen Windowed |
Laptop Power Savings |
Disabled |
Advanced Video Settings |
Global Shadow Quality |
Medium |
Model/Texture Detail |
Medium |
Texture Streaming |
Enabled |
Effect Detail |
Medium |
Shader Detail |
Medium |
Boost Player Contrast |
Enabled |
Multicore Rendering |
Enabled |
Multisampling Anti-Aliasing Mode |
2x MSAA |
FXAA Anti-Aliasing |
Enabled* |
Texture Filtering Mode |
Anisotropic 4X |
Wait for Vertical Sync |
Disabled |
Motion Blur |
Disabled* |
Triple-Monitor Mode |
Disabled |
Use Uber Shaders |
Disabled |
*Set to personal preference |
<table
style="
margin: 1rem auto;
color: #ddd;
background-color: #23262F;
border-radius: 0.5rem;
border-collapse: separate;
"
>
<tr bgcolor="#3F434F">
<th colspan="2" style="padding: 0.5rem">Steam Deck Performance Menu Settings</th>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 0.5rem">Refresh Rate</td><td>60</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 0.5rem">Framerate Limit</td><td>60</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 0.5rem">Allow Tearing</td><td>Off</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 0.5rem">Half Rate Shading</td><td>Off</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 0.5rem">Thermal Power (TDP) Limit</td><td>Off</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 0.5rem">Manual GPU Clock Control</td><td>Off</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 0.5rem">Scaling Filter</td><td>Linear</td>
</tr>
</table>
Steam Deck Performance Menu Settings |
Refresh Rate |
60 |
Framerate Limit |
60 |
Allow Tearing |
Off |
Half Rate Shading |
Off |
Thermal Power (TDP) Limit |
Off |
Manual GPU Clock Control |
Off |
Scaling Filter |
Linear |