Counter-Strike: Global Offensive Best Steam Deck Settings

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;
  border-radius: 0.5rem;
  padding: 0;
  border-collapse: separate;" >
  <tr bgcolor="#3F434F">
    <th colspan="2" style="padding: 0.5rem">Compatibility Settings</th>
  </tr>
  <tr> 
    <td style="padding: 0.5rem">Proton Version</td><td style="padding: 0.5rem">Default</td>
  </tr>
  <tr bgcolor="#3F434F">
    <th colspan="2" style="padding: 0.5rem">BIOS Settings</th>
  </tr>
  <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>
  </tr>
  <tr> 
    <td style="padding: 0.5rem">Swap File Size</td><td style="padding: 0.5rem">16GB*</td>
  </tr>
  <tr> 
    <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	1280x800
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	1280x800
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