The net graph is like a trusty sidekick for every CS:GO player, as it helps you keep tabs on your packet loss, FPS, and much more while you’re busy playing. And now, players are finding it even more essential as they migrate to CS2’s improved yet demanding Source 2 engine. So, can you enable the familiar CS:GO net graph in CS2, or is there something new in store? Let’s find out!
Does CS2 Have a Net Graph?
While CS2 lacks a comprehensive net graph at the time of writing this article, it does feature a new net graph command that displays the network performance in a much more visual way. Here’s how you can use the command:
- Launch CS2.
- Ensure that you’ve enabled the developer console. If not, you can follow these steps to access the console command:
- Navigate to Settings → Game and spot the Enable Developer Console (~) option.
- Click on the drop-down adjacent to the option and click Yes.
- Press the tilde key ~ to open the console command.
- Type cq_netgraph_problem_show_auto 1 and press Enter.
You might not notice any difference on your screen immediately, as this feature only props up to action when your internet is struggling. If your internet begins to falter, you’ll observe a bar appearing on the top-right side of your screen, above which you can view your ping and packet loss.
The bar consists of blocks of three colors: green, blue, and red. And, while Valve hasn’t disclosed what exactly this bar represents, the CS community has attempted to decipher what meaning the colors carry. Green and blue most probably represent the information being sent from your PC to the server, while the red blocks represent the information loss.
If you want to display the new net graph bar at all times, you can do so by typing the command: cq_netgraph 1.
However, this new feature falls short of displaying crucial information like FPS and server tick rate. Fortunately, CS2 has introduced new commands to allow viewers to display these numbers.
But before we discuss the alternative ways of displaying your network performance, it is important to note that the net_graph command hasn’t necessarily been removed from the game. Instead, it’s probable that it’s among the many features that await their migration to CS2, much like the absent clan tags feature.
That said, as we patiently await Valve to reintroduce a well-rounded net graph like the one in CS:GO, let’s explore other methods to ensure that an FPS drop never escapes your eye.
How To View FPS In CS2?
If you’re just interested in viewing your FPS in-game, you can set up a frame counter using Steam community overlay. Here’s how you can enable it:
- Launch CS2.
- Press Shift + Tab to open the Steam overlay.
- Click on the Settings icon on the bar at the bottom of the screen.
- In the In Game tab, set the In-game FPS counter to whatever position you’re comfortable having the counter at.
- Next, enable the In-game FPS counter high contrast color to make the frame counter easier to read.
However, if you want a more comprehensive outlook on the frame data, including FPS averages and stability, you’re in luck, as Valve has added these new commands for this purpose:
Console Command | Purpose |
cl_showfps 1 | Displays FPS counter and map name. |
cl_showfps 2 | Displays FPS counter in addition to the frame averages over the last 60, 240, and 1000 frames, along with frame time variability. |
cl_showfps 3 | Displays server tick rate information. |
cl_showfps 4 | Displays average FPS, frame MS, and frame server MS. Also logs this data into a file. |
cl_showfps 0 | Removes FPS display. |
You can use these commands by pressing the tilde key ~ to open the console command and then entering the commands.
As you have seen in the images above, the FPS information takes up a lot of screen space and can be very distracting during games, and unfortunately, we cannot change its position or size. Therefore, our best course of action is to be patient until Valve brings back the OG net graph (hopefully).
Conclusion
While the CS2 net graph isn’t as comprehensive and screen-friendly as its CS:GO counterpart, we can expect Valve to improve it as they dish out more updates in the future. Do you think Valve should bring back the old CS:GO net graph, or do you consider the new one as an improvement? Let us know your thoughts and insights in the comments below!