Counter-Strike 2 System Requirements
Counter-Strike 2, released Aug 21, 2012, is an action / free to play game from Valve. Its recommended spec points at NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 graphics with an AMD Ryzen 5 5600-class CPU; below we translate that into parts you can actually buy today.
Official System Requirements
The minimum specs for Counter-Strike 2 call for NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060-class graphics, Intel Core i5-4460-class processor, 8 GB of RAM and 85 GB of storage.
The recommended specs for Counter-Strike 2 call for NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060-class graphics and AMD Ryzen 5 5600-class processor.
| Component | Minimum | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Intel Core i5-4460 | AMD Ryzen 5 5600 |
| GPU | NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 |
| RAM | 8 GB | — |
| Storage | 85 GB | — |
Original published requirement text
Minimum: Minimum:
Best GPU for Counter-Strike 2
Full GPU guide →Counter-Strike 2's stated graphics card is roughly NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 level. The current sweet spot is the AMD Radeon RX 9060 XT, with cheaper and faster options either side.
Budget
Intel Arc B570
~$220Intel Arc B570 is the cheapest current card that clears this game's recommended bar with 10GB VRAM. Fine for 1080p.
Other options at this level
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Recommended
AMD Radeon RX 9060 XT
~$350AMD Radeon RX 9060 XT adds headroom with 16GB VRAM - a safe pick for 1080p high or 1440p depending on the game.
Other options at this level
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Performance
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 Ti
~$430NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 Ti leaves plenty of margin with 16GB VRAM for higher resolutions and frame rates.
Other options at this level
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Best CPU for Counter-Strike 2
Full CPU guide →Counter-Strike 2's stated processor is roughly AMD Ryzen 5 5600 level. The current sweet spot is the Intel Core i5-13500, with cheaper and faster options either side.
Budget
AMD Ryzen 5 5600
~$110AMD Ryzen 5 5600 is the cheapest current chip that clears this game's recommended bar. Fine for 1080p.
Other options at this level
Prices are approximate, not live Amazon prices — the link opens the current listing on your regional Amazon. As an Amazon Associate we may earn from qualifying purchases.
Recommended
Intel Core i5-13500
~$210Intel Core i5-13500 adds headroom - a safe pick for 1080p high or 1440p depending on the game.
Other options at this level
Prices are approximate, not live Amazon prices — the link opens the current listing on your regional Amazon. As an Amazon Associate we may earn from qualifying purchases.
Performance
AMD Ryzen 5 9600
~$220AMD Ryzen 5 9600 leaves plenty of margin for higher resolutions and frame rates.
Other options at this level
Prices are approximate, not live Amazon prices — the link opens the current listing on your regional Amazon. As an Amazon Associate we may earn from qualifying purchases.
Recommended PC build for Counter-Strike 2
Full build guide →Want the whole tower speced out? Our Counter-Strike 2 build guide pairs these CPU and GPU picks with RAM, motherboard, SSD, PSU and case at budget, recommended and performance tiers, with an approximate total.
Can these parts run Counter-Strike 2?
- Can the AMD Radeon RX 9060 XT run Counter-Strike 2?
- Yes. The AMD Radeon RX 9060 XT is well ahead of Counter-Strike 2's NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 target, so expect a comfortable 1080p experience with headroom to spare.
- Can the Intel Core i5-13500 run Counter-Strike 2?
- Yes. The Intel Core i5-13500 meets or beats Counter-Strike 2's AMD Ryzen 5 5600 recommendation, so 1080p should run smoothly.
FAQ
- What is the cheapest GPU for Counter-Strike 2?
- Intel Arc B570 - Intel Arc B570 is the cheapest current card that clears this game's recommended bar with 10GB VRAM. Fine for 1080p.
- Which CPU should I get for Counter-Strike 2?
- Intel Core i5-13500 - Intel Core i5-13500 adds headroom - a safe pick for 1080p high or 1440p depending on the game.
- How much RAM does Counter-Strike 2 need?
- Counter-Strike 2 lists 8 GB of system memory. 16 GB is a safe modern baseline.
- Is a NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 still enough for Counter-Strike 2?
- It matches the game's stated target, so it will run, but it is an older part. A current card in the budget tier above gives you driver support and better efficiency for a similar outlay.