Net Graph and Telemetry in CS2 – See FPS & Server Connection
A strong network connection is a critical factor in achieving success in online games such as Counter-Strike 2. A choppy match where you’re teleporting around is never fun, so diagnosing problems is essential. To help with this process, Counter-Strike 2 has provided many tools, one of which we will discuss in this article are the settings Net Graph and Telemetry in CS2. After reviewing how to turn on the Net Graph Display and how to enable Telemetry through game settings, we’ll also give you some solutions that can help with your game connection.
Enable Net Graph
cl_hud_telemetry_serverrecvmargin_graph_show [1/2]
Net Graph must be enabled through the Command Console. The text above is the corresponding console command that must be entered. When entering this in the console, enter only ‘1’ or ‘2’, ignoring the brackets. Enter ‘1’ to disable Net Graph, and enter ‘2’ to enable Net Graph. Previously, other possible console commands in Counter-Strike Global Offensive could change the Netgraph font, but these commands have been removed in Counter-Strike 2.
Enable Developer Console
This section provides a quick refresher for those new to console commands. To enable the developer console, follow the steps below.
- Navigate to Game Settings – From the main menu, click the settings button (the cog) at the top left of your screen. This brings you to the game settings menu. To explore more about game settings, refer to our article on the best game settings to have in CS2.
- Navigate to the “Game” Tab – In the options bar at the top of your screen, click “Game.” You should see this page when opening the game settings menu by default.
- Enable Developer Console – This setting should be the first in the list of settings. Toggle this setting to “Yes.” The default keybind to open the Developer Console is the tilde (~) key. You can change the keybind in the “Keyboard/Mouse” tab.
Enable Telemetry
Telemetry is a list of settings you can enable through your game settings, which can show important information about your network data, including your maximum network latency (ping), frames per second (FPS), current latency (ping), and packet loss. To enable telemetry, follow the quick instructions below.
- Navigate to Game Settings – From the main menu, click the settings button (represented as a cog) at the top left of your screen. This will open settings in game.
- Navigate to the “Game” Tab – In the options bar at the top of your screen, click “Game.”
- Scroll to or Click on Telemetry – This brings you to the settings falling under telemetry. Here, you can enable different text fields, which will be displayed at the top right of your screen during gameplay.
Components of Net Graph and Telemetry in CS2
The image above shows the text fields and graph that should be at the top right position of your screen by default. Let’s go over each component and its details.
- Max 8.5ms -The number will look different for each individual, but this value represents the maximum network latency/internet connection you have with the server (ping). Latency is the time it takes for data packets to travel from your computer to the server and back, so you want this number to be as low as possible. Refer to the section later in our Net Graph and Telemetry in CS2 article for solutions to drop your latency.
- Avg 199 FPS – This indicates the average frames per second (FPS) your monitor has displayed over the given interval. Unlike other stats in this list, FPS is determined by your hardware. Telemetry is the easiest way to access the game FPS counter in game. You can opt to display only the game FPS by turning off the other telemetry settings.
- 23 Ping – This value represents the current ping or network latency at the given moment. A lower ping ensures higher responsiveness of input to output.
- ↓0.0% ↑0.0% – This value represents packet loss. Packet loss occurs when data packets traveling from your computer fail to reach the server or vice versa, leading to choppiness in online games such as Counter-Strike 2. The primary purpose of enabling this setting is if you are experiencing choppy gameplay.
- Net Graph – The green graph at the bottom of the display visualizes some aspects of other data and reflects your network performance over time. The height of the graph represents the quality of the connection, and a smoother, lower graph generally indicates a more stable connection and better performance. Spikes in your network performance will make the graph turn yellow, signaling a more unsteady connection at that time period. Red dots (not shown in the image above) will signal packet loss at specific time periods. There are many more indicators from which to draw data, but those are the two most important features of the Net Graph in CS2.
Ways to Achieve a Better Network Performance
Now that you’ve analyzed the data acquired from the Net Graph and Telemetry in CS2, here are some solutions you can use.
- Ethernet – Ethernet is perhaps the most efficient way to increase your network connection. A wireless connection is much more unstable and can increase packet loss and ping.
- Upgrading Hardware – If Ethernet is not an option, you can also upgrade your hardware, specifically the WiFi antenna for your PC. This ensures a better connection with your router. Monitor the stats in game to see if there’s an improvement. You can also upgrade your CPU/GPU to increase FPS in game.
- Turning off Other Applications – This is perhaps the easiest way to increase network connection. Closing apps such as Discord can help dedicate all bandwidth to Counter-Strike 2.
Wrapping Up!
In this Net Graph and Telemetry in CS2 article, we’ve covered how to enable each setting, reviewed the components of the displayed information, and found solutions to help improve your network connection. To learn more about Counter-Strike 2, including game settings or map guides, check out our other articles posted here on the SkinsLords CS2 Blog Page! As always, keep learning and have fun out there!
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