Can You Run Counter-Strike 2?
The official PC requirements, with a free check against your own hardware.
Quick answer
Counter-Strike 2 has low official requirements. Valve asks for Windows 10, a processor with 4 hardware threads at the level of an Intel Core i5 750 or better, 8 GB of memory, a DirectX 11 graphics card with at least 1 GB of video memory and Shader Model 5.0 support, and 85 GB of free storage. Valve does not publish a recommended spec, so there is no official target for high frame rates.
Check your own PCCounter-Strike 2 system requirements
Minimum
Bare minimumThe game launches and runs, usually at low settings
- Operating system
- Windows 10
- Processor
- Intel Core i5 750 or better, with 4 hardware CPU threads
- Memory
- 8 GB RAM
- Graphics
- DirectX 11 compatible card with 1 GB VRAM or more and Shader Model 5.0 support
- DirectX
- Version 11
- Storage
- 85 GB available space
Recommended
Valve Corporation does not publish a recommended spec for Counter-Strike 2. The minimum is the only official figure, so we show nothing here rather than an estimate dressed up as an official number.
Valve publishes a minimum spec only. There is no official recommended spec for Counter-Strike 2.
Source: Counter-Strike 2 on Steam, checked September 30, 2026.
What these numbers mean in practice
Minimum requirements are the floor, not a target. Meeting them means Counter-Strike 2 will start and remain playable, typically at low settings and often around 30 frames per second. If your hardware only just clears the minimum, expect to lower the resolution before you lower anything else, since resolution costs more performance than almost any other setting.
The graphics card matters more than any other component here. In our scoring the GPU carries 40 percent of the compatibility result, the processor 30 percent, and memory and storage speed 15 percent each. A strong processor cannot rescue a card that falls below the minimum, though a weak processor can hold back a strong card at lower resolutions.
Storage speed is the most commonly overlooked requirement. Counter-Strike 2 lists 85 GB of space, and modern titles stream assets from disk while you play. On a mechanical drive you get texture pop in and longer loading even when every other part of your system is comfortably above spec.
Frequently asked questions
Can I run Counter-Strike 2 on my PC?
Counter-Strike 2 has low official requirements. Valve asks for Windows 10, a processor with 4 hardware threads at the level of an Intel Core i5 750 or better, 8 GB of memory, a DirectX 11 graphics card with at least 1 GB of video memory and Shader Model 5.0 support, and 85 GB of free storage. Valve does not publish a recommended spec, so there is no official target for high frame rates. Enter your own specs in the checker above and you will get a compatibility score with an estimated frame rate rather than a simple yes or no.
What are the minimum requirements for Counter-Strike 2?
Windows 10, Intel Core i5 750 or better, with 4 hardware CPU threads, 8 GB RAM, DirectX 11 compatible card with 1 GB VRAM or more and Shader Model 5.0 support, DirectX 11, 85 GB available space. Minimum specs mean the game launches and runs, usually at low settings. These figures come from Counter-Strike 2 on Steam.
What are the recommended requirements for Counter-Strike 2?
Valve Corporation does not publish a recommended spec for Counter-Strike 2, only a minimum. Any chart quoting official recommended requirements for it is a guess.
How much storage does Counter-Strike 2 need?
Counter-Strike 2 needs 85 GB of free space. Install it on an SSD if you can. Modern games stream assets while you play, and a mechanical drive causes texture pop in and longer loading even when every other component is strong enough.
Does Counter-Strike 2 run on a laptop?
It can, but compare the actual laptop GPU rather than the desktop card with a similar name. Laptop graphics chips typically run 15 to 30 percent slower than their desktop counterparts because of power and cooling limits, so a laptop card that matches the recommended spec on paper often performs closer to the minimum.