Counter-Strike Guide

How do I tweak my connection?
The commands shown below can be entered in the console or added to your autoexec.cfg.

fps_max
While this setting will no longer improve your connection it does help stop the confusion between connection lag and graphics related lag when, for example, jumping from 85 FPS to 23 FPS. Set this by monitoring your FPS while playing using net_graph 3 or cl_showFPS "1", then set fps_max to your average steady FPS

rate
This controls network packets so that your connection bandwidth does not get saturated, setting is for maximum bytes per second. Note that with 1.1.04 or above and a Stac/Microsoft compressed connection you can no longer use higher rates than normal for your connection type, connection tweak tables have been adjusted to reflect that. See net_graph for a guide on how to adjust this setting or try the suggested settings that appear at the foot of this page.

cl_cmdrate
In HalfLife patches prior to 1.1.0.0 your FPS governed how many gameworld updates you sent to the server, this is no longer the case in 1.1.0.0 and above. Similar to cl_maxpackets in Quake3 this setting restricts the number of packets being sent to the server by your client and can be used to help connection bandwidth related problems for those with low upload bandwidth. Note that 56K modems, while downloading at up to 56000 BPS, only upload at 33600 BPS or less. You may wish to experiment with a higher or lower setting based on your connection type, for example 40 or higher for a digital connection.

cl_updaterate
Similar to snaps setting in Quake3, the cl_updaterate setting is used to calculate how many gameworld updates you receive from the server. See net_graph for a guide on how to adjust this setting.

Suggested settings are in the table that follows. They are however guidelines, adjust them as needed by monitoring your connection using net_graph and alter settings based on its information. See the description of how to use and interpret the information that net_graph shows in the above table. It is very important that you read the net_graph, rate, cl_cmdrate and cl_updaterate notes before you use these settings. If you do not see an riguros connection speed setting then use the closest. Example, perhaps you connect at 53000 or 52000 on modem, use the 50000 setting from the table.

LAN cl_updaterate "40"
cl_cmdrate "100"
rate "25000"
ADSL / Cable / Wireless cl_updaterate "40"
cl_cmdrate "60"
rate "25000"
ISDN Bonded cl_updaterate "40"
cl_cmdrate "60"
rate "(See Table Below)"

128000 BPS: rate "14000"
112000 BPS: rate "12250"
ISDN Single cl_updaterate "20"
cl_cmdrate "60"
rate "(See Table Below)"

64000 BPS: rate "7000"
56000 BPS: rate "6200"
56K Modem cl_updaterate "20"
cl_cmdrate "30"
rate "(See Table Below)"

50000 BPS: rate "5500"
48000 BPS: rate "5200"
46000 BPS: rate "5000"
44000 BPS: rate "4800"
42000 BPS: rate "4500"
40000 BPS: rate "4300"
38000 BPS: rate "4100"
36000 BPS: rate "4000"
V34 Modem cl_updaterate "20"
cl_cmdrate "30"
rate "(See Table Below)"

33600 BPS: rate "3500"
31200 BPS: rate "3300"
28000 BPS: rate "3000"
28.8 Modem cl_updaterate "20"
cl_cmdrate "25"
rate "(See Table Below)"

28000 BPS: rate "3000"
26400 BPS: rate "2800"

How do I read the net_graph?

This is the net_graph, set to mode 1 (By typing net_graph 1 in console)

1. FPS Counter - Your current frame rate
2. Network Latency - This is your current network latency. Unlike the Ping display on the game scoreboard, this readout does not count rendering & timing latencies into the number
3. Your downstream bandwidth use.
4. Your upstream bandwidth use.
5. This is an animated graph displaying your ever-changing ping.The higher your ping, the thicker this graph gets. This also displays your lost packets in red.
6. Your current server update (incoming) rate.
7. Your current client update (outgoing) rate.

You can change the netgraph's position with the CVAR net_graphpos. Setting net_graphpos to 1, 2, or 3 will place the netgraph in the bottom right, center, or left section of the screen respectively.
Example, type in console: net_graphpos 1

To change the width of the netgraph, use the CVAR net_graphwidth, which defaults to 192.
Example, type in console: net_graphwidth 250

You can change the graph's default height of 64 pixels by the CVAR net_graphheight.
Example, type in console: net_graphheight 100

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