How to Add an FPS Counter in CS:GO and Monitor Performance with MSI Afterburner

If you are a keen player of Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO), you might be interested in keeping track of your frames per second (FPS) to improve your performance. A clear understanding of your FPS can help you make strategic decisions and stay ahead of the game. In this article, we will walk you through the process of adding an FPS counter in CS:GO and how to use MSI Afterburner to monitor your system's performance in real-time. We will provide detailed steps and recommendations for each step to ensure you get the best out of your performance monitoring.

Adding an FPS Counter in CS:GO

Adding an FPS counter in CS:GO can be done in just a few simple steps. This step allows you to monitor the frame rate performance directly within the game, making it a convenient and accessible tool for players.

Method 1: Game Console Command

One of the easiest ways to add an FPS counter in CS:GO is by using the in-game command. This method requires you to open the game console and run a specific command. Here are the detailed steps:

Press the tilde "~" key to open the console.

Type the following command in the console and press Enter:

cl_showfps 1

After executing the command, an FPS counter will appear in the top-left corner of your screen, providing you with real-time performance data during gameplay.

Method 2: Using the VGUI Interface

Alternatively, you can also add an FPS counter using the VGUI (Virtual Graphics User Interface) in CS:GO. This method involves changing a setting within the game's user interface. Here are the steps:

Open the Game Options menu by pressing the Menu Button or using the shortcut Ctrl Shift C (for Windows) or Ctrl Shift X (for Mac).

Navigate to the User Interface section.

Under the Draw FPS Counter section, select Show Always from the dropdown menu.

With this change, the FPS counter will always be visible on your screen, making it an essential tool for real-time performance monitoring.

Supplementary Tools: MSI Afterburner and RivaTuner

To gain a more comprehensive understanding of your system's performance, you can use MSI Afterburner and RivaTuner. These tools offer advanced monitoring capabilities and performance tuning options, which can help you optimize your hardware settings and achieve better gaming performance. Let's explore how to install and use these tools.

Installing MSI Afterburner

Step 1: Download MSI Afterburner

Visit the official website of MSI Afterburner or a trusted third-party source to download the latest version of the software. Here are the download links for your convenience:

MSI Afterburner

Make sure to download the version compatible with your operating system.

Step 2: Install MSI Afterburner

Follow the on-screen instructions to install MSI Afterburner on your system. Once installed, open the program to begin monitoring your GPU performance.

Enabling the FPS Meter in MSI Afterburner

After installing MSI Afterburner, you can enable the FPS meter to monitor your system's performance in real-time. Follow these steps to configure the FPS meter:

Launch MSI Afterburner and select the profile corresponding to your GPU.

Click on the Monitor tab.

In the Area to Monitor section, ensure that the Horizontal and Vertical values are set to cover the entire screen.

Ensure that the FPSTimer is checked to enable the FPS meter.

Now, the FPS meter will appear in your game's interface, providing you with accurate performance data during gameplay.

Installing RivaTuner (Optional)

RivaTuner is an additional tool that comes bundled with MSI Afterburner. If you prefer a dedicated application, you can install RivaTuner separately by downloading it from the official website:

RivaTuner

Follow the installation instructions to set up RivaTuner and enable the FPS meter. RivaTuner provides advanced features and a user-friendly interface, making it a popular choice among gamers.

Conclusion

Whether you're a casual player or a competitive gamer, adding an FPS counter in CS:GO and using MSI Afterburner can greatly enhance your gaming experience. By monitoring your FPS and system performance, you can optimize your setup and improve your gameplay. Give these methods a try and see the difference for yourself!