Counter-Strike 2: PC requirements and the PC you need
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Cover artwork © the game's publisher.
About Counter-Strike 2
Counter-Strike 2 is Valve's free-to-play team shooter, the latest chapter in a series that has been played competitively for more than twenty years. Two teams of five take turns to attack and defend, planting or defusing a bomb, and one well-placed shot can win a round. It is free, with optional in-game purchases, and the Steam Workshop is full of community maps. Players here usually care more about a high, steady frame rate than fancy graphics, so a mid-range gaming PC with a 144 Hz or faster monitor makes a real difference.
What Counter-Strike 2 needs
In plain words: to play at all it needs almost any graphics, even the graphics built into the processor, with at least 8GB of memory.
| Part | Minimum | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| Graphics card | Video card must be 1 GB or more and should be a DirectX 11-compatible with support for Shader Model 5.0 | Not published |
| Processor | 4 hardware CPU threads - Intel® Core™ i5 750 or higher | Not published |
| Memory (RAM) | 8 GB RAM | Not published |
| Storage | 85 GB available space | Not published |
From the Steam store page, checked 29 October 2026. The makers sometimes change these; their page is always right.
Will my computer play Counter-Strike 2?
On most computers we find the graphics card for you. Add your processor and memory, and we will tell you if it plays, and what to upgrade if not.
A low-spec PC or a high-spec PC?
This is a light game: almost any of our gaming PCs will run it comfortably.
On a PC that only just meets the minimum, the game will start and play, but on low settings: simpler shadows and textures, shorter view distances and fewer frames each second, so fast moments can feel less smooth. A 1080p screen is the sensible match.
On a PC that meets or beats the recommended spec, you can turn the settings up: sharper textures, proper shadows and lighting, more detail in the distance, and a smoother picture. A stronger PC also lets you use a sharper 1440p or high-refresh screen.
Latest updates from the makers
- Counter-Strike 2 Update (28 October 2026)
- Counter-Strike 2 Update (22 October 2026)
- Counter-Strike 2 Update (15 October 2026)
The newest official announcements for Counter-Strike 2 on Steam, checked every night. More games: this week's game updates.
Our PCs that meet the published spec
Refurbished1080p gaming
Sandbox Robin 3400G 1060 refurbished gaming PC
Ryzen 5 3400G + GTX 1060
Made for 1080p screens: Fortnite, Valorant, Minecraft and Rocket League play well. The newest big games may need lower settings.
- Processor
- AMD Ryzen 5 3400G (4 cores, 8 threads, built-in Radeon graphics) (tested)
- Graphics
- NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 6GB
- Memory
- 16GB DDR4 memory
- Storage
- 500GB WD Blue 2.5-inch SSD (tested) + 1TB 3.5-inch hard drive (tested) + 1TB hard drive
- Windows
- Windows 11 Home not included (optional extra, installed by us)
£579
Built to order
Games this PC plays
- Fortnite Plays well
- Minecraft (Bedrock Edition for Windows) Plays well
- Roblox Plays well
- VALORANT Plays well
- Counter-Strike 2 Plays well
- League of Legends Plays well
- EA SPORTS FC™ 26 Plays on low settings
- Grand Theft Auto V Enhanced Plays on low settings
- Marvel Rivals Plays on low settings
- Call of Duty® Plays on low settings
Comes with an RGB case - you can swap it for a non-RGB case if you prefer.
Sold by Sandbox Computers, Worcester
Refurbished1080p gaming
Sandbox Typhoon 1060X refurbished gaming PC
Ryzen 5 4500 + GTX 1060
Made for 1080p screens: Fortnite, Valorant, Minecraft and Rocket League play well. The newest big games may need lower settings.
- Processor
- AMD Ryzen 5 4500 (6 cores, 12 threads)
- Graphics
- NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 6GB
- Memory
- 16GB DDR4 memory
- Storage
- 256GB SSD + 1TB 3.5-inch hard drive (tested) + 1TB hard drive
- Windows
- Windows 11 Home not included (optional extra, installed by us)
£599
Built to order
Games this PC plays
- Fortnite Plays well
- Minecraft: Java Edition Plays on low settings
- Minecraft (Bedrock Edition for Windows) Plays well
- Roblox Plays well
- VALORANT Plays well
- Counter-Strike 2 Plays well
- League of Legends Plays well
- EA SPORTS FC™ 26 Plays on low settings
- Grand Theft Auto V Enhanced Plays on low settings
- Marvel Rivals Plays on low settings
Comes with an RGB case - you can swap it for a non-RGB case if you prefer.
Sold by Sandbox Computers, Worcester
Refurbished1080p gaming
Sandbox Jingle 3400G 1660S refurbished gaming PC
Ryzen 5 3400G + GTX 1660 Super
Made for 1080p screens: Fortnite, Valorant, Minecraft and Rocket League play well. The newest big games may need lower settings.
- Processor
- AMD Ryzen 5 3400G (4 cores, 8 threads, built-in Radeon graphics) (tested)
- Graphics
- NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Super 6GB
- Memory
- 16GB DDR4 memory
- Storage
- 500GB WD Blue 2.5-inch SSD (tested)
- Windows
- Windows 11 Home not included (optional extra, installed by us)
£659
Built to order
Games this PC plays
- Fortnite Plays well
- Minecraft (Bedrock Edition for Windows) Plays well
- Roblox Plays well
- VALORANT Plays well
- Counter-Strike 2 Plays well
- League of Legends Plays well
- EA SPORTS FC™ 26 Plays on low settings
- Grand Theft Auto V Enhanced Plays on low settings
- Marvel Rivals Plays on low settings
- Call of Duty® Plays on low settings
Comes with an RGB case - you can swap it for a non-RGB case if you prefer.
Sold by Sandbox Computers, Worcester
Questions about Counter-Strike 2 on PC
What graphics card do I need for Counter-Strike 2?
The makers say the minimum is Video card must be 1 GB or more and should be a DirectX 11-compatible with support for Shader Model 5.0. In plain words: almost any graphics, even the graphics built into the processor for a good experience.
How much memory (RAM) does Counter-Strike 2 need?
At least 8GB. 16GB is the sensible amount for a gaming PC today.
Is Counter-Strike 2 multiplayer?
Yes. You can play it multiplayer or cross-platform multiplayer.
Can a gaming PC from Sandbox Computers run Counter-Strike 2?
Our PCs meet the minimum spec. Ask us and we will suggest one that runs it well.
How we match: we compare the graphics card and the memory in each PC with the makers' spec, because those decide most of how a game runs. For very new or demanding games, ask us and we will check the processor too. More help: graphics cards explained, how much RAM, which screen.