Counter-Strike: Source

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Counter-Strike: Source is a multiplayer first-person-shooter from Valve Software, launched in 2004. Since release, the game has continually received patches fixing known bugs, exploits, glitches. Counter-Strike: Source is a sequel to Counter-Strike (1999).

Launch parameters

You can launch Counter-Strike: Source with launch parameters - these parameters dictating how certain aspects of the game behaves (outside of gameplay).

To add launch parameters:

• Right click Counter-Strike: Source within Steam and select Properties
• Select Set Launch Options
• Add your launch parameters and click OK
• Close the properties window and launch the game with the specified launch parameters.

Launch parameters are typically prefixed with - (dash), however you can also set console commands by providing the console command with a + (plus) prefix.

Useful launch parameters

Parameter	Description
-autoconfig	Restores video and performance settings to default for the current hardware detected. Ignores settings inside any .cfg files until this parameter is removed.
-console	Starts the game with the developer console enabled.
-dxlevel xx	Forces the game to launch in a specific DirectX version, where xx is: 80 (DirectX 8 (buggy, use 81 instead for high performance)), 81 (DirectX 8.1), 90 (DX9 with Shader Model 2), 95 (DX9 with Shader Model 3) and 98 (DX9 on DX10 hardware (SM 4)). Remove this argument after starting CS:S once or it will keep reseting your other settings. The overridden DirectX version will still be saved (mat_dxlevel).
-noborder -window	Launches the game in a borderless fullscreen window (i.e. very alt-tab friendly). This may result in a minor performance loss. If you experience stuttering, disable Windows Aero.
-h height or -height height	Forces the engine to start with resolution set to height.
-w width or -width width	Forces the engine to start with resolution set to width.

Console Commands

Games running on the source engine can utilize Source Engine Console Commands for various tasks. These commands can be saved into *steam apps*/username/team fortress 2/tf/cfg/autoexec.cfg to be executed when the game launches.

Command	Notes
mat_dxlevel xx	Same as -dxlevel (above) but doesn't adjust other settings such as resolution.
net_graph 1	View in-game FPS, ping and more. A higher number (up to 4) shows more advanced information. This can result in a performance loss.
cl_showfps 1	Shows FPS only. 1 is real-time, 2 is averaged over the past second.
rate x	Max bytes/sec the host can receive data. A too low value may result in the server starving the client for data it could otherwise have received. A too high value may result in the server overwhelming the client with too much data and packets being lost. For example, if you can download data at 1 megabit/s, x should be 125000. However do not set higher than the maximum value of 1048576 (just over 8 megabit/s).
snd_async_fullyasync 1	May help you are experiencing freezes when some sounds that aren't cached are playing. Allows sounds to play when ready if loading it is too slow, instead of freezing the entire game until it is.
bind "END" "hud_reloadscheme; snd_restart; record fix; stop"	Works around most common bugs that can be encountered TF2 by pressing the END-key (or any other key of your choice) in-game. This will usually fix invisible players, displaced or invisible props, erroneously looping sounds at full volume, the HUD having the wrong team color or being otherwise broken, and more.
fps_max 59.9	If you have vsync enabled and your mouse feels sluggish then enter this into the console on the menu to resolve the issue. This setting cannot be changed while connected to a server. It's a better idea to just disable vsync if you don't mind tearing.

See Also

Command-line parameters on the Valve Developer Community

List of useful console commands on the Offical TF2 Wiki