[Performance Boost] Enabling Vulkan on Windows and Precompiling Shaders

Pre-compiling shaders fixes stuttering, and Vulkan makes your game run faster. This guide teaches you how to do both.

Vulkan

What is Vulkan?

Vulkan is a modern, cross-platform video API designed to supersede OpenGL. It's far more performant than DirectX, which makes it preferred over DXVK on Linux. Anyone can use Vulkan for Counter-Strike 2.

What if I don't want to use Vulkan, or my system doesn't support it?

You can skip this section of the guide, as that means it isn't relevant to your setup.

Enabling Vulkan Rendering

In order to use Vulkan, we need to set a launch option. If you've done this before, add '-vulkan' and move to the next section.

1. Open Steam.
   
2. Go to your library.
   
3. Right-click Counter-Strike 2.
   
4. Choose properties.
   
5. Scroll down.
   
6. Type in the following into the textbox:
   

   -vulkan

   
   

Counter-Strike 2 is now using Vulkan, but it'll stutter a bunch if you don't do the next step.

Precompiling shaders

Shaders are tiny programs your GPU uses to change how certain materials look. Precompiling shaders is a useful process that prevents your CPU from having to convert a shader into code your GPU understands, and results in less stuttering.

Opening Steam Console

Forcing shader precompilation requires opening a hidden console built into Steam. You will only need to do one of these methods. After you open the console tab, move on to 'Running the precompilation.

Universal method

This method will work with every version of Steam.

1. Copy the following text:

   steam://open/console

   
   
2. Open your web browser (Chrome, Edge, Firefox, etc.).
   
   
3. Paste the text into the address bar and press enter.
   
   
4. Confirm opening the link in Steam if your browser asks.
   
   
5. Steam should open the console tab.

Console launch option method

This method isn't preferred and is likely harder to do! It's also operating-system dependent.

You will need to close Steam first.

Open Command Prompt if on Windows, or your distro's terminal if you're on Linux (Steam Deck users, it's called Konsole). Run the first command if you're on Windows, or run the second one if you're on Linux.

"C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steam.exe" -console
steam -console

Running the precompilation

1. Copy the following text:
   

   shader_build 730
   

   
   
2. Click on the command box, which is a text box.
   
   
3. Hold Control and press V. This pastes the text.
   
   
   
   
   
4. Press enter. Your console should now look like this.
   
   
   
5. Open Counter-Strike 2 and run around in a practice game for a few minutes.
   
   
6. Go get a coffee or a snack and let Steam build your shaders.
   
   
7. Enjoy your better performance.

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If you have the points to spare, give an award. Remember to thumbs up, rate this guide, and enjoy your frames!

[KATANA]

how to disable this command now?

[Kitoman]

This works for others vulkan run games?

[sataand12]

vulkan no longer works

[Emre 漂流 FREEMONEY.NET]

how to reset to default settings

[ThePolishJoker]

Found This 💁‍♂️

-dxlevel 90 / 91 / 95 / 98 / 100 / 110 — you specify the version of DirectX for CS2 to use. The value 110 corresponds to DirectX 11, the default. Change it to an older version only if you have some issues with 11 and hope to solve them.

-vulkan—the command forces CS2 to run with the newer version of DirectX: Vulkan instead of 11. The performance with this 3D graphics API may be better, but that depends on your computer and you’ll need to experiment.

[HuskyKNigtH -mdd-]

Hello, I really liked this step, for many people I believe it didn't work, but for me it was very good. It stopped causing bottlenecks when I encountered a player up close, and there were 20 frames that increased my FPS count. Playing smooth! Thanks!

[︻/安=---- f0g]

Thank you

[Mustafa ARAB PRINCE]

How we know that its end?

[Diegoide]

How do you know when all the shaders are compiled???

[SKIMASKDOG]

What if I want to revert everything back?