Not everyone knows that besides the console command, CS: GO also has another command type called 'launch option'. These launch options allow players to change some common configurations for their particular needs, such as the DirectX version to be used, Hz monitor, full screen or windowed, for example. Some of these options are important, especially at a competitive level.

Another thing you should know is the launch option can also be applied to other Source & Goldsrc game engines like Left 4 Dead, or Team Fortress.

First we will learn how to apply launch options. Right click on CS: GO in your game library, select 'Property' -> 'Set Launch Options'. There you will see the window where you put the command you want to apply there. Click OK, close the window, forget and launch the game. Remember that you need to separate the commands with spaces or they will not work.

Common CS:GO Launch Options

-autoconfig – This options will restore video and performance settings to default for your current hardware and ignore the settings in any .cfg files.
-condebug – Logs all console output into the console.log text file.
-console – Starts the game with the developer console enabled. If you already enable the console in the game settings, you don’t need this option.
-dxlevel <level> – Use a specific DirectX version when launching the game. This could significantly enhance your graphic & game performance if your hardware is older.
-dxlevel 80-dxlevel 81-dxlevel 90-dxlevel 95-dxlevel 98
-fullscreen – Start CS:GO in fullscreen mode.
-windowed or -sw – If you want to play in windowed mode, use this option.
-w <width> – Forces the engine to start with resolution set to <width>.
-h <height> – Forces the engine to start with resolution set to <height>. This launch option does not need to be set in the presence of -w. The width value will determine the height automatically.
-refresh <rate> (or -freq <rate>) – This option allows you to use a higher refresh rate for better game experience. Still this can only be applied if your monitor supports higher rates, such as 144 Hz, or 75 Hz. You can put -refresh 144 or -freq 144 parameter in the launch options and use mat_info console command to check if it works. Default is 60 Hz.
-heapsize <kilobytes> – Specifies the heapsize (in kilobytes) which the game will use.
-nocrashdialog – Suppresses some memory could not be read unhandled errors.
-novid or -novideo – This option will save you time as loading a game with this parameter will not play the intro video.
-lv Enables some low violence options.
-nod3d9ex – This option has been removed, you can no longer use it.
-noaafonts –  Use basic fonts in game, the option can somehow boost your fps a little bit.
-language english – Set the language to use in game, including the funny pirate language (-language pirate)
-high – Gives the game high priority in your CPU.
-tickrate <number> – Sets the tickrate you want to play with. The higher the better. This can be 64 (Steam servers) or 128 (dedicated servers). However, you can just set it to 128 since the game will automatically adjust the rate if you connect to a 64 server.
+exec autoexec – Automatically execs your custom config if you have one.

Launch Options to Adjust Detail Levels and Graphic Rendering

+r_rootlod # – Adjusts Model Detail where # is 0 for high, 1 is medium, and 2 for low
+mat_picmip # – Adjusts Texture Detail where # is 0 for high, 1 is medium, and 2 for low
+mat_reducefillrate # – Adjusts Shader Detail where # is 0 for high and 1 for low
+r_waterforceexpensive # – Adjusts Water Detail where # is 0 for low and 1 for high
+r_waterforcereflectentities # – Adjusts Water Reflectiveness where # is 0 for low and 1 for high
+r_shadowrendertotexture # – Adjusts Shadow Detail where # is 0 for low and 1 for high
+mat_colorcorrection # – Adjusts Color Correction where # is 0 for low and 1 for high

Filtering Modes

+mat_trilinear 0 – Use Bilinear Mode (least system-intensive)
+mat_trilinear 1 – Use Trilinear Mode (more system-intensive)
+mat_forceaniso # – Use Trilinear Mode (where # is 2, 4, 8, or 16 – higher levels of filtering require more system resources)
+mat_hdr_level # – Adjusts High Dynamic Range lighting effects where # is 0 for “off” (requires least resources) and 2 for “full”

Launch Options for RAGE

+r_swapInterval # – Forces V-Sync to be on or off, # is 0 for off and 1 for on
+vt_maxPPF # – Adjusts GPU Transcode to improve texture streaming performance where # is 8 for processors with 2 or 4 cores, 16 is processors with 6 or more cores
+vt_pageImageSizeUnique 8192 – Increases texture data stored in video memory
+vt_pageImageSizeUniqueDiffuseOnly 8192 – Increases texture data stored in video memory
+vt_pageImageSizeUniqueDiffuseOnly2 8192 – Increases texture data stored in video memory