Top 5 Best CS2 (CSGO) Resolutions [Used By Pros]

We’ve collected data on the five best resolutions the 600+ best professional players in CS2 (CSGO) use. Here are the results:

1280x960 (4:3 Aspect Ratio)

The 1280x960 resolution is easily the best resolution in the professional scene. This 4:3 aspect ratio allows players to choose whether they want a Stretched scaling mode or Black Bars in their video settings. Professional players love using the Stretched scaling mode in this CS2 (CSGO) resolution.

Around 45% of the top professional CS2 (CSGO) players use the 1280x960 resolution.

Some of the best professional CS2 (CSGO) players that use the 1280x960 resolution include:

• s1mple (AWPer, Stretched)

• ZywOo (AWPer, Stretched)

• broky (AWPer, Stretched)

• m0nesy (AWPer, Stretched)

• dupreeh (Rifler, Stretched)

There’s an apparent reason why most professional players use the 1280x960 Stretched resolution. When using this resolution, bodies in CS2 (CSGO) will appear wider, making them easier to hit.

If you did not notice the trend of which professional players use this resolution, it’s a fact that most of the best AWPers in the world use 1280x960. Wider bodies give these AWPers a little more room to hit their shots, which is why they almost never miss!

1024x768 (4:3 Aspect Ratio)

The second most popular resolution in the professional scene is another one with a 4:3 aspect ratio. This time, it is the lowest resolution in the list at 1024x768. Though most professional players use the stretched scaling mode for this resolution, quite a large percentage of them are rocking black bars!

Around 16% of the top professional CS2 (CSGO) players use the 1024x768 resolution.

Professional players using the 1024x768 resolution include:

• device (AWPer, Black Bars)

• apEx (Rifler, Stretched)

• sh1ro (AWPer, Black Bars)

• FalleN (AWPer, Stretched)

• kennyS (AWPer, Black Bars)

We’re still seeing a trend that AWPers prefer a 4:3 aspect ratio. However, some of the best AWP players, like device, sh1ro, and FalleN, are using it with Black Bars! Though using the stretched resolution makes bodies wider, these guys are completely ignoring that significant advantage and still hit nasty shots.

However, casual players with a low-end setup can turn to the 1024x768 resolution. Since 1024x768 displays the lowest resolution, you will get the highest FPS performance out of all the resolutions on this list! This resolution can fix performance issues and give you an upper hand in games!

1920x1080 (16:9 Aspect Ratio)

Though 1920x1080 is the resolution found in the default settings, it is only the third most-used resolution in the professional scene! All CS2 (CSGO) players will start playing the game with 1920x1080, but only a few pro players stick to it.

Around 10% of the top professional CS2 (CSGO) players use the 1920x1080 resolution.

Professional players using the 1920x1080 Native resolution include:

• Twistzz (Rifler, Native)

• ropz (Rifler, Native)

• electronic (Rifler, Native)

• YEKINDAR (Rifler, Native)

• jabbi (Rifler, Native)

Using the 1920x1080 resolution, you can see as much of the screen as possible. If you take a look at the screenshot provided, you’ll see that you can see almost two doors of the car, while in other resolutions, you can’t even see the first door.

We’ve also noticed that the 1920x1080 resolution can affect how pro players sit when playing CS2 (CSGO). Players like ropz, jabbi, and YEKINDAR sit less than 10 centimeters away from their monitors. Since so much of the screen is exposed, they lean closer to focus on what’s in the middle.

1152x864 (4:3 Aspect Ratio)

We have the third resolution in the list that uses a 4:3 aspect ratio, the 1152x864 resolution. With it being another 4:3 resolution, this pretty much declares that 4:3 is the most popular aspect ratio in the professional scene. 

Around 5% of the top professional CS2 (CSGO) players use the 1152x864 resolution.

Professional players using the 1152x864 resolution include:

• NiKo (Rifler, Stretched)

• TACO (Rifler, Stretched)

• Patsi (Rifler, Stretched)

• yuurih (Rifler, Stretched)

• kyxsan (Rifler, Stretched)

We can see a common trend that the 1152x864 resolution is mainly used by riflers, including NiKo, arguably the best rifler in Counter-Strike history. Though it is possible to run this resolution in Black Bars, most of the professional players avoid doing so.

Keep in mind that 1152x864 is a pretty low resolution, which will make the CS2 (CSGO) game look more pixelated and lower quality. If you’re playing CS2 (CSGO) for the aesthetics and graphics, this might not meet your personal preference, and you might want to stray away from 1152x864 and 4:3 stretched as a whole.

1280x1024 (5:4 Aspect Ratio)

Last but not least, we have a 5:4 aspect ratio, which uses the 1280x1024 resolution. Of all the aspect ratios, 5:4 is the least popular, and only a minority uses it. The 1280x1024 is another stretched-favored resolution, so 4/5 of the most-used resolutions are stretched!

Around 5% of the top professional CS2 (CSGO) players use the 1280x1024 resolution.

Professional players using the 1280x1024 resolution include:

• torszi (AWPer, Stretched)

• Brollan (Rifler, Stretched)

• mezii (Rifler, Black Bars)

• npl (Rifler, Stretched)

• bodyy (Rifler, Stretched)

When looking at the screenshot, notice how, in the 4:3 resolutions, you can still see the side-view mirror of the car. However, in the 5:4 aspect ratio, you can’t. This shows that the 5:4 resolution will show you the least amount of your screen, which can be disadvantageous.

However, the plus side of using 5:4 is you can put all your focus into what’s in front of you, which, in 99% of situations, is what is the most important thing. Applying the 1280x1024 resolution will boost your performance, but not as much as all the 4:3 options.