Counter-Strike 1.6 Server: Best server.cfg settings for maximum FPS

Last updated: November 3, 2025

Hey counter-strike 1.6 server admins! 👋

We’ve personally tested these server.cfg settings on our own Counter-Strike 1.6 servers and the results were impressive.

We achieved high FPS, smooth gameplay, and minimal lag even with many players online.

These server.cfg settings are optimized for ReHLDS servers and are ideal for any high-performance CS 1.6 server.

We created and rigorously tested these settings ourselves, so other CS 1.6 server owners can confidently use them. You can download a ready-to-use TXT file directly from our website!

Download the ready-to-use server.cfg

We made it simple: download the tested server.cfg TXT file and drop it into your CS 1.6 ReHLDS server folder:

server.cfg by csdownload.net ✅

Installation steps

1. Download the ZIP archive named server.cfg by csdownload.net.zip from the link above.
2. Extract the ZIP archive on your computer. You will find a single file named server.cfg inside.
3. Important: do not directly place the new server.cfg file into your server directory.
4. Open the extracted server.cfg file with a text editor (e.g., Notepad or Notepad++).
5. Open your existing server.cfg on your server.
6. Copy the content from the downloaded file and paste it into your existing server.cfg.
7. Before saving, carefully check if any commands from the downloaded file already exist in your current server.cfg. If duplicate commands are present, remove the old or duplicate entries to avoid conflicts.
8. Save the server.cfg file and restart your CS 1.6 ReHLDS server to apply the new optimized settings.

Following these steps ensures that your CS 1.6 server uses the tested settings without overwriting any custom configurations you may already have.

Important

These server.cfg settings are fully compatible only with the latest versions of ReHLDS.
If you are using an older ReHLDS version, some commands may not work properly or could cause issues on your server.
To ensure full compatibility and optimal performance, please update your server to the newest ReHLDS version.

You can find all ReHLDS-related files and downloads at
ReHLDS Official Website.
On this site you can access:

• ReHLDS – Enhanced version of the HLDS engine with bug fixes, security patches, and optimizations for stable servers.
• ReGameDLL_CS – Enhanced server-side GameDLL for Counter-Strike 1.6 (and CS: Condition Zero), offering new features and fixes.
• ReAPI – AMXModX module providing APIs for ReHLDS, ReGameDLL, and Metamod plugins (e.g., ReUnion, ReVoice).
• Metamod-R – Optimized fork of Metamod for improved plugin management and compatibility on modern HLDS-based servers.

Updating your server ensures that these server.cfg settings work correctly and your CS 1.6 server runs smoothly with high 1000 FPS, lag-free gameplay, and ReHLDS optimizations.

Why high FPS and server.cfg optimization matter

Many server owners underestimate how important FPS is for a CS 1.6 server. FPS affects:

• Player movement smoothness
• Hit registration accuracy
• Server responsiveness
• Overall player experience

Running a lag-free CS 1.6 server ensures that players can enjoy competitive matches without frustrating delays. A high FPS server is particularly important for ReHLDS servers, which support higher tick rates and more efficient network updates compared to legacy HLDS.

With these settings, you can create a server that delivers both stability and speed, which is critical for professional or community CS 1.6 servers. Our settings were tested with various maps and player loads to make sure they perform well in all scenarios.

Core server.cfg settings for maximum FPS

Let’s break down the essential server.cfg settings that affect CS 1.6 FPS 1000 and smooth gameplay. Each command has been tested to improve player experience and server responsiveness.

Tick Rate & Updates

sys_ticrate "1100"
sv_maxupdaterate "80"
sv_minupdaterate "64"

These commands control how often your CS 1.6 server updates per second:

• sys_ticrate: A higher value increases server update frequency, improving movement smoothness and reducing perceived lag.
• sv_maxupdaterate / sv_minupdaterate: Balances the updates sent to clients. Optimized values prevent network overload while keeping gameplay fluid.

Network rates

sv_maxrate "0"
sv_minrate "100000"

Network rates are critical for lag-free CS 1.6 gameplay:

• sv_maxrate: Setting to 0 allows players with high bandwidth to download all server data without throttling.
• sv_minrate: Ensures clients receive enough data for smooth movement, shooting, and interaction. Lower values may cause rubber-banding and missed hits.

Player movement & physics

sv_airaccelerate "100"
edgefriction "2"
host_framerate "0"
decalfrequency "60"

• sv_airaccelerate: Controls air movement speed. Higher values allow smoother strafing and jumping.
• edgefriction: Adjusts how surfaces affect sliding. Optimized for natural movement and player experience.
• host_framerate: Setting to 0 lets ReHLDS automatically manage FPS, which prevents server overload.
• decalfrequency: Controls spray and bullet hole rendering. Optimizing reduces unnecessary load and improves CS 1.6 FPS.

Lag compensation & command limits

sv_maxcmdrate 101
sv_maxunlag 0.5
sv_uploadmax 1.0

• sv_maxcmdrate: Prevents command flooding, improving stability.
• sv_maxunlag: Compensates for player latency, improving hit registration.
• sv_uploadmax: Controls maximum data sent per client for sprays, voice, and other uploads.

ReHLDS specific settings

ReHLDS provides commands that significantly improve server performance and CS 1.6 FPS. All of these were tested on our servers for real-world reliability:

sv_use_entity_file "0"
sv_rehlds_force_dlmax "1"
sv_delayed_spray_upload "0"
sv_rehlds_send_mapcycle "0"
sv_rehlds_local_gametime "1"
sv_rehlds_hull_centering "1"
sv_rehlds_movecmdrate_max_avg "-1"
sv_rehlds_stringcmdrate_max_avg "-1"
sv_rehlds_movecmdrate_max_burst "-1"
sv_auto_precache_sounds_in_models "0"
sv_rehlds_stringcmdrate_max_burst "-1"
sv_rehlds_attachedentities_playeranimationspeed_fix "1"

• sv_use_entity_file: Speeds up map loading and reduces FPS drops.
• sv_rehlds_force_dlmax: Forces maximum file downloads for clients.
• sv_delayed_spray_upload: Reduces spray-related lag.
• sv_rehlds_local_gametime: Corrects game time sync between server and players.
• sv_rehlds_hull_centering & sv_rehlds_attachedentities_playeranimationspeed_fix: Fixes hitbox and animation synchronization for better player experience.

Optimizing your cs 1.6 server for maximum FPS

Even with a perfect server.cfg, other factors affect FPS:

1. Hardware: A strong CPU and sufficient RAM are required for high tickrate servers with many players.
2. Stable Internet Connection: High bandwidth and low packet loss reduce lag and improve lag-free CS 1.6 gameplay.
3. Map Optimization: Avoid maps with too many entities or heavy textures.
4. Monitoring Tools: Use ReHLDS plugins to track FPS, tickrate, and ping in real-time.
5. Adjusting Rates: Fine-tune sv_maxrate, sv_minrate, and ticrate depending on your player base.

FPS Testing & Troubleshooting

After applying these server.cfg settings, it’s important to test your CS 1.6 server. Here’s a friendly approach:

Checking FPS In-Game

To monitor your CS 1.6 server FPS, ping, and packet loss in-game, use the following commands:

• status – Displays server information, including connected players, IPs, and latency.
• net_graph 3 – Shows FPS, network statistics, and real-time performance overlay while playing.

A high FPS server should display FPS values around 500–1000, depending on server load and the number of players. Monitoring FPS regularly helps ensure your server.cfg settings are working optimally and your ReHLDS server is running smoothly.

Optional: Monitor server performance with HLSW

If you are using HLSW to manage your CS 1.6 ReHLDS server, you can also check server performance via the console.
With RCON privileges, type the command stats to see real-time server information, including CPU usage, server FPS, uptime, and connected players.

Example output:

15:20:47 stats
15:20:47 
 CPU   In    Out      Uptime  Users   FPS     Players
23.33 191.95 282.03     840    2293  1044.32      21

• CPU: Current server CPU usage (%)
• In / Out: Network traffic in/out (KB/s)
• Uptime: Server uptime in minutes
• Users: Number of clients connected
• FPS: Current server FPS
• Players: Number of active players

Using stats via HLSW is an easy and reliable way to monitor server performance and ensure your high FPS CS 1.6 server is running smoothly even under heavy load.

Recommended cs 1.6 install

We personally tested these server.cfg settings with our own Counter-Strike 1.6 installation, which we recommend using for your players as well.
Different installation versions of CS 1.6 can be downloaded from our website:
csdownload.net.