CS:GO cl_interp_ratio Command Help & Examples
Counter-Strike: Global Offensive is a massively popular game. That means it is played by players with different computer specifications and internet connections. For that reason, players will look for adjustments to specific settings in the game, like resolution and interpolation, to get better performance and gameplay.
Valve allows a lot of customization to different aspects of the game settings through the developer console. Some of the defaults are set to help the players back in the day the game was introduced, so with the technological advantages in place, players, especially the experienced ones, like to fine-tune their game and improve its performance.
This article will help you understand what interpolation is, how it works, and how will the cl_interp_ratio CSGO command improve your game.
How Does Interpolation Work in CSGO?
The rendering rate is much higher when playing online, so we need something to buffer the frames and return them smoothly for us to see. Interpolation is a feature that adds artificial latency to the way we see the game and is put in the game to adjust the lack of internet speed. It can be explained as some kind of ‘buffering’ to smooth out the gameplay when needed. It is needed because of things like ping and packet loss.
Therefore, changing it can massively interfere with the gameplay and the way players interact with each other. However, the default settings in CSGO are set to a minimum interpolation delay of 100ms, which is tuned up for dial-up modems used 25 years ago. Therefore, players need to change it for better performance.
Simple Guide to Interpolation Adjustment in CSGO
Here is a simple guide on how to set the interpolation ratio:
- Open the developer console. The default key to this command is “~”
- Type cl_interp_ratio followed by a number. The default value is 2, you can do decimal numbers lower than 2, or if the server does not limit the value, you can benefit from trying higher as well if you have a bad internet connection.
- Press ENTER to apply the value.
- Enter a game to test it.
What is the Right Value I Can Set My Interpolation To?
There is no one right value for which everyone should set their interpolation. It all depends on the internet speed of the players. However, there are some roughly set advised levels of interpolation:
- Cl_interp_ratio should be set at 0 if you have a very good internet connection
- Cl_interp_ratio should be set between 0 and 1 if you have a normal internet connection
- Cl_interp_ratio should be set between 1 and 2 if you have troubles with your internet connection
- If you have a really troublesome internet connection, you should try cl_interp_ratio values higher than 2. However, some servers limit it to 2, so it cannot go higher.
Most often, players will have to try it out and adjust it multiple times using decimal numbers. It is very hard to set it perfectly, and fine-tuning it will take a lot of time, but you will be able to see the difference between the two values. An important thing to know is that you cannot adjust the interpolation ratio while in play. You will either have to be in the main menu or spectating a game, and it makes it even harder to adjust it quickly.
Conclusion
The cl_interp_ratio in CSGO is set to very high levels to accommodate older modem technology. However, modern technology brings us better internet connections, so in most cases, we have to lower the value of the interpolation ratio for better gameplay and less artificial latency. There is no right value for that ratio; try it out multiple times and find out which works best for you.