Best gaming PC for Counter-Strike 2

By Stephen Parsons, Sandbox Computers, Worcester. Last updated 14 October 2026.

Cover artwork © the game's publisher.

Counter-Strike 2 is a team shooter played by everyone from beginners to professionals. Players care most about very high, steady frame rates, so the processor matters here as much as the graphics card.

What CS2 needs

Graphics card: the part that draws the picture. CS2 does not need the strongest card to look good, but it needs a decent one to reach high frame rates. A mid-range graphics card is a good place to start.
Processor: the processor runs the game itself. In CS2, a stronger processor helps keep frame rates high and steady, especially when the action is busy. Our guides to AMD or Intel and X3D processors explain the options.
Memory (RAM): 16GB is sensible.
Storage: an SSD (a fast storage drive) so the game and maps load quickly.

Most CS2 players turn some settings down on purpose. A clear, smooth picture matters more to them than fancy effects.

PCs that play CS2 well

The cheapest PCs on our shop with a graphics card strong enough for this. Prices update by themselves.

Refurbished1080p gaming

Sandbox Dasher 3400G 1080 refurbished gaming PC

Ryzen 5 3400G + GTX 1080 8GB

Made for 1080p screens: Fortnite, Valorant, Minecraft and Rocket League play well. The newest big games may need lower settings.

Processor: AMD Ryzen 5 3400G (4 cores, 8 threads, built-in Radeon graphics) (tested)
Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 8GB
Memory: 16GB DDR4 memory
Storage: 500GB WD Blue 2.5-inch SSD (tested) + 1TB 3.5-inch hard drive (tested) + 1TB hard drive
Windows: Windows 11 Home not included (optional extra, installed by us)

£699

Built to order

Add to basket at Sandbox Computers See full details

Ask us about this PC Compare

Games this PC plays

Fortnite Plays well
Minecraft (Bedrock Edition for Windows) Plays well
Roblox Plays well
VALORANT Plays well
Counter-Strike 2 Plays well
League of Legends Plays well
EA SPORTS FC™ 26 Plays well
Grand Theft Auto V Enhanced Plays on low settings
Marvel Rivals Plays on low settings
Call of Duty® Plays on low settings

Comes with an RGB case - you can swap it for a non-RGB case if you prefer.

Sold by Sandbox Computers, Worcester

Refurbished1080p gaming

Sandbox Typhoon 1080X Pro refurbished gaming PC

Ryzen 5 3400G + GTX 1080

Made for 1080p screens: Fortnite, Valorant, Minecraft and Rocket League play well. The newest big games may need lower settings.

Processor: AMD Ryzen 5 3400G (4 cores, 8 threads, built-in Radeon graphics) (tested)
Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 8GB
Memory: 16GB DDR4 memory
Storage: 256GB SSD + 4TB 3.5-inch hard drive + 4TB hard drive
Windows: Windows 11 Home not included (optional extra, installed by us)

£759

Built to order

Add to basket at Sandbox Computers See full details

Ask us about this PC Compare

Games this PC plays

Fortnite Plays well
Minecraft (Bedrock Edition for Windows) Plays well
Roblox Plays well
VALORANT Plays well
Counter-Strike 2 Plays well
League of Legends Plays well
EA SPORTS FC™ 26 Plays well
Grand Theft Auto V Enhanced Plays on low settings
Marvel Rivals Plays on low settings
Call of Duty® Plays on low settings

Comes with an RGB case - you can swap it for a non-RGB case if you prefer.

Sold by Sandbox Computers, Worcester

Refurbished1080p gaming

Sandbox Typhoon RTX 2070 refurbished gaming PC

Ryzen 5 5500 + RTX 2070

Made for 1080p screens: Fortnite, Valorant, Minecraft and Rocket League play well. The newest big games may need lower settings.

Processor: AMD Ryzen 5 5500 (6 cores, 12 threads)
Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 8GB
Memory: 16GB DDR4 memory
Storage: 256GB SSD + 1TB 3.5-inch hard drive (tested) + 1TB hard drive
Windows: Windows 11 Home not included (optional extra, installed by us)

£799

Built to order

Add to basket at Sandbox Computers See full details

Ask us about this PC Compare

Games this PC plays

Fortnite Plays well
Minecraft: Java Edition Plays well
Minecraft (Bedrock Edition for Windows) Plays well
Roblox Plays well
VALORANT Plays well
Counter-Strike 2 Plays well
League of Legends Plays well
EA SPORTS FC™ 26 Plays well
Grand Theft Auto V Enhanced Plays on low settings
Marvel Rivals Plays well

Comes with an RGB case - you can swap it for a non-RGB case if you prefer.

Sold by Sandbox Computers, Worcester

Going further: high frame rates, 1440p and streaming

For serious play, aim for frame rates that match a high refresh rate screen. "Frame rate" is how many new pictures the PC makes each second. "Refresh rate" is how many the screen can show. Our guide to frame rate and refresh rate explains how they fit together.

A stronger graphics card and processor together give the smoothest results. They also help if you want 1440p, higher settings, or to stream your matches.

For high settings or a 1440p screen

The cheapest PCs on our shop with a graphics card strong enough for this. Prices update by themselves.

Pre-order1080p gaming

Sandbox Gamer 1 gaming PC

Ryzen 5 5500 + Radeon RX 9060 8GB

Made for 1080p screens: Fortnite, Valorant, Minecraft and Rocket League play well. The newest big games may need lower settings.

Processor: Ryzen 5 5500
Graphics: Radeon RX 9060 8GB
Memory: 16GB DDR4 3600MHz
Storage: 512GB NVMe SSD
Windows: Windows 11 Home installed

£1,092.22

Pre-order

Pre-order at Sandbox Computers

Ask us about this PC Compare

Games this PC plays

Fortnite Plays well
Minecraft: Java Edition Plays well
Minecraft (Bedrock Edition for Windows) Plays well
Roblox Plays well
VALORANT Plays well
Counter-Strike 2 Plays well
League of Legends Plays well
EA SPORTS FC™ 26 Plays well
Grand Theft Auto V Enhanced Plays well
Marvel Rivals Plays well

Comes with an RGB case - you can swap it for a non-RGB case if you prefer.

Sold by Sandbox Computers, Worcester

Pre-order1080p gaming

Sandbox Gamer 21 gaming PC

Ryzen 5 5600 + GeForce RTX 5060 8GB

Made for 1080p screens: Fortnite, Valorant, Minecraft and Rocket League play well. The newest big games may need lower settings.

Processor: Ryzen 5 5600
Graphics: GeForce RTX 5060 8GB
Memory: 16GB DDR4 2666MHz
Storage: 1TB NVMe SSD
Windows: Windows 11 Home installed

£1,276.92

Pre-order

Pre-order at Sandbox Computers

Ask us about this PC Compare

Games this PC plays

Fortnite Plays well
Minecraft: Java Edition Plays well
Minecraft (Bedrock Edition for Windows) Plays well
Roblox Plays well
VALORANT Plays well
Counter-Strike 2 Plays well
League of Legends Plays well
EA SPORTS FC™ 26 Plays well
Grand Theft Auto V Enhanced Plays well
Marvel Rivals Plays well

Comes with an RGB case - you can swap it for a non-RGB case if you prefer.

Sold by Sandbox Computers, Worcester

Pre-order1080p gaming

Sandbox Gamer 2 gaming PC

Ryzen 5 5500 + GeForce RTX 5060 8GB

Made for 1080p screens: Fortnite, Valorant, Minecraft and Rocket League play well. The newest big games may need lower settings.

Processor: Ryzen 5 5500
Graphics: GeForce RTX 5060 8GB
Memory: 16GB DDR4 3600MHz
Storage: 1TB NVMe SSD
Windows: Windows 11 Home installed

£1,316.57

Pre-order

Pre-order at Sandbox Computers

Ask us about this PC Compare

Games this PC plays

Fortnite Plays well
Minecraft: Java Edition Plays well
Minecraft (Bedrock Edition for Windows) Plays well
Roblox Plays well
VALORANT Plays well
Counter-Strike 2 Plays well
League of Legends Plays well
EA SPORTS FC™ 26 Plays well
Grand Theft Auto V Enhanced Plays well
Marvel Rivals Plays well

Sold by Sandbox Computers, Worcester

Which screen?

Many CS2 players choose a 1080p screen with a high refresh rate, because it is easier for the PC to keep up. Read 1080p, 1440p or 4K and what size monitor is best for gaming. If you also play Valorant, see the best PC for Valorant.

Want the official specs? The Game Finder shows the minimum and recommended specs published by the makers of Counter-Strike 2, and our PCs that meet them.

Questions people ask

Why does the processor matter so much for CS2?

CS2 players aim for very high frame rates. At those speeds the processor, which runs the game itself, often becomes the part holding things back. So a good processor matters more here than in many other games.

Do I need a high refresh rate screen for CS2?

Many players use one. A high refresh rate screen updates more times each second, so movement looks smoother and you can react a little sooner. It only helps if the PC can produce enough frames to fill it.

Can I play CS2 on built-in graphics?

Only at low settings, and not smoothly enough for competitive play. A separate graphics card is the better choice for CS2.

Is 16GB of memory enough for CS2?

Yes. 16GB is a sensible amount for Counter-Strike 2.

Still not sure? Call us on 01905 673738 or send us a message. Tell us your games and budget and we will give you a straight answer. You can also try our Which gaming PC? helper.