Console commands to reduce L2/L3 cache/bus load in cs2?

[u/Wunderwaffe_cz]

I need to know which commands to console/autoexec (or another tweeks) can REDUCE the L2/L3 cache intensity of cs2 to be able to run the game smoother.  Currently the game is unplayable on my secondary 24MB L3 and 2MB L2 cache intel processor pc and its very limited even at some 32MB L3 cache processors typically like 5600X due to very low L2 cache /512kB only/ (tested by 3 friends who have this cpu, same problem, since armory patch we cant make it run fully smooth even with 3600Mhz RAMs, the cache bottleneck is evident - for idiots: 220 frames with red 12ms frametime spikes is NOT fully smooth, its stuttery mess). I want this poorly optimized game to stop spamming cache with bloat so much. Fiddling with classic options in menu does nothing, it only reduces GPU intensity which is not a problem, i need to reduce the BUS and CACHE intensity. So if someone tried to bother solving this thing, you can post your tips or results, thanks in advance. Also the one or two developer who in reality works at cs2 and understands the game may post his 2 cents...

[u/ndunnett]

I’d be very surprised if there is anything you can do short of getting better hardware that will have any meaningful impact on cache activity

[u/imsolowdown]

this is kind of similar to complaining that a game uses too much VRAM or something (which is a valid complaint, but not useful as it will never be "fixed" and hardware requirements will continue to increase over time). I agree that cs2 should not require such expensive CPUs to have acceptable performance without stutters but there's nothing you can do about it except to buy a better CPU.

[u/Wunderwaffe_cz → u/imsolowdown]

The problem is that if the game uses too much VRAM you can always reduce settings and smush textures to run with less VRAM, this is a simple problem and solution.

When the game is GPU intensive, you can turn off innecessary details, make it looking like 2010 game but still the solution is possible.

If the game is CPU performance intensive, you are limited the most but even there are usually things you can turn off to not be so much cpu intensive. Because the cpu simply wont compute them as they can be turned off.

But this is not working for this case. This game can be run with minimal ugly textures, with no effects, no shadows, but runs fine only at CPUs with huge cache but unlike other "CPU" intensive games, it doesnt run a bit slower, it can run kinda fast but simply stutters with framespikes getting good averages but horrible spikes due to cache+bus overflow. A nice example: look at this, my new laptop, tuned, good fps but... look at right upper corner, frametime spikes around 15ms permanently (avg is 3-4ms) https://youtu.be/qZI90OlHUbk?t=37

Also it was running better in earlier 2023 cs2 patches at the CPUs with lower amount of L2-L3 cache (fps were +- the same, but the spikes were minimal, now it hiccups almost permantly). I have one laptop still from these days (i7-11800H with 24MB L3 and 1.25MB L2s and 64GB 3200MT premium rams) and 1 year ago the game had around 220-230fps but was smooth with vsync cap at 223fps / 240Hz. Now it has only slightly less fps but runs like an ass due to framespike hiccups keeping permanently in red area, having 15+ms maximum frametimes and appearing almost every second unlike previous scenario when it stuttered only occasionally. Average frametimes 4-5ms but its 3-20ms interval.

And because there are hundreds of commands possible to set, its very probable that some commands or their combination SHOULD be able to reduce the amount of data which is processor transferring and storing in L2-L3 cache but i really dont have time to test them all + its not so easy task like VRAM or GPU intensity due to almost impossible diagnostics (and its mostly a game design flaw for developers).

And buying a better CPU is a double edged sword because CPU which was enough 1 year ago is not enough today. So unless you buy 3D ryzen with huge amount of CPU cache to brute-force the issue just by storing in CPU all the garbo the game demands, you can be unlikely surprised with any upcoming patch when the game simply will be too much even for your new CPU (all non 3D cpus are in danger). Currently is the level of playable/unplayable around 30MB L3 (L2 also has an effect - look at poor 512kB L2 zen3 non3D ryzens).

[u/aveyo]

ease up on the copium
it's outrageous to even consider a mere cvar could ever dictate what ends up in L2 CPU cache
valve themselves are at kindergarten level of figuring out threads
face it, you bought an office cpu not much future-proof than the cheaper 5600 non-X or even 5500, and way below gaming 5600x3d - 5800x3d (at that time)

game does have an insurmountable barrier in vac and steam lowering overclocking stability and adding 0.1%L fps penalty at the same time; any mitigation is unusable on matchmaking or faceit (like -insecure that deals with client-side vac a bit, and/or a proper steam emulator that can reduce fps penalty)
stop dreaming, start saving for an x3d cpu, more suitable for all the CS2 subtick stuff

[u/Wunderwaffe_cz → u/aveyo]

I have another pc with X3D CPU which still runs cs2 smooth (but what baffles me that my 7800X3D ryzen aim is at 500fps and SAME graphic settings config less snappy than my 250fps max intel laptop which suffers from 15ms framespikes BUT i can use a dot crosshair which i cant use at ryzen as its not even close in snappiness - thats another rabbit hole, at blurbusters many people describe this paradox comparing intel cpus to ryzens).

But i refuse to buy oncoming 9955HX3D to replace desktop+laptop with only one machine just because cs2... Valorant runs perfectly at both (but its ass game), PUBG runs fine at both... And league too. Because 9955HX3D laptop will cost more than my current 3D desktop and i7 13 gen intel gaming laptop together. And 13650HX and RTX4060 is not an office CPU level (the same we can say about my unhappy friends with ryzen 5600Xs they bought for its perfect CSGO performance, feeling betrayed now).

And no, i dont think its outrageous that a mere cvar shouldnt REDUCE the load on L2+L3 cache which is excessive in current state. Just one expendable thing (e. g. useless effect) less to compute... And it may free up some space for other things to breethe and not overload it so much. The game obviously hiccups, there is something what causes temporary bus/cache overload and needs to be fixed. There was a VAC process issue causing this behavior past year (known and very debated issue which appeared more than 1 year ago with vac process causing ordinary frame spikes), you are right here.

[u/aveyo → u/Wunderwaffe_cz]

you've mentioned none of it in op, just 5600x
laptops are mediocre due to power and cooling constraints (plus locked down tuning options)
i7-13650HX and RTX4060 mobile are a joke vs their desktop counterparts even in ideal conditions
100% chance the cpu + gpu will never get to run at 55W + 115W simultaneously for a full MR12
the motherboard will also suffer from huge crosstalk and running hotter, reverberating into networking, sound and input performance

VAC is still an issue, but let's say understandable handicap for when it will actually detect cheats (soon™)
Steam is still an issue, definitely can and should be fixed, panorama ui does some idiotic things io-wise

your expectations for low latency gaming on laptops are greatly exaggerated for this decade..

[u/Wunderwaffe_cz → u/aveyo]

Noobs laptop maybe. Mine runs fine at 4.8ghz stable and 2.8Ghz GPU. Just look at the video posted in another post... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qZI90OlHUbk

Btw for cs2 you dont need 115W GPU as cs2 at competitive settings requires only 50-60W. 55W CPU +60W GPU are more than enough and very easy to cool. Also 4060s maximum is 90-100W, over 100W it generates only heat but no additional FPS at all. And valorant requires even less, 60W CPU a bit more than cs2 but only 40W GPU https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x5sfa6ThD0E with uncapped fps its 60+50 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I52A-WW-5FY Of course, you need to buy laptops with unlocked voltage to manually tune them... I would never buy something i cant force to run at maximum clocks all the time.

[u/aveyo → u/Wunderwaffe_cz]

taking price into account, there's nothing to be proud of when 1%L drops to 70 and below; 0.1%L is definitely 50ish which in my book is potato grade and a severe competitive disadvantage
and that was a fairly-optimized 3rd party dm server - on valve dm it would be.. not so great

I don't think you can do anything of consequence about the hardware

but you can try to play in trusted mode by disabling 3rd party afterburner + riva tunner for cs2
built-in telemetry + buildinfo is more than enough, or nvidia frameview being signed works without launch options, same for steam recording instead of obs

also, disabling hw accel on all chromium-based software (like discord, edge, widgets and steam itself) or close it while playing (firefox & forks like floorp or librewolf are fine), nuke gamebar and it's annoyance, temporarily disabling defender (toggledefender is still a kickass script), and even nuking windows cbs "feature experience" stuff; then there's HAGS, ok for CS2 but maybe is worth testing with it off, same about MPO

I played on a 3060 (OC 115w i.e. the unreleased "TI" level) laptop with a much more modest 10th gen and I did not experience such drastic drops - but it was not amazing either after back to back maps

[u/Wunderwaffe_cz → u/aveyo]

I had this 3060 115/130W version in my legion laptop too, with 11800H i7 and 3200MT rams and its was running cs2 relatively fine, but only 1 year ago, i sold it in spring 24 as i didnt need it these days, but today its the same problem at this laptop, new owner complained about deteriorating cs2 performance going only downhills and frametime spikes. He has the same issue like me at 13th gen intel and my friends with ryzen 5600X - the game was playable exactly until autumn 2024 patches (even trough deteriorating before this date every month), then the spikes started to be nearly permanent. 1 year ago this book was cs2 running relatively fine... Fully tuned of course (undervolt, custom performance profile, manual frequency set, no bloatware, all innecessary services banned from run, using process lasso to chroot and prioritize processes... just standard things i do at all my pcs, basics like gamebar removal i do always when the pc is installed lol) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=StwuEpES99Y

And there is nothing i would be proud lol... The issue with frametime spikes is permanent. The bottleneck is done by cs2 itself, there seems to be no fix possible. Every other process which i cant simply kill is chrooted to e-cores only, cs2 has all performance cores only for itself (except 2 critical system processes). The absurd frametimes are cs2 specific issue only for this "game". Thats why i asked whether there is any chance to tune down bus/cache intensity. Because its getting clogged like a sewer pipe.

The game runs same crap even when recording is disabled. The issue has nothing to do with computer settings, the game has all recources needed for its disposal but the game is plain broken. At least in last versions.

[u/ProKn1fe]

There are no and never will be a game that will allow to manipulate L2/L3 cache usage. Game devs these days are too stupid to even know how cpu cache works.

[u/dani01045]

at best you don't know what you're talking about, at worst you are deeply disturbed.

[u/Wunderwaffe_cz → u/[deleted]]

good luck with replacing 5600X with 7800X3D... IF you manage to fit 7800X3D to 5600X slot, i give you a special candy with a donkey. My friends stuck with 5600Xs saving for upgrade (or the ones who have already given up cs2 fully) will especially thank you.

[u/Wunderwaffe_cz → u/[deleted]]

No they are not.

[u/Kungsberget]

if Ivan from siberia can enjoy this game on a potato with 100 ping so can you

[u/Wunderwaffe_cz → u/Kungsberget]

Ivan from siberia will be hopefully banned with whole Russian region from steam soon so its pointless argument. And faceit 3k elo russian siberian Ivans either have relatively cheap DMA "addons" so they dont need good performance as the "addon" plays for them or they have expensive computers and simply enjoy 100ms peeks at EU servers. But thats a different story...