In a stunning turn of events, Valve has announced a sequel to one of its games after years of being dormant in the game development scene. Sadly, it’s not Half-Life 3; that’s not due until the End Times. Instead, Valve is poised to release Counter-Strike 2. Needless to say, this is a phenomenon.
It’s only one of the best e-sports titles around and it’s not uncommon to plan out a gaming PC build around its sequel. Now, Counter-Strike 2 has modest unofficial expected system requirements:
- OS: Windows 10 64-bit.
- Processor: Intel Core i5-2500K or AMD FX-6300.
- Memory: 8GB RAM.
- Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 660 or AMD Radeon HD 7850.
- DirectX: Version 11.
- Network: Broadband Internet connection.
- Storage: 50GB available space.
That’s according to estimates from websites like esports.gg. But since the first Counter-Strike isn’t really demanding, you can expect Counter-Strike 2 to follow suit. Still, seeing as it’s an esports title, having a triple-digit framerate (and high refresh rates) will surely be an advantage.
So with all those factors in mind, here’s what you might for gaming laptops need in order to be ready for Counter-Strike 2’s arrival. It’s set to release sometime this year, but a limited test is ongoing right now.
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MSI Pulse GL76
PROS
- Affordable
- 17-inch screen
- 360 Hz refresh rate for e-sports
- RTX 3070 still holds up well today and is a bit overkill for 1080p
- i7 CPU
CONS
- Bland, pastic chassis design
Specs:
- CPU / Processor: Intel Core i7-12700H
- GPU / Graphics Card: Nvidia GeForce RTX 3070
- RAM / Memory: 16GB
- Storage: 1TB NVMe SSD
- Display: 17.3″ FHD 360Hz
It’s hard to tell how much you actually need for Counter-Strike 2, but it’s better safe than sorry, which is why we’re settling for the old e-sports professional combo of 1080p but with a 360 Hz refresh rate. That’s assuming you want to be serious in the game, like you would in Counter-Strike: Global Offensive.
An RTX 3070 should also still be safe considering how Valve has always made Counter-Strike games as accessible to the general public, meaning it shouldn’t be as graphics-intensive compared to some of the most beautiful video games right now. Paired with the powerful Intel CPU, you might just be able to max out that 360 Hz refresh rate while playing Counter-Strike 2.
MSI Pulse GL76
MSI Raider GE77HX
PROS
- 17-inch screen
- 360 Hz refresh rate
- Actually comes with DDR5 RAM
- Reasonably-priced
- 3080 Ti at FHD can last long
- Beautiful RGB
CONS
- Only 16GB of RAM on a high-end machine
Specs:
- CPU / Processor: Intel Core i7-12800HX
- GPU / Graphics Card: Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 Ti
- RAM / Memory: 16GB DDR5
- Storage: 1TB NVMe SSD
- Display: 17.3″ FHD 360Hz
Buying something too well-endowed for a Counter-Strike game (or other e-sports titles) isn’t exactly a good idea. At the same time, you also want to be sure that you’ll be able to max out not just the game but also the high refresh rates needed for that competitive edge.
So here’s an MSI Raider that comes with an RTX 3080 Ti. We’re certain it will handle the game at 360 FPS even during the heat of combat. Of course, it’s also paired with a 12th-Gen i7 CPU for an even more framerate at 1080p.
There are concessions to be expected for such a machine at this price, such as the 16GB of RAM and the FHD resolution, but it’s worth it for a Counter-Strike 2-ready PC.
MSI Raider GE77HX
Gigabyte 17.3" AORUS 17 Gaming Notebook
PROS
- 1440p resolution
- DDR5 RAM
- 13th-Gen i7 CPU
- Stylish trackpad
- 17-inch screen
- 1080p webcam
CONS
- RTX 4070 is only slightly powerful compared to the RTX 3070 Ti
Specs:
- CPU / Processor: Intel Core i7-13700H
- GPU / Graphics Card: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070
- RAM / Memory: 16GB DDR5
- Storage: 1TB NVMe SSD
- Display: 17.3″ 2560 x 1440 at 240 Hz
If you really want a current-gen gaming laptop (which isn’t really necessary for a Counter-Strike game), then the Gigabyte Aorus 17 is the most sensible choice. The budget bracket is manageable and the specs are uncompromising.
The RTX 4070 is slightly better than the RTX 3070 Ti but the CPU is a lot more promising here, which is especially important for a Counter-Strike game. It only runs at a maximum of 240Hz but that should be enough for competitive (but not professional) sessions. Besides, it lets you see and play the game in crisper detail.
Gigabyte 17.3" AORUS 17 Gaming Notebook
MSI Vector GP76
PROS
- 360 Hz refresh rate
- 17-inch screen
- Good cooling system
- Sleek and minimalist chassis
- Reasonably-priced
CONS
Specs:
- CPU / Processor: Intel Core i7-12700H
- GPU / Graphics Card: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060
- RAM / Memory: 16GB
- Storage: 1TB NVMe SSD
- Display: 17.3″ FHD 360Hz
We’re confident that Valve wouldn’t go too ham with the official system requirements of Counter-Strike 2 and that even something like a mid-range RTX 3060 would be able to yield 300+ FPS. So those looking for a cooler and more budget-friendly gaming laptop for Counter-Strike 2 will find this MSI Vector GP76 more than adequate.
After all, the RTX 3060 is still a powerful card. And at 1080p, the GPU won’t be the only one pulling the weight; the CPU is just an important a factor as well and this laptop doesn’t lag behind in that department with an i7.
MSI Vector GP76
Frequently Asked Questions
-
When will Counter-Strike 2 be released?
There's no official date yet, but Valve promised this year. -
Will Counter-Strike 2 also be an e-sport title?
There's a high chance it will be since its predecessor was an e-sports staple.