Just to put another option out there: You could take an ultrawide monitor (21:9 or 32:9) and stretch a normal 16:9 resolution to it. So you don't lose any information on the sides compared to 4:3 and you still have the effect that everything is bigger. :)

I've been playing CS:GO at 1920x1080 for 7 years now, tried 4:3 resolutions once in a while and I've only felt disadvantages. At the end it comes down to personal preferences.

16:9 is me before the pandemic 4:3 stretched is me after the pandemic

I've been playing CS for over 17 years, 4:3 native back in CSS then switched to 16:9 native for csgo, but I never tried stretched. I decided to try it for past few months and my aim improved considerably, but my spray control suffered and movement felt too fast so I switched back to 16:9 native recently. Still can't decide which is better.

without having watched the video: let me guess - it's personal preference

I cant tell how happy I am! You solved my problem with screen turning black whenever I go near smokes! And it made my game look better! SO much love for you! you are the best!!!

My personal take is that 4:3 stretched 1. makes it easier to see models and 2. allows you to focus on the center of your screen. Seeing models is important because being able to quickly identify and see models is an important aspect of aim. Allowing you to focus on the center of your screen will definitely help aim, such as with awping. You can quick scope a lot easier when your resolution is closer to a square

I tried this out for a few hours, and from what I can tell, it's mostly down to preference. If you have any gaming GPU released in the past 5 years, you can run CS:GO at 2560x1080 at anywhere from 70 to 300 FPS on highest settings. Performance isn't really an issue. Another reason people like to play at a narrower aspect ratio is because it improves their aim when stretched, however this is entirely subjective and is down to personal preference. It does help with visibility, but CS:GO is already designed to make players easy to spot, and a good eye will be able to do just fine on native resolution. I play best at 21:9 (my monitor's native ratio), where the game does not have a stretched appearance. Other players like playing 4:3 stretched up to 16:9. Your aim on the horizontal axis will feel different depending on how stretched the image is because your crosshair on-screen is moving more in the real world, even though your aim is technically the same regardless of resolution. This was what killed stretched resolutions for me, it's something you have to be used to, and I did not like it personally. The only thing I liked about it was that the wider viewmodels were nicer to look at. However, I did try it in a _different_ game (Unreal Tournament 4) and it actually improved my aim significantly there. Previously, I was playing UT4 with black bars on the sides at a resolution of 1920x1080, the reason being that UT4 uses horizontal FOV instead of Vertical FOV like what CS:GO uses, so wider displays have smaller FOV. When switching to 16:9 stretched, the fatter targets allowed my eyes to lock on quicker and gave me better flick shot accuracy. In conclusion, whether or not your gameplay improves at a stretched aspect ratio really depends on a case-by-case basis.

I stumbled on 1280x960 by chance and it felt just right in all ways. So easy to get comfortable i instantly got used to it. Like it felt objectively better.

I used to play 4:3 stretched when I was MG2. Now I play 16:9, deranked to silver 3.

I think people focus to much on there settings, and try change them after a bad game. I have done this myself and after testing on native, 4:3 bb and 4:3 str. I can’t say that I play better or worse on either of them. I don’t really think the Navi players settings are the deciding factor on why they’re so good right now either ;-)

Use what ever res you want, im used to seeing the game in stretched res so it dosent matter. Just keep up the good content

don't forget that at 4:3 the players will move faster and that s a disadvantage and you can try chronometer for that

Love seeing ECL being promoted, (Jeff must be happy... if i got that right). 4:3 this is a fasinating overview, thank you Maxim

Another stretched disadvantage is that diagonal flicks will be harder, less natural.. Since the angle you flick the mouse will not be the same as what you see ingame. However it gives you more control on that flat left-right movement. So it's down to preference. I would really like to see a FOV slider in csgo. Native res with lower fov could be the best of both worlds.

in a game where people hold corners I see wider models far more important than harder to hit moving targets. Side note: one res I've enjoyed is downscaled 4:3 stretched (similar to what you said at the end but if it were 1080p my res would be 1920:1440 so that there are more than enough pixels/inch to match the monitors native res.)

Switched to 4:3 stretched from 16:10 a few days back... started getting 100+ fps. Used to play on 60 fps earlier Big win for my notebook😛

i would enjoy your videos even more on 4:3 because that gives me old school vibes :)

I try every type of resolution, in many fps games, from battlefield, to COD to csgo etc, and to be honest, i think starting a game when you are new is better with 16:9, because you have a better FOV, meaning you can see more and by that your learning curve is more quicker. But when you play a certain amount of time, and when you get used to the game mechanics and and that you start having a good knowledge , lowering and stretch your resolution for the focus is not bad at all. Just something you don't cover in your video is the impact on the vertical sensitivity of going from a stretch resolution to a "normal" and vice versa. If the distance is the same, our brain loves to "confirm" what it sees, and without an aim with solid foundations, for young players, it can lead to a great disaster ^^. See ya, and great vid :)

Hey maximo! it doesn't matter what res you record your videos in, we'll love it eitherways!❤️❤️

I play stretched and I can tell you one reason not mentioned in this video: any openings, i.e. doors and such seem wider, meaning fighting in tight angles is alot easier and making small adjustments inside said opening is also easier. Also the speed difference takes like maybe a day to get used to.

4:3 stretched with 1280*960 is for me , gives more fps , player models are thicc and also flicks feel insanely fast.

I've used 1440x1080 stretched ever since I bought my PC three-ish years ago and I really like using it. I do have mates who use native res, but the ones that are actually good at CS tend to play stretched.

2:30 It's more of GPU dependant. Back when I was playing with integrated Intel HD Graphics, 800x600 got me 2.5x more fps than 1920x1080. The worse your GPU, the better your performance from lowering your resolution.

i actually tried 1440x1080 and love it, i get the exact "feeling" as when i'm using 1280x960 but with a far better image quality !! i never tried it until i found this video so thanks brother

I don't really mind seeing in 4:3, in fact I prefer it. I got used to 4:3 so much that watching 16:9 feels abit weird for me. Plus most pros are already streaming in 4:3 anyway so it's not that weird for a 4:3 footage to be on KZfaq

I began on 1080p for a while. I felt it was great for stationary shot (like defensive a site). I tried 4:3 stretched and I felt better on strafing, flicking, running, etc. I don't know man. Just use what feels better for you

I've tried all and always switched back to native. But now I'm playing 16:10 1728x1080 stretched, i feel like it's the best of both worlds. The game has good quality res, it makes it just a little wider but you don't lose much fov compared to 4:3, and also doesn't feel too fast left-right like 4:3 does.

I was a die hard 16:9 ropz believer, tried 16:10 for a week, and now 4:3 and can't go back to 16:9 ever again. And the extra 100fps also helps a lot

Played 800x600 Black Bars back in 1.6, when CSGO came out in 2012 I stayed on black bars but changed to 1024x768 and then maybe 2014/15 I switched to 4:3 1024x768 Stretched and been playing on that since.

Good video. I'm using 1280x1024 stretched 4:3 and is definitive my best setting for vision good contrast enemy model and crosshair on every distance without bad look of piksels on long distance. I'm using full HD monitor.

I find watching someone play cs on 4:3 stretched way more enjoyable. The games just looks/feels smoother. I personally also play stretched because of this reason

Maximou, can you do a video about whats the more "balanced" settings options? or what options affects more the FPS?

Cool timing ! I just shifted to 4:3 to 16:10 LCD Was thinking of res thanks

Thanks for the shoutout MrMaxim 😊😊😊😊😊😊 4:14

I’ve tried literally all the resolutions and 16:9 is just the cleanest to me. 4:3 is just too fast side to side and feels awkward man. 16:10 is good but I noticed I would over flick too often.

The Navi players are predominantly long time players and I assume most have used 4:3 for most of their pro career due to performance reasons and peer pressure. It’s really just down to what ur used to

i might try 4:3 with black bars because I don't like stretched and want some extra fps

I have been playing 4:3 res and it's really helpful

If you prefer wider models but hate how pixelated the game looks, i suggest trying a resolution that is 4:3 but with your width at max. Normally people suggest 1440x1080 but this limits by height. Playing 1920x1440 gives you a 4:3 that is crystal clear with performance as the only drawback if you dont have a great pc. Been playing 1920x1440 for a while now and holy mo its clean

I used 4:3 for years but decided to try 16:9 and my game improved immediately and a lot. I've been using it for 1 year and a half and I've never played it so well. It's personal preference, some people will prefer it too. There is no better res

Love watching and playing 4:3,viewmodels look much better on 4:3

Just preferences … I feel like for most players 4:3 makes the game smoother. Also u forgot that not all of NaVi are using 1280x960. The headshot machine b1t uses 1440x1080 :)

This could be useful to people who are just worse at spotting stuff. Most people should be fine with a 16:9 and will have no actual benefit from a 4:3 stretched. At best it will be a placebo, but when you actually try to test if you spot models more easily you quickly realize that there is no difference at all. The only universal benefit is going to be performance. The other important thing is the black bars. As you said, it helps you focus. This would be helpful for people that have simply developed poorly, which is more common in more recent generations. If you typically find it hard to focus on anything and your eyes wander to anything (lack of peripheral vision use) then 4:3 black bars should actually be a great help.

I believe that the resolution should only matter to viewers if its a tutorial video. For example: NadeKing uses 1920x1080 in all of his videos. The quality is better, it's easier to understand some of the lineups for example.

Thanks for sharing your creativity with us 👍👀🙆

as someone who plays 5:4 stretch, it really doesn't matter what your res is, i recently switch to 16:9 cause its easier to create content with, csgo is a buggy game so sometimes 4:3 5:4 16:10 can mess with the display capture.

I was just looking at the video you made on 27 Jun 2017 about resolutions.

I've played since I made the transition from 1.6 I recently tried 16:9 for a few days but it was too difficult, I tried 16:10 and it seems like the perfect middle ground. The only reason I stopped using 4:3 is the fast left and right movement, I'm starting to struggle with the ferrari peeks

dont forget about the possible additional input lag if you set up any non-native resolution for your display...

I personally use a 16:10 aspect ratio for competitive shooters at a custom res of 1152x720. It combines a good FOV, good graphics/clarity, and some stretching to make for a good experience.

I noticed your fps is capped to 240, I'm guessing you are using GSync. If that is the case, can you make a video on it and how affects CSGO gameplay?

I’ve been using 1280x960 for so long it seems like it’s one of the most popular resolutions and for good reason

I'd like to introduce another weird ratio for all of you: 3:2 stretched. Played with 1620x1080 for a week and it actually feels great, slightly slower than 4:3 but better visibility than 16:10. I stopped using it tho cuz i want to use a common res in internet cafe or 5v5 onlan arena with my friends without specific setups, its more convenient that way.

There is no problem with showing a lower resolution, its more about consistency

I use 1920x1080 stretched on a 3440x1440 34 inch ultrawide. Thanks for the tip about the black bars. I will try it out as looking at the radar and back to the center of the screen is really a lot of eye movement. Did anyone tried 4:3 stretched on ultrawide?

For me it’s 16:9 if you have good skins and if not then 5:4 since it’s the most stretched that still lets you see

I think 4:3 on native vertical of your monitor is the best 1440 x 1080p streched or black bars whatever you prefer and use MSAA x8 to the sharpest lock

Fnatic (the dominant one in 2015) were all on 1024x768 blackbars, except flusha stretching the same res. Resolution doesn't matter, its all preferance.

I started out at 16:9. Then tried the other two. I honestly never really liked 4:3 and also HATE the fact, that many players blindly play that res because "some pros do". Doesn't make any sense to blindly copy, and if you copy at least go with 1440x1080p. I'm literally going insane with MM randoms that copy some 800x600 resolution and then don't spot any enemies because it's a blurry mess. I personally enjoy 16:10. It feels right as I honestly think that csgo in default 16:9 feels really "stretched" horizontally anyway. I currently rock 2560x1600 and couldn't be happier (except for the fact that I can only use 144hz instead of my usual 165hz)

I first tired 4:3 in cs 1.6 since I had a 4:3 monitor:)) I know funny ! And then I played cs go since it came out and tried everything and eventually got stuck with 4:3 stretched . What I mean is that I loved it man , I dunno It’s just feels so smooth and when u aim , especially with a lower sensitivity.

i don't notice nor mind different resolutions too much when watching videos. playing, however, i definitely notice and personally don't like 4:3. i'm used to flicking at targets in my peripherals, so stretching the game makes me constantly overshoot, thinking i need to move my mouse further than i really need to. i could see how black bars could help people focus, but for me i feel claustrophobic and like i can't see anything

I used to play on 16:9 and my eyes were hard to focus on target, after a year i changed to 4:3 and now im stuck with it.

1:1 and 1:2 underrated though I got more fps on 1:1 than 4:3 on all of the pc I tested from low spec to high spec Its only between 10 and 20 fps more ,I get it its not rly that significant but Im a fps Hunter))

I use native resolution, make game looks good, and doesn't feel weird when switching applications

As a support player / lurker for my teammates, I use 16:9 for the extra FOV. It also doesn't really affect my FPS. I mean I can't really see the difference between 300 FPS and 400 FPS. And maybe that's because I'm just a noob right

as people know 4:3 you lose fov for the stretched effect but an alternative ive found and used to get somewhat of a stretched effect is using 16:10 (not 16:9) (example is) when i play regular maps ill use 4:3 (Dust 2, mirage, inferno, nuke). but on big maps (insurgency, insurgency 2, all battle royale maps*) i use 16:10 for a bit more fov. I do not usually play Native 1080p as for a long time ive had a pc that couldn't play at 1080p 100+FPS, now when i do try to play a 1080p i feel crosseyed. Recommended resolutions to try Other than (4:3) 1280x960. (SOME OF THESE RESOLUTIONS YOU CAN GET REALLY GOOD IN GAME FPS) (4:3) 600X800 1024x768 12801024 1440x1050 1440x1080 and higher if you have a higher monitor resolution. (16:10) 1440x900 1080x1080 SUPER STRETCHED BOIIII* 1660x1050 1660x1080 and higher if you have a higher monitor resolution. (16:9) 1600X900 1920X1080 NATIVE* and higher if you have a higher monitor resolution.

i switch between stretched and native resolutions depending on the map, usually stretched res at wingman maps and native on bigger maps

I would like to see someone using 21:9 streched on 32:9 monitor. I think it would the best combo.

it's funny that i actually found out just now that i was playing with the same settings as NAVI is. LOL

So, ok let me try to explain that one, the res works in the way that if you devide X:Y and the result get a proximity to 1, more streched the Character and less side vision you gonna have, let's get 6 examples, 16:9, 16:10, 3:2, 4:3, 5:4 and 1:1, if you get the X and divide by Y, more close to 1 the result is, more streched and less field of vision you have, 2 examples, 16/9=1.78, 4/3=1.34, did you what i mean?

msaa x8 tanks performance. The thing is that cs go is mostly cpu bound and its harder to max out GPU on low setting and with low res. My fps doesn't change with msaa x8 but my gpu usage is higher and my gpu draws more wats and there is more heat coming out of my pc.

I used to click heads when I was maining RVU few months back and if Im not mistaken, I was a rocking a 5:3 1200x960 until recently I changed my reso and my mouse. Now it is hard for me to click heads. Currently maining Gwolves hati m with 4:3 1280x960 I guess peripherals also play the roles ? GPX Superlight it is if you want to be at s1mple's level. wink2

Tha black bars are like restricting the sight of horses in a horse run, so they can focus more at the goal.

dont a lot of pros use 4:3 because they come from 1.6 and source so they are used to 4:3 resolutions cuz that was standard at the time

For me it’s 16:9 if you have good skins and if not then 5:4 since it’s the most stretched tbag still lets you see

Since start I played 4:3 800x600 or 1024 res but that was cuz I had bad PC. When I got new PC I tried 1920x1080, but I didnt feel like it was best so I came back to 4:3 black bars just feels better.

Feels like this video ended too early and suddenly.

I play on a 32" inch screen to have the wide field of view and better visibility. I used to play 4:3 in css but in cs go I run 1440p for better clarity.

Hilarious that this is a revelation. Always played at boxier fields of vision in 1.6 to give bigger hitboxes

I want to change to 4:3 cause it feels better aiming, might be for the slight fps boost or something outside-ish. But my problem is, being playing with 16:9 for 3+ years it feels like im playing with 30 FOV and it hurts my brain

Ive been playing CS since 2000. One and the most important reason why i choose 1280x960 is old habits...

I've always thought 4:3 stretched to be ridiculous, if bigger models make easier targets just get closer to the screen lol

6:08 blessed your day for having cooperative enemies

I always prefer to watch streamers or youtubers with 4:3 and tbh if its native res I just dont watch! So I think everyone would love if u sticked with the 4:3 and make ur vids with the same res

i start on black bars, never change, maybe sometimes to native but alwyas play on black bars,i switch recently from 1024x768 black bars to 1280x960 black bars. And trust me, i have much faceit elo as bananagaming and better avg kills.

when i had a bad pc i had to use 4:3 then when i got a better one i tried 16:9 for a month and ended up going back to 4:3 because it feels like movement is easier when it isnt

in General it's up to the Player, Everyone has his Own Taste, so none of us is Offended neither differentiated My Personal Preference is 16:9, Native and Simple !

i have potato laptop, i couldnt even run 60 fps consistently in 1280x720 (16:9) (all low). i had been watching so much videos of how to get my laptop run in 60 fps or more before i tried 4:3 (stretched). now my pc runs very smooth at an average of 85 fps in every maps i play. fyi i am playing in 1024x768 (all low)

4:3 cs videos have always been more pleasurable to watch than 16:9 videos (for me)

For cs 1.6 I play 800x600, it's so good to see enemies

1440x1080 stretched. I have a 21' monitor and it is a lot better to spot ennemies. I feel it is also better to aim (even if mouse travel distance is still the same), and easier for making jumps (like bench to window in mirage).

Hey, in case you read this, on the website for the minimum FACEIT games for ECL it says: LEGENDS: 700 games Division 1: 400 games Division 2: 250 games Division 3: 100 games does that mean Division 3 is the lowest and I will need 100 games to join? Because I played Valve matchmaking, and only 31 Matches (my friend 22) on FACEIT so far. I have troubles with FACEIT removing my subscription and without FACEIT premium I often got a toxic teammate, so in order to join ECL with my friend I have to play 69 (nice) more FACEIT games?

I was stuck at gn 4 and started to play 4:3 stretched and got to mg 2 super fast becuse it was more easy to hit heads

Hi Mrmaxim, I just realized when using 4:3 1280x960 I'm using a 4k monitor, when most pro players are using a 1080 monitor, so i was wondering does it matter what native resolution your monitor runs or no?

Whatever resolution you feel comfortable with. That will always be the final answer

4:3 stretched is always the most classic and most comfortable atleast with many old cs players and fps players

Streched makes your game looks faster, including your sens, because it's more pixels in the same distance. In theory it don't change your sens, cause the sens and the pixels incresed, but I feel it

4:3 is just trying to get the most out of the game. Larger models, more focused FOV is going to give you an advantage, however small it is. Competitive players for anything always look for what can push them to be just that little bit better than their opponent.

4:3 stretched feels way better. When I try 16:9 it so sluggish and slow but 4:3 feels like I’m flying. Plus easier to pray and get HS imo