CS2 crashing when playing FACEIT, sometimes also crashing my PC

Understanding and Addressing FPS Crashes During FACEIT Gameplay: A Technical Overview

Introduction

Gaming enthusiasts often encounter perplexing technical issues that disrupt their experience, especially when they seem limited to specific platforms or conditions. One such issue involves persistent game crashes and system instability occurring exclusively during FACEIT gameplay sessions. This article aims to analyze potential causes of these problems and suggest strategic solutions for gamers facing similar challenges.

Case Overview

The user reports frequent hanging and crashes in Counter-Strike 2 (CS2) exclusively when playing on FACEIT, a competitive platform known for its integrated anti-cheat measures. Notably, during prolonged sessions (up to 9-10 hours) on community or Premier servers, the game remains stable, while FACEIT gameplay induces instability, sometimes to the extent of making the entire PC unresponsive. The core hardware setup includes:

CPU: Intel Core i5-11600KF
RAM: 16GB DDR4 3200MHz (Ripjaws V)
Motherboard: Gigabyte Z590 UD AC
Graphics Card: MSI GTX 1070 (Twin series or similar)
Power Supply: 850W Gold-rated Corsair PSU

The user has conducted comprehensive stress testing on CPU, RAM, GPU, and SSD, which yielded no evident hardware faults. Cooling solutions are sufficient, with recent thermal paste replacements on CPU and GPU, and temperatures do not appear to be the culprit. The gameplay itself offers stable frame rates (~200-300 FPS), indicating that performance issues are not the primary concern.

Potential Causes and Diagnostic Considerations

Compatibility with Anti-Cheat Software

FACEIT incorporates robust anti-cheat mechanisms, which can sometimes interfere with system processes or driver operations. Certain kernel-level anti-cheat measures may conflict with hardware or software configurations, leading to crashes or system hangs.

Driver Conflicts or Outdated Drivers

Even with recent updates, incompatible or outdated graphics drivers or system drivers could cause instability. Ensuring all drivers are up-to-date and properly installed is crucial.

Software Conflicts and Background Processes

Unnecessary background applications, overlays (e.g., Discord, NVIDIA GeForce Experience), or malware can interfere with game execution, especially when anti-cheat is active.

Power Supply and Hardware Stability

While the 850W Corsair PSU is robust, fluctuations or faults can cause system instability under specific loads. Testing with another known-good PSU might help isolate this factor.