I suppose you already have your server up and running. If you haven't, go to another tutorial first. My PC's specs: Intel Pentium 4 HT (3 GHz) 2 GB RAM ATi Radeon X600 (< worth the same as 2 bottles of milk) Windows XP media center (you'll notice I've got the windows original layout) Internet: 5607 kb/s download 1466 kb/s upload ISP: Multikabel (dutch) EDIT: I have a new router, now tested again: Internet: 11707 Kb/s download 1466 Kb/s upload ISP: Multikabel (dutch) To test your internet speed, go to http://www.speedtest.net/ My specs are good enough for a 16 player server 100 tick. Haven't tried more players yet. if you want to play on your server while it is running do not set it above 33 tick! That will cause extreme lag spikes (at least with my specs). Ok, you have got your server, forwarded all ports, players can join, you passed the minimum settings by far... and still your server is 33 tick? Lets start: -make a shortcut to srcds.exe, put it wherever you like. (rights mouse click on srcds.exe, something like "make shortcut") -alter the shortcut to your likings. be careful not to edit it's name. That won't work :) I've got exactly this: C:\myserver\srcds.exe -heapsize 1048576 -tickrate 100 -ip 192.168.1.103 -port 27015 -maxplayers 16 +map de_dust2 -game cstrike -console -autoupdate C:\myserver\srcds.exe: obviously the path. -heapsize 1048576 > your pc's RAM 512MB RAM: -heapsize 262144 1GB RAM: -heapsize 524288 2GB RAM: -heapsize 1048576 3GB RAM: -heapsize 1572864 4GB RAM: -heapsize 2097152 -tickrate 100: the tick rate (duh). Don't set it below 33 or above 100. -ip 192.168.1.103: your internal IP. If you don't know it, go to execute, cmd, then type ipconfig, it'll show up on top of the list. -port 27015: server UDP port -maxplayers 16: maximum players. +map de_dust2: The map your server will start on. NOTE: this only works when you use -console. -game cstrike: the game you want to run. Counter-Strike: Source (cstrike) in this case. NOTE: this only works when you use -console -console: if you don't put this in here, it will run GUI based. Using this makes the server faster, but GUI is possibly easier. Take a look at the screenshots. -autoupdate: Lets the server update automatically on start. Done? just click apply, ok, and run the server :) PS: If you see this message: "Couldn't allocate dedicated server UDP port", you've probably messed up at the IP/port