Welcome to CS101: NetGraph. In the past we have covered a variety of subjects. From the most basic of topics in HLTV and Demos. To the slightly more advanced Mouse 101. Today, however, we will be looking at a little more misunderstood subject; net_graph.

Authors Note: This article is basically just a backup to Jon Mellin's GotFrag article, but I'll be telling you how to get a correct ex_interp and cl_updaterate without knowing the servers maxrates and correcting the cl_cmdrate command.

What is net_graph?
Net_Graph is a feature built into the Half-Life Client (Half-Life being the hierarchy of Counter-Strike). It is a rather unique tool provided to help one understand and optimize their in-game performance. By opening your console and entering "net_graph 1, 2 or 3", you can turn on and customize your net_graph settings.

By Steampowered's own admission, it is also a wonderful tool to help diagnose connection problems and distinguish if they are Network related, Client related or Server related.

Why is net_graph important?

Net graph can be used to determine important fallacies in your current network settings. As well, net_graph is also an important tool used by many leagues to determine whether or not a screenshot was taken during a live match or during a demo recording of the events.