Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (2022) brings the cinematic scope and breakneck multiplayer action the series is known for—this time paired with next-gen visuals, slick animations, and a powerful engine overhaul. But all that graphical punch comes at a cost: performance demands. If you’re reading this to prep your system for great campaign gameplay, competitive PvP, or the chaos of Warzone 2.0, you should need to know the Modern Warfare 2 system requirements to see if your PC is ready to handle the game’s demands.
This article tells all the minimum and recommended specs for CoD: Modern Warfare 2, and discusses what kind of rig you’ll want if you’re aiming for a high refresh rate, big fps numbers, or 4K gaming.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 Minimum System Requirements
Modern Warfare 2 isn’t a lightweight title, but the minimum specs are approachable to play at basic settings. At minimum, you’ll need:
- CPU: Intel Core i5-3570 or AMD Ryzen 5 1600X
- GPU: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 960 or AMD Radeon RX 470 (2–3GB VRAM)
- RAM: 8 GB
- OS: Windows 10 64-bit
- Storage: 25 GB available (initial), DirectX 12 support
- Pixel Shader: 5.0
- Vertex Shader: 5.0
This will run the game at 1080p on Low settings with 30-40 FPS. You won’t be pushing any boundaries but it’s playable for campaign or casual multiplayer. However, you won’t have smooth playthroughs in competitive lobbies where frame pacing and responsiveness matter more than shadows and reflections.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 Recommended System Requirements
For a standard 1080p experience at 60 FPS with most settings on Medium to High, these are the official recommended specs:
- CPU: Intel Core i7-4770K or AMD Ryzen 7 1800X
- GPU: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 or AMD Radeon RX 580 (6GB VRAM)
- RAM: 16 GB
- OS: Windows 10 or 11 (64-bit)
- Storage: 25–32 GB (plus optional Hi-Rez Asset Cache)
- Pixel Shader: 5.1
- Vertex Shader: 5.1
This hardware setup brings a far more fluid gameplay, suitable for regular multiplayer or casual Warzone drops. It’ll also give you some breathing room to push up textures and effects without turning your machine into a jet engine. Notably, this tier is still within reach to play on a mid-range rig built within the last 5–6 years.
Competitive Specifications: For High Refresh Rate Gaming
For competitive, the 60 FPS ceiling won’t cut it. Here’s what Activision recommends for achieving high frame rates (120+ FPS) to take full advantage of a 144Hz or 165Hz monitor:
- CPU: Intel Core i7-8700K or AMD Ryzen 7 1800X
- GPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti or AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT (8GB VRAM)
- RAM: 16 GB
- Hi-Res Cache: Up to 32 GB recommended
- Storage: SSD is highly advised for fast load times
- OS: Windows 10 64-bit or Windows 11 64-bit
With this setup, you will get excellent performance in 1080p and even 1440p, mainly when paired with DLSS or FSR for upscaling. This is the sweet spot for players focused on twitch shooting, ranked playlists, or streamers aiming for a balance between graphics and frame output.
With this setup, you’ll get great performance at 1080p and 1440p mainly with DLSS or FSR upscaling. This is the sweet spot for players who focus on twitch shooting, ranked playlists, or streamers who require a balance between graphics and frame output.
Ultra 4K PC Specifications
For the few, the proud, the pixel-perfect players, these are the Ultra 4K requirements to have every texture, shadow, and particle enabled at ultra fidelity without choking your machine:
- CPU: Intel Core i9-9900K or AMD Ryzen 9 3900X
- GPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 or AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT (10GB+ VRAM)
- RAM: 16 GB minimum (32 GB preferred)
- Hi-Res Asset Cache: Up to 64 GB (optional but useful)
- Storage: SSD is must (NVMe preferred)
- OS: Windows 10 64-bit or Windows 11 64-bit
4K gaming in Modern Warfare 2 is about real-time lighting, particle-rich explosions, and dense environmental detail. If your rig is ready to handle this level of rendering, the game rewards you with some truly cinematic moments, both in campaign and in multiplayer.
