Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 PC requirements: Minimum & recommended specs

Brad Norton
Modern Warfare 2 gameplay

Modern Warfare 2 is the newest game in the Call of Duty franchise. Before you look into purchasing, be sure to check if your PC has what it takes to run the game with a look at the minimum and recommended system requirements.

Call of Duty is famous for releasing large titles with plenty of weapons, skins, and fast-paced gameplay. However, to cope with all of the additions, many PC players will need to check if their setups meet the recommended or minimum specs in order to enjoy Modern Warfare 2.

Interestingly, after the beta, Activision have lowered the minimum and recommended specs for PC players, allowing those who enjoyed the beta originally to feel comfortable with the game as a whole. Of course, the space needed will be higher so make sure you have enough storage.

Nevertheless, even with the lower specs, you’ll still need a decent rig to get the most out of Modern Warfare 2.

Here’s all there is to know about the minimum and recommended PC specs for Modern Warfare 2.

Modern Warfare 2 2022 cover art
Modern Warfare 2 will be accessible on a wide range of hardware at launch.

Modern Warfare 2 Minimum PC specifications

While each new iteration in the CoD franchise looks to push boundaries and evolve the formula, devs still look to reach the biggest install base possible. As a result, Modern Warfare 2 is still available across hardware from 2013 in the Xbox One and PS4. Therefore, you can expect even fairly dated PCs to still hold up alright.

Although you might not be able to run the game with all settings cranked up, and you might not be able to play at 120FPS or above, you should still be able to enjoy the experience without breaking the bank on a high-end rig.

Below is a full look at the minimum PC specs for Modern Warfare 2, based on the listings just before Modern Warfare 2 comes out.

PartMinimum Specs
OSWindows 10 – 64 Bit (latest update)
CPUIntel Core i3-6100 / Core i5-2500k or AMD Ryzen 3 1200
Video CardNVIDIA GeForce GTX 960 or AMD Radeon RX 470
Video Memory2GB
RAM8GB RAM
Storage Space75GB
Sound CardDirectX Compatible
Graphic DriversNVIDIA: 516.59 or AMD: 22.9.1

For many, CoD is one of those games that needs to be played on the best machine money can buy in order to really get the most out of it. Higher frame rates, better lighting, and improved textures can all lead to a smoother experience in both single-player and multiplayer settings.

While there’s never any limit when it comes to customizing your rig, you do need to ensure you exceed the recommended specs. Clearing this barrier will all but guarantee a solid performance on PC, so anything extra is just a cherry on top.

Below is a full look at the recommended PC specs for Modern Warfare 2.

PartRecommended Specs
OSWindows 10 – 64 Bit (latest update) or Windows 11 – 64 Bit (latest update)
CPUIntel Core i5-6600K / Core i7-4770 or AMD Ryzen 5 1400
Video CardNVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 or AMD Radeon RX 580
Video Memory4GB
RAM12GB RAM
Storage Space75GB
Sound CardDirectX Compatible
Graphic DriversNVIDIA: 516.79 or AMD: 21.9.1

Activision has also provided some alternate suggestions, including a Competitive recommendation for those who want to get the absolute best of both worlds in terms of quality and function.

Modern Warfare 2 PC specs
A full range of options provided by Activision.

So that’s all there is to know about the PC version of Modern Warfare 2. While making sure your PC is up to scratch, be sure to brush up on more details about the game right here. Or take a look at some of our handy Modern Warfare guides:

How to play Modern Warfare 2 in 3rd person & adjust FOV | Best FSS Hurricane loadout | Every Modern Warfare 2 map & mode | Best M4 loadout | Best Lachmann MP5 Sub loadout | Modern Warfare 2 post-credits scene and Campaign ending explained | Will Modern Warfare 2 have Zombies? | How long is Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 campaign

About The Author

Brad Norton is the Australian Managing Editor at Dexerto. He graduated from Swinburne University with a Bachelor’s degree in journalism and has been working full-time in the field for the past six years at the likes of Gamurs Group and now Dexerto. He loves all things single-player gaming (with Uncharted a personal favorite) but has a history on the competitive side having previously run Oceanic esports org Mindfreak. You can contact Brad at brad.norton@dexerto.com