Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 is almost here, and Activision has officially revealed the PC system requirements. Whether you’re preparing for competitive multiplayer or want to experience the campaign with high-end graphics and ray tracing, checking your hardware before jumping into the action is essential.
The good news is that the minimum requirements remain accessible to players with older gaming PCs. However, those looking to reach 90 FPS at high settings or experience enhanced ray tracing at 4K will need considerably more powerful hardware.
Here is everything PC players need to know about the official Modern Warfare 4 system requirements.
Modern Warfare 4 PC System Requirements
Activision has published three hardware tiers: minimum, recommended and high-end ray tracing. Each tier has different expectations for performance and visual quality.
Minimum requirements
These specifications are intended for players who simply want to get the game running.
| Component | Minimum requirement |
|---|---|
| Operating system | Windows 10 64-bit (latest update) |
| Processor | AMD Ryzen 5 1400 / Intel Core i5-6600 |
| Memory | 8 GB RAM |
| Graphics card | AMD Radeon RX 470 / NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970 or GTX 1060 / Intel Arc A580 |
| Video memory | 3 GB |
| Storage | SSD with 115 GB available space |
| DirectX | DirectX 12 compatible |
| Internet | Broadband connection |
An older gaming PC may still be capable of running Modern Warfare 4, provided it meets the requirements. However, meeting the minimum specification does not guarantee a particular frame rate, smooth gameplay at every resolution or high graphics settings.
Recommended requirements — 90 FPS target
For players who want a smoother multiplayer experience, Activision recommends the following hardware for 90 FPS at high graphics settings.
| Component | Recommended requirement |
|---|---|
| Operating system | Windows 11 64-bit (latest update) |
| Processor | AMD Ryzen 5 3600 / Intel Core i7-8700 |
| Memory | 16 GB RAM |
| Graphics card | AMD Radeon RX 6600 XT / NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti / Intel Arc B580 |
| Video memory | 8 GB |
| Storage | SSD with 115 GB available space |
| DirectX | DirectX 12 compatible |
| Internet | Broadband connection |
This is the specification competitive players should pay particular attention to. Higher and more consistent frame rates can make aiming, tracking targets and reacting to opponents feel smoother, although actual performance will depend on your settings, resolution, map and system configuration.
The 90 FPS figure is Activision’s stated target for this hardware tier, not a guarantee that every system will maintain 90 FPS in all situations.
High-end requirements — Ray tracing at 4K
Want the best visual experience Modern Warfare 4 has to offer? Activision’s ultra specification targets high-quality ray tracing at 4K using upscaling.
| Component | Ray tracing requirement |
|---|---|
| Operating system | Windows 11 64-bit (latest update) |
| Processor | AMD Ryzen 7 3700X / Intel Core i7-10700K |
| Memory | 32 GB RAM |
| Graphics card | AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT / NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Ti |
| Video memory | 16 GB |
| Storage | SSD with 115 GB available space |
| DirectX | DirectX 12 compatible |
| Internet | Broadband connection |
This tier is aimed at players who prioritize image quality, detailed lighting and ray-traced effects. It represents a much more demanding setup than the minimum requirements, especially for players using higher resolutions.
Keep in mind that the target is 4K with upscaling, rather than necessarily rendering every frame at native 4K resolution.
115 GB of SSD storage required
All three hardware tiers require an SSD with at least 115 GB of available storage at launch.
If you are planning to install the game alongside other Call of Duty titles, make sure you have additional room for updates and other installed content. Activision warns that mandatory updates may require extra storage beyond the published figure.
Installing the game on an SSD is also important because it is explicitly part of the official specifications.
TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot are mandatory
Hardware performance is not the only thing PC players need to consider.
Activision confirms that TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot are required to play Modern Warfare 4 on PC. Additional security measures may also be enforced.
If your computer meets the CPU and GPU requirements but the game refuses to launch, these security settings are worth checking in your BIOS or UEFI firmware.
Before changing BIOS settings, confirm that your system supports them and that Windows is configured appropriately. If you use disk encryption, make sure you have your recovery key available before making firmware or boot configuration changes.
Intel Arc graphics cards also require Resizable BAR, while supported processors must include the AVX instruction set. Activision currently lists Intel and AMD processors as supported.
Keep your graphics drivers updated
Activision has published the following recommended graphics driver versions:
- AMD: 26.7.1
- NVIDIA: 616.56, with an ASD-compatible driver scheduled to be available before launch
- Intel: 32.0.101.8974
Players experiencing graphical glitches, crashes or unexpected performance issues should check the latest official driver guidance before troubleshooting further. Driver availability and recommendations may change around launch.
What does this mean for competitive players?
For players focused on multiplayer, the recommended specification is the most useful starting point. It gives a clearer indication of the hardware Activision associates with high settings and a 90 FPS target.
Players using high-refresh-rate monitors should remember that a 90 FPS target is not the same as 144, 165 or 240 FPS. Reaching those higher frame rates may require reduced graphics settings, a faster processor or a more powerful graphics card, depending on the system.
For competitive gaming, prioritize consistent frame times, responsive controls and stable performance rather than simply enabling every visual effect.
Ray tracing is more relevant to players who want a visually impressive experience and have the hardware to support it. If maximum competitive performance is your priority, testing different graphics settings after launch will help you find the best balance between image quality and frame rate.
Final verdict
Modern Warfare 4’s official PC requirements provide three clear entry points for players with different hardware. The minimum tier gives older gaming systems a potential route into the game, while the recommended tier targets 90 FPS multiplayer performance at high settings. The ray tracing tier is aimed at enthusiasts with considerably more powerful graphics cards and 32 GB of RAM.
The most important things to check before playing are your graphics card, available SSD storage, Windows version and BIOS security settings. Meeting the minimum requirements is only the first step; your actual experience will depend on optimization, resolution and in-game settings.
Will your PC be ready for Modern Warfare 4? Check your specifications before launch, update your drivers and make sure TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot are configured correctly.
System requirements and driver recommendations are based on Activision’s published specifications and may change after launch.
Official source: Activision — PC System Requirements for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4
