The system requirements for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 (MW3) are as follows:
The release date for MW3 is approaching, and it has the potential to be one of the top shooters on PC. However, there are some confusing system requirements that complicate the situation just before the beta release.
The minimum specifications for MW3 present a conflicting picture. Although these are the requirements for the beta version, they are not expected to change significantly by the time of the MW3 release date.
To meet the minimum system requirements for MW3, you will need either an Intel Core i5 6600 or an AMD Ryzen 5 1600 processor, paired with an Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650 or an AMD Radeon RX 480 graphics card. These specifications are considered low-end and can be easily met by most modern computer builds. However, what stands out as unusual is the 12GB RAM requirement. Typically, for minimum specifications, we would expect a maximum requirement of 8GB of RAM.
| Minimum Specs | Recommended Specs | |
| OS | Windows 10 64-bit | Windows 10 64-bit |
| CPU | Intel Core i5 6600 | Intel Core i5 6600 |
| GPU | Nvidia GeForce 970 or 1650 | Nvidia GeForce GTX 1070 |
| RAM | 12GB | 16GB |
| Storage | 65GB SSD + 25GB for HQ Textures | 65GB SSD + 25GB for HQ Textures |
The recommended specifications for MW3 are, unfortunately, quite confusing. While you can keep the same CPU as the minimum requirements, you will realistically need to upgrade your graphics significantly. This creates a misleading impression that there isn't much difference between running the game at minimum settings and what the developer recommends.
Activision has made a peculiar decision by including the Nvidia GeForce GTX 1070 as an option in the recommended specifications when they could have realistically replaced it with the Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050 or AMD Radeon RX Vega. Additionally, the RAM requirement has been increased to 16GB, which is a reasonable expectation.
There are currently no ultra specifications available for MW3, but it is possible that they will be released just before the PC beta or before the full game's release date. This is where we anticipate the most significant increase in required components, particularly as players would desire the ideal combination of high performance and visual quality.
Regarding storage, the initial download size of MW3 is relatively large, and it is expected to increase over time. You will need 65GB of free space on an SSD, and an additional 25GB if you choose to download the optional high-quality texture packs. For high-spec rigs aiming to optimize the game's performance, using one of the best gaming SSDs is highly recommended to achieve the best possible experience.
If you want to learn more about MW3 as it enters the beta phase, you can refer to a guide that covers all the MW3 maps. Additionally, if you're curious about what to expect after the game's release, our MW3 Season 1 guide provides comprehensive information that will fulfill your needs.
To answer the question "Can I run MW3?", you can take the MW3 system requirements test on PCGameBenchmark. It will assess your system and provide you with the answer you seek.
