As one of the biggest releases of last year, Call of Duty : Modern Warfare II (MW2) has became an instant hit with a lot of competitive gamers. And whilst the success of Activision’s latest entry may have been slightly overshadowed by the release of Warzone 2.0 a few weeks later, the reboot gained a generally positive reception from both critics and fans.
If you have recently picked up the game, or have been playing it religiously since release, then a new gaming PC is the best way to gain a competitive advantage. And though we love building our own gaming PCs, a prebuilt is a great option for those wanting a hassle-free solution that is ready to go out of the box.
In this article, we will be going through the best prebuilt gaming PCs for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II, along with a few tips on what to look out for in your system.
COD MW2 PC Requirements
Below, you can find the PC requirements that developers Activision suggest for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II. As a general rule of thumb, we would always suggest picking up a system that is above the recommended specs, as this will leave room for future updates to ensure that gameplay remains smooth and stable for years to come.
Minimum Specs | Recommended Specs | |
---|---|---|
Operating System | Windows 10 64 Bit (latest update) | Windows 10 64 Bit (latest update) Windows 11 64 Bit (latest update) |
CPU | Intel: Core i3-6100/Core i5-2500K AMD: Ryzen 3 1200 | Intel: Core i5-6600K/Core i7-4770 AMD: Ryzen 5 1400 |
GPU | NVIDIA: GeForce GTX 960 AMD: Radeon RX 470 | NVIDIA: GeForce GTX 1060 AMD: Radeon RX 580 |
VRAM | 2GB | 4GB |
RAM | 8GB | 12GB |
Storage | 75GB | 75GB |
Graphics Drivers | NVIDIA: Version 516.59 AMD: Version 22.9.1 (We would always recommend updating to the latest GPU drivers, even if these are not strictly required) | NVIDIA: Version V516.79 AMD: Version 21.9.1 (We would always recommend updating to the latest GPU drivers, even if these are not strictly required) |
Key Features For COD MW2
Before running into the prebuilt loadout that will be perfect for your gaming needs, let’s go over the some of the key features to consider when browsing through gaming PCs for MWII.
Visual Fidelity
With the campaign being one of the main reasons to buy a mainline Call of Duty game over other competitive shooters, having strong visuals is more important than usual. If you are planning on blasting your way through the campaign, it is worth picking up a system that is capable of running at 1440p or 4K. Most suppliers will state what resolutions each PC can run at, but we suggest picking up at least a RTX 3060Ti or RX 6750 XT for 1440p, and an RTX 3080 or RX 6800 XT for 4K.
Frame Rate
GPU | Settings | Score on COD MW2 |
---|---|---|
6650 XT | 1080p High | 191 FPS |
RTX 3060Ti | 1080p High | 164 FPS |
6750 XT | 1440p High | 172 FPS |
RTX 3080Ti | 1440p High | 177 FPS |
7900 XTX | 4K High | 179 FPS |
RTX 4080 | 4K High | 131 FPS |
One of the main advantages to playing on a gaming PC is the increased frame rate potential. No matter what game settings you are running, the current generation of consoles are restricted to 120 frames per second. This will be enough for most gamers, but anyone looking to improve their performance needs to get their hands on the best frame rates possible. The best way to achieve high frame rates is to grab a more powerful GPU like a RTX 4000 series or Radeon RX 7000 series, and lower the resolution to 1080p or 1440p.
Loading & Response Times
Another key aspect for competitive gaming is loading and response times. Having a fast and fluid system will make entering the battlefield a lot easier, whilst also providing improvements to game performance. When looking at loading times for a prebuilt gaming gaming PC, the main feature to look out for is the clock speed and capacity of the RAM and included storage, along with the processing power of the CPU.
Budget
Last but not least, we have to consider the budget. There is no denying that the price of gaming PCs can add up pretty quickly. On top of this, prebuilds tend to come at a premium in order to cover the costs of assembly. Therefore, if you aren’t willing to spend at least $1000 on a new gaming PC, you may want to look at some alternative upgrade route.
Our Recommendations
Now that we’ve discussed the key factors to look for in a prebuilt gaming PC, you are now ready for your mission- should you choose to accept it. We’ve picked out a range of ready-made systems from a number of manufacturers, with each option catering for a specific type of gamer. All you have to do is pick an option that suits your gaming needs and enjoy!
1. Skytech Chronos (Best Budget Option)
CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 5600X
PC/HH Says: Despite being an old-gen CPU, the 5600X offers a great balance of price to performance.
Memory: 16GB
PC/HH Says: 16GB of RAM is an excellent starting point and is the minimum we’d recommend in 2023.
GPU: RTX 3060
PC/HH Verdict: An old, but solid graphics card for 1080p gaming, especially if you play Esports titles.
Starting things off with the best budget option on the list, the Skytech Gaming Chronos. This gaming PC isn’t the cheapest prebuilt system on the market, but it’s not too far off and can still be considered an entry-level system. Also, according to our research, it has the necessary specs to compete with consoles
Packed with a Ryzen 5 processor and RTX 3000 series graphics card, the components in this build have more than enough firepower to support MW2 and many other titles. In addition, this system should also have no trouble supporting the next few instalments into the Call of Duty franchise.
The Skytech website claims that this system can run Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II at 95fps on 1080p settings, but our testing suggests some minor tweaking could bump this figure up to at least 100fps.
Pros | Cons |
---|---|
✔️Plenty of space for upgrades. | ❌Better GPU options than a 3060. |
✔️Looks awesome. | ❌ Won’t be able to handle 1440p gaming. |
✔️Low price point. | ❌ Only 16GB RAM. |
2. NZXT Player One Prime (Best 1440p Option)
CPU: Intel Core i5 12400F
PC/HH Says: Offering a slight boost over the 5700X, this CPU is ideal for 1440p gaming.
Memory: 16GB
PC/HH Says: 16GB of RAM is a good starting point for the vast majority of gaming PCs.
GPU: RTX 3070
PC/HH Verdict: A solid NVIDIA card designed to handle high intensity 1440p and some 4K games.
1440p gaming is the perfect blend of performance and visual fidelity, and the systems that are suitable for this resolution tend to adopt the all-rounder approach. A great example of this is NZXT’s Player One Prime, which can take on a multitude of gaming and productivity tasks.
Equipped with an RTX 3070 and an Intel Core i5 12400F, this gaming PC will breeze past the maximum frame rates for consoles, whilst offering great loading times and crisp visuals. And as the name suggests, this PC has more than enough speed and power to tackle video edits and live streams.
The NZXT Player One Prime is the perfect sweet-spot for both gaming and productivity, and is arguably one of the best deals on the market right now in terms of value for money.
Pros | Cons |
---|---|
✔️Can handle 1440p and 4K. | ❌Quite expensive. |
✔️Excellent minimalist aesthetic. | ❌ H5 Flow can restrict airflow. |
✔️Plenty of storage. | ❌ Could do with more RAM. |
3. Best 4K Option – Skytech Chronos 2
CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 7700X
PC/HH Says: A modern Ryzen 7 option with plenty of space to upgrade in the future.
Memory: 32GB DDR5
PC/HH Says: 32GB of DDR5 RAM is ideal for a top-end system, and will provide a decent performance boost.
GPU: RX 7900 XTX
PC/HH Verdict: One of the most powerful AMD cards on the market, perfect for 4K gaming.
Another Skytech prebuilt enters the list thanks to the Chronos 2. Due to its recent release, there is a lack of prebuilds on the market that include AMD’s flagship GPU. As a result, the Skytech Chronos 2 was an easy pick here.
Despite the lack of options, the Chronos 2 would still be amongst the top performers due to the RX 7900 XTX providing the best frame rates for 4K playthroughs of MW2’s campaign. Paired with a Ryzen 7 CPU and 32GB or memory, this system will have you flying through online lobbies, giving you more time in the midst of the action.
If you’re looking for the ultimate Call of Duty experience that mixes high frame rates with stunning visuals, then you can’t go wrong with this prebuild.
Pros | Cons |
---|---|
✔️Can handle 4K with no issues. | ❌Very expensive. |
✔️Perfect for Ray-Traced gaming. | ❌ RAM speed could be better. |
✔️Can handle high intensity workloads. | ❌ Expected better cooling for the Ryzen 7. |
4. iBuyPower Gaming RDY ECL Pro II (Best For Competitive Gamers)
CPU: Intel Core i7 13700KF
PC/HH Says: A modern Intel CPU option, perfect for gaming and multifaceted systems.
Memory: 16GB DDR4
PC/HH Says: An entry level amount of RAM ideal for gaming systems, or low intensity workloads.
GPU: RTX 3070
PC/HH Verdict: A very decent graphics card designed to handle 1440p gaming with no issues!
For all the competitive gamers out there that are only worried about getting the best performance possible, then the iBuyPower Gaming RDY SLHBG221 is a stellar choice. In contrast to the confusing name, this system is ideal for those gamers who like a straightforward system that focuses on providing the best gaming performance possible.
Whilst the included Core i7 processor and RTX 3070 graphics cards are more than capable of running titles at 1440p, as well as plenty of productivity tasks, they are a great combination that provides more than enough frames for a competitive advantage at 1080p. Throw in 16GBs of RAM and 1TB of M.2 storage, and you have all the tools required to start picking up killstreaks for fun!
If you decide to pick up this prebuild, you will also receive a complimentary mouse and keyboard, which is a nice touch from iBuyPower.
Pros | Cons |
---|---|
✔️3070 is perfect for 1440p. | ❌Quite expensive. |
✔️RGB looks great. | ❌ RAM could be better. |
✔️Solid storage options. | ❌ DDR5 would be ideal. |
5. Corsair Vengeance a7200 (Best Design)
CPU: AMD Ryzen 9 5900X
PC/HH Says: A top-end AM4 option designed to handle high intensity workloads and gaming.
Memory: 32GB DDR4
PC/HH Says: A solid amount of RAM geared towards those that need some extra performance.
GPU: Radeon RX 6800 XT
PC/HH Verdict: A very decent graphics card designed to handle 1440p gaming with no issues!
To round off our list, we have a prebuilt gaming PC offering a premium aesthetic that matches the price tag. As expected, the Vengeance a7200 is packed with Corsair components, which have built a reputation for being reliable and high-quality. In addition, the compatibility with Corsair’s iCUE software ensures the RGB will shine bright whilst blending in with the rest of your setup.
But this all-AMD system is not all about looks, as the RX 6800 XT and Ryzen 9 5900X combination will be able to run the latest Call of Duty title at 1080p and 1440p with ease. Also, the 32GB RAM kit will help to reduce load times and keep gameplay nice and smooth.
If these specs aren’t to your liking, then Corsair have plenty of other Vengeance prebuilt systems which share an almost identical design to the a7200, so you can pick a build that is more suited to your gaming needs.
Pros | Cons |
---|---|
✔️Can handle 1440p with no issues. | ❌Not cheap. |
✔️Perfect for workstation applications. | ❌GPU can’t handle 4K as well. |
✔️A solid amount of RAM. | ❌No upgrade paths. |