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Those looking to boost their PC’s performance in MW2 and MW3 are in the right place. Factoring in things like bottlenecks and budgets, we’re discussing the best GPU for MW2.
Before launching in, let’s all get on the same page with MW2 and Modern Warfare 3’s system requirements. These recommend at least a GTX 960 or RX 470 for MW2 and a GTX 970 or RX 480 for MW3. Naturally, our offerings here go a little higher in the interests of futureproofing your setup. Keeping in mind what CPU you have to avoid bottlenecks, let’s take a closer look at the top picks.
Best GPU for MW3
If you want to prioritise the best balance between price and performance, go for the RTX 3060 Ti. At the time of writing, we’ve noticed these previous gen cards get generous discounts making them even more of a steal. Otherwise, the 4070 is a good shout for those wanting a slightly more generous VRAM and next-gen features like DLSS 3 and advanced Ray Tracing. Of course, you might also find our catalogue of the best 1080 GPUs helpful here.
Those looking to upgrade their gaming setup further should check out the best monitors for MW2 which prioritise 1080p displays with high refresh rates.
1. Best overall GPU for MW3 and MW2 – MSI GeForce RTX 4070 12G Ventus 3X
MSI GeForce RTX 4070 12G Ventus 3X
Base clock
1,920MHz
Boost clock
2,505MHz
VRAM
12GB
Dimensions
308 x 120 x 43mm
Recommended PSU
650 W
- DLSS 3 avoids CPU bottlenecks
- Impressie ray tracing performance
- Can get achieve similar FPS for less
The 4070 is a solid all-around card, ideal for those wanting to play at 1440p at 100FPS+. With this recent release, you get a generous 5,888 CUDA cores, DLSS 3 and third generation ray tracing. Unlike the other cards on this list, the 4070 also benefits from 12GB of GDDR6X memory which is significantly faster than the slightly older GDDR6.
If you currently have an RTX 2070 or GTX 1080, the 4070 is a worthy upgrade. MW2 is one of the many games with DLSS 3 support, meaning this graphics card will optimise your frame rates without risking a CPU bottleneck. It’s worth adding that the 4070 does also perform on par with the 3080 depending on your settings, so if you’re looking to upgrade your GPU for less, consider the best 3080 graphics cards instead.
Overall, the RTX 4070 is the card to go for if you’re looking to buy into Nvidia’s next-generation graphics cards for that core DLSS 3. The combination of 12GB of GDDR6X VRAM and 5,888 CUDA cores make it a force to be reckoned with.
2. Best value GPU for MW3 and MW2 at 1080p – MSI GeForce RTX 3060 TI VENTUS 3X OC
MSI GeForce RTX 3060 TI VENTUS 3X OC
Base Clock
1410 MHz
Boost Clock
1695 MHz
VRAM
8GB GDDR6
Dimensions
305 x 120 x 42 mm
Recommended PSU
550 W
- Stirling value
- Gives RTX 4060 Ti a good run for its money
- Frequently discounted
- Lacks DLSS 3 and advanced ray tracing
The best budget pick for those looking to play at 1080p is without a doubt, the RTX 3060 Ti. So long as you’ve got one of the best 1080p monitors, this graphics card will perform admirably. You can even expect this card to handle a blistering 240Hz at 1080p which is ideal for MW2.
This particular build enjoys a high-end cooling solution which is absolutely essential if you want to enjoy consistently high frame rates. The combination of two large fans and a durable heatsink does the job well. You can expect the card to be able to run MW2 with a locked 60FPS at 1080p. Take those settings down a notch and you can expect around 140FPS at High settings. If you’re happy with the 3006 Ti, the next step is to check out the best CPUs for MW2 and MW3.
We can’t rave enough about this graphics card. Anyone looking for bang for their buck will come away very happy, especially if you can find it discounted amongst other RTX 3060 and 3060 Ti deals. Don’t forget to check out the best CPU for RTX 3060 Ti over on WePC to avoid those bottlenecks.
3. Best GPU for MW3 and MW2 at 1440p – ASUS ROG Strix Radeon RX 6700 XT OC
ASUS ROG Strix Radeon RX 6700 XT OC
Base Clock
2,457MHz
Boost Clock
2,622MHz
VRAM
12GB GDDR6
Dimensions
322 x 141 x 57mm
Recommended PSU
650W
- Good value for money
- Efficient cooling
- Cheap to run
- Nvidia card offer better ray tracing
This card features AMD’s Radeon Boost which delivers up to a 27% increase in performance and framerates without negatively impacting on image quality. Overall, it is well suited to 1440p gaming, but a well-deserved second to the fan favourite RTX 3060 Ti which has superior ray tracing.
With a clock speed of up to 2581MHz and a generous L3 cache, this card performs extremely well under heavy workloads. It boasts an excellent cooling solution which is essential for maintaining consistent frame rates. We’ve chosen this card amongst other RX 6700 cards because it’s the fastest, something you can come to expect with the ASUS ROG series.
You’ve also gotta love the Strix style. It’s super slick and we can’t get enough of that RGB. It’s so far been a popular card for anyone who values aesthetics in their setup. Overall, this card comes highly recommended and it’s a thumbs up from us!
How much VRAM is needed for MW3?
The Modern Warfare 3 PC system requirements state that you need a minimum of 2GB of video RAM, though it is recommended to have at least 8GB if you want the game to run smoothly.
What graphics card do I need for Modern Warfare 3?
If you want to know if your PC can run Modern Warfare 3 you’ll need to know the minimum graphics card the game requires. You’ll want a card equivalent to or better than the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 960 or AMD Radeon RX 470.
