Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 is just around the corner with a release date of 10th November 2023. It happens to be one of the most anticipated releases of the year, with a player base for the multiplayer component that completely dwarfs most of its peers with ease. It comes with notable upgrades to Warzone, a new campaign, and new maps that aim to satisfy the nostalgia factor for the many users expected to return to the series at launch.
Call of Duty’s online component has become increasingly demanding, especially for high-fidelity, high-resolution gamers who can often see their PCs struggle to keep up with the burgeoning hardware requirements that are now a mainstay for the franchise, which is particularly notorious for its large storage footprint and equally large patches on both modern consoles and PCs.
This is in addition to Activision now making the COD HQ launcher mandatory for users, though players who have already been playing Call of Duty: Warzone during the last few months will already be accounted for, thanks to a series of updates that previously added it to their PCs.
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MSI Katana 15 15.6″ 144Hz FHD Gaming Laptop
The Best Overall Gaming Laptop For Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 3
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GIGABYTE 15.6″ G5 Gaming Laptop
The Best Budget Gaming Laptop For Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 3
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Acer Nitro 17 Gaming Laptop AN17-41-R7G3
The Best QHD Gaming Laptop For Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 3
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ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 14”165Hz Gaming Laptop (RTX 4070)
The Best Compact Gaming Laptop For Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 3
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Alienware m16
The Best High-End Gaming Laptop For Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 3
![Alienware m16 [2023]](https://static0.gamerantimages.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/alienware-m16.jpg?q=50&fit=contain&w=480&h=480&dpr=1.5)
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3: PC Hardware Requirements
Activision Blizzard has already published its hardware requirements for the upcoming iteration of Call of Duty with specifications for a minimum multiplayer, single-player, recommended, and competitive specs published accordingly. The title requires a 64-bit version of Windows 10 or 11 at the latest update, plenty of SSD space, and modest CPU, GPU, and RAM requirements.
The updated requirements for COD: MW3 are listed below:
Minimum Specifications (Overall)
Minimum specifications needed to play Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III:
OS: Windows 10, 64-Bit (latest update)
CPU: Intel Core i5-6600 or AMD Ryzen 5 1400
RAM: 8 GB
Storage Space: SSD with 149 GB available space at launch (78 GB with COD HQ and Warzone already installed)
Hi-Rez Assets Cache: Up to 32 GB
Video Card: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 960 / GTX 1650 or AMD Radeon RX 470
Video Memory: 2 GB
Minimum Specifications (Multiplayer only)
Minimum specifications needed to play Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III multiplayer:
OS: Windows 10, 64-Bit (latest update)
CPU: Intel Core i3-6100 or AMD Ryzen 3 1200
RAM: 8 GB
Storage Space: SSD with 79 GB available space at launch for COD HQ and Multiplayer (34 GB with COD HQ already installed)
Hi-Rez Assets Cache: Up to 32 GB
Video Card: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 960 / GTX 1650 or AMD Radeon RX 470
Video Memory: 2 GB
Recommended Specifications
Recommended specs to run at 60FPS in most situations, with all options set to high:
OS: Windows 10, 64-Bit (latest update) or Windows 11, 64-Bit (latest update)
CPU: Intel Core i7-6700K or AMD Ryzen 5 1600X
RAM: 16 GB
Storage Space: SSD with 149 GB available space at launch (78 GB with COD HQ and Warzone already installed)
Hi-Rez Assets Cache: Up to 32 GB
Video Card: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080Ti / RTX 3060 or AMD Radeon RX 6600XT
Video Memory: 8 GB
Competitive / 4K Ultra Specifications
Competitive specs to run at a high FPS for use with a high refresh monitor, and Ultra specs to run the game at a high FPS in 4K resolution:
OS: Windows 10, 64-Bit (latest update) or Windows 11, 64-Bit (latest update)
CPU: Intel Core i7-8700K or AMD Ryzen 7 2700X
RAM: 16 GB
Storage Space: SSD with 149 GB available space at launch (78 GB with COD HQ and Warzone already installed)
Hi-Rez Assets Cache: Up to 64 GB
Video Card: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 / RTX 4070 or AMD Radeon RX 6800XT
Video Memory: 10 GB
Finding the right fit when it comes to gaming laptops for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 is an interesting proposition, as the game inches closer to release while also moving into Black Friday sales territory. This leaves a lot of laptops that can play COD well currently available at sale prices, making it an ideal time get a portable gaming PC at a significant discount for this year’s highly anticipated Call of Duty remake.
The Best Gaming Laptops For Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3
MSI Katana 15 15.6″ 144Hz FHD Gaming Laptop
The Best Overall Gaming Laptop For Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 3
A Balanced Blade
$1200 $1398 Save $198
The MSI Katana is an excellent budget-centric high-end gaming laptop that outperforms most of the high-end laptops in its price bracket while maintaining an efficient, value-for-money approach to offer the latest and greatest in PC hardware to its audience.
- Operating System
- Windows 11 Home
- CPU
- Intel® Core™ i7-13620H
- GPU
- GeForce RTX 4070 8GB GDDR6 Laptop GPU
- Storage
- 1TB PCI-E 4.0 SSD
- Battery
- 3-cell 53.5Whr Li-Polymer
- Display (Size, Resolution)
- 15.6″ FHD (1920 x 1080), IPS-Level 144Hz NTSC 45% Panel
- Camera
- 720P Webcam
- Speakers
- 2 x Speakers 2W
- Colors
- Black
- Memory
- DDR5 5200Mhz 16GB (8GB x 2)
- Ports
- USB A, USB C, HDMI, Audio Jack, Ethernet
- Network
- Wi-Fi 6, Gigabit Ethernet
- Dimensions
- 14.13 x10.20 x0.98 inches
- Weight
- 4.96lb
- Form
- 15.6′
- Brand
- MSI
- Power
- 240W Power Adapter
- Packs an impressive 10-core Intel Core i7 13720H CPU
- Has a powerful RTX 4070 GPU on offer
- Offers excellent value for money as one of the most inexpensive RTX 4070-based laptops
- Has plenty of SSD space to account for COD’s storage needs
- The display on the Katana could be better, especially when paired with an RTX 4070
Recommended Game Presets: High/Ultra presets at FHD/QHD resolution (Native Display is FHD, 144Hz)
The MSI Katana 15 is featured in multiple recommendations at Game Rant. This is because it offers a well-balanced mix of performance and value, while offering an inexpensive mobile RTX 4070 GPU laptop under the hood, in addition to its 10-core Intel Core i7 CPU.
It is the best overall consideration for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 as it meets the GPU requirements at exactly what is recommended by Activision for competitive players, while also meeting and exceeding the RAM and SSD requirements for the title with ease. While it does cap out on its potential gains due to a 144Hz FHD display, unlike some of its peers, it should be able to easily manage said resolution at the highest fidelity while playing competitive Call of Duty.
GIGABYTE 15.6″ G5 Gaming Laptop
The Best Budget Gaming Laptop For Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 3
Value-added Purchase
$800 $1100 Save $300
The GIGABYTE 15.6″ G5 Gaming Laptop comes packed with a mix of old and new in a potent combination that is hard to beat in terms of value for money especially when on sale.
With a powerful Intel Core i7 12th generation CPU, an Nvidia RTX 4060 GPU, and an FHD 144Hz display in addition to 512GB of NVME storage paired with 16GB of DDR5 memory, the G5 gaming laptop delivers on multiple fronts while also being focused on connectivity with plenty of ports on offer.
- Operating System
- Windows 11 Home
- CPU
- Intel 12th Gen Core i7 12650H
- GPU
- NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 8GB 75W
- RAM
- 16GB DDR5 RAM
- Storage
- 512GB PCI-E 4.0 SSD
- Battery
- Li-ion 54Wh
- Display (Size, Resolution)
- 15.6′ FHD 144Hz
- Camera
- 720P HD Video Camera
- Speakers
- 2x 2W Speaker
- Network
- Gigabit Ethernet, Wi-Fi 6E, BT 5.2
- Dimensions
- 14.2(W) x 9.4(D) x 0.89(H) inch
- Weight
- 4.59lb
- Brand
- Gigabyte
- Model
- G5 KF5-G3US353SH
- Power
- 150W AC Adapter
- Offers one of the cheapest RTX 4060 laptops in play currently
- Offers a decent amount of memory and storage for its price point
- Excellent value for money with plenty of connectivity options in tow
- Has a robust cooling mechanism to keep temperatures low
- Has a somewhat limited battery life compared to some of its peers
- A 512GB SSD might be a limiting factor for gamers intending to play more than COD on this laptop
Recommended Game Presets: High preset at FHD/QHD resolution (Native Display is FHD, 144Hz)
The Gigabyte G5 Gaming Laptop offers exceptional value as it is listed with a massive discount as part of Best Buy’s ongoing early Black Friday sale on multiple laptops. It currently remains unbeaten in terms of price-to-performance ratios compared to most of its alternatives in the same price range. It offers a 75W version of the RTX 4060 GPU, along with a 12th-generation Intel Core i7 CPU that can still hold its own against some of the best in the business thanks to a powerful cooling mechanism, a decent display, and somewhat average memory and storage specs in play.
It does suffer from mediocre battery life and users can always use more storage under the hood, but it does allow for upgrades thanks to a spare M2 slot, plus plenty of ports on offer for gamers looking to attach more peripherals or external storage to make up for the space that Call of Duty tends to take up when installed along with Warzone.
Acer Nitro 17 Gaming Laptop AN17-41-R7G3
The Best QHD Gaming Laptop For Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 3
$1231 $1300 Save $69
The Acer Nitro 17 Gaming Laptop is a large 17-inch gaming laptop powered by an efficient, but potent octa-core AMD Ryzen 7 CPU and Nvidia’s mid-range RTX 4060 GPU. The display features Quad HD resolution and a high 165 Hz refresh rate for fast-paced gaming. That is all topped up with a large 1-terabyte SSD and 16 GB of DDR5 memory, making it an ideal desktop replacement for those looking to grab one.
- Operating System
- Windows 11
- CPU
- AMD Ryzen 7 7840HS 8-Core CPU
- GPU
- Nvidia RTX 4060 8GB
- RAM
- 16GB DDR5
- Storage
- 1TB NVME M2 SSD
- Display (Size, Resolution)
- 17” 3 QHD/2K 165Hz
- Network
- Gigabit Ethernet, Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.1
- Brand
- Acer Nitro
- Model
- AN17-41-R7G3
- Card Reader
- Yes
- Keyboard
- Backlit
- Webcam
- Yes
- Offers an efficient but powerful Ryzen 7 7840HS CPU
- Has an excellent QHD 165Hz Display on offer
- Offers excellent cooling for gamers looking for longer competitive COD sessions
- Has 1 Terabyte of SSD storage on offer
- Larger than most of its peers, may not be suitable for daily commuting
Recommended Game Presets: High/Ultra presets at FHD/QHD resolution (Native Display is QHD, 165Hz)
For gamers willing to sacrifice portability for better battery life and cooling, the Acer Nitro 17 Gaming Laptop has them covered handily. It does so by leveraging its larger chassis for better cooling and a larger battery than most of its peers, while offering a mid-range RTX 4060 and a power-efficient AMD Ryzen 7 CPU in tow.
On the storage front, the Nitro 17 comes well-endowed for its weight class, carrying an upgradeable 1TB NVME SSD in addition to fast DDR5 memory in play. What sets this laptop apart from the cheaper alternatives on the list is the excellent QHD IPS display and a well-balanced, yet power-efficient approach to gaming that should facilitate a smoother COD experience for users looking for a choice with acceptable performance in tow that can keep up with the latest updates.
ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 14”165Hz Gaming Laptop (RTX 4070)
The Best Compact Gaming Laptop For Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 3
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 14”165Hz Gaming Laptop is one of the most well-respected compact gaming laptops in the business, throwing in impressive CPU and GPU combinations in a tight form factor while exacting a significant amount of performance out of them.
With an AMD Ryzen 9 7940HS and an Nvidia RTX 4070 in tow, the G14 comes equipped to take on games at its target display resolution of 2K with a refresh rate of 165Hz which offers an IPS panel and up to 500 nits of brightness as part of its feature set.
- Operating System
- Windows 11 Home
- CPU
- AMD Ryzen 9 7940HS
- GPU
- NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070
- RAM
- 16GB DDR5
- Storage
- 1TB NVME SSD
- Battery
- 76WHr 4-Cell
- Display (Size, Resolution)
- 14 Inches ,2560 x 1440 (QHD)
- Camera
- 1080P FHD IR Camera
- Speakers
- Yes
- Colors
- Moonlight White
- Network
- Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3
- Weight
- 3.64 lbs
- Brand
- ASUS ROG
- Offers a powerful 8-Core AMD Ryzen 9 7940HS CPU
- Has excellent battery life compared to some of its larger alternatives
- Comes equipped with a powerful RTX 4070 GPU
- Offers a compact, lightweight alternative to most bulky gaming laptop alternatives
- Has an excellent 2K, 165Hz display for gamers and power users
- Does tend to thermally throttle when under load
- Is on the pricier end of the spectrum compared to some of its alternatives
Recommended Game Presets: Ultra preset at FHD/QHD resolution (Native Display is QHD, 165Hz)
For users dealing with limited desk space or being potentially on the move throughout the year, the ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 is as good as it gets when it comes to a compact gaming PC without having performance limitations. It comes equipped with an excellent RTX 4070 GPU and an 8-Core AMD Ryzen 9 7000 series CPU, making for a potent gaming laptop package for gamers.
With a better battery life than most of its peers in the same form factor and an excellent, bright (500 nits) 2K display that can do up to 165Hz, the G14 laptop means business in more ways than one. It also offers a large SSD and decent, high-clocked DDR5 memory in tow, making it a cool customer for COD users needing more power along with portability.
It can however thermally throttle slightly when pushed to extremes and tends to be a bit costlier than its peers, pushing into entry-level RTX 4080 laptop territory with ease. This ultimately makes it a value tradeoff for some users looking for more performance per dollar spent on their Call of Duty multiplayer journey in 2023.
![Alienware m16 [2023]](https://static0.gamerantimages.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/alienware-m16.jpg?q=50&fit=crop&w=480&dpr=1.5)
Alienware m16
The Best High-End Gaming Laptop For Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 3
$2200 $2700 Save $500
Alienware has decided to get competitive with its pricing to performance this year, partially thanks to Intel’s 13th generation CPUs as well as low demand for the RTX 4080 chipset. The m16 features a 13900HX, RTX 4080, 16 GB of RAM, and a 240 Hz, QHD+ display for a truly beautiful and smooth gaming experience.
- Operating System
- Windows 11 Home or Pro
- CPU
- Intel Core i9-13900HX
- GPU
- Nvidia RTX 4080
- Storage
- 1 TB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD
- Battery
- 86 WHr
- Display (Size, Resolution)
- 16″, 1440p, 240 Hz
- Camera
- 1080p
- Colors
- Dark Metallic Moon
- Memory
- 16 GB DDR5 4800 MHz
- Ports
- 2 USB Type-C, 2 USB Type-A, HDMI 2.1, Ethernet, SD Card Reader, Mini Displayport 1.4
- Weight
- 7.17 lbs
- Brand
- Alienware
- The bundled Intel Core i9 13900HX offers 24 high-clocked cores
- Excellent build quality and cooling on offering
- Has a powerful Nvidia RTX 4080 GPU in play
- Offers decent battery life versus the competition
- Somewhat costly when not on sale
- Users might expect more SSD storage and RAM at this price point
Recommended Game Presets: High/Ultra presets at QHD/4K resolution (Native Display is QHD, 240Hz)
The Alienware M16 is an excellent, well-rounded option that is regularly on sale, offering a full 24-core Intel Core i9 CPU with high clocks in tow, something that most FPS titles utilize fairly well. With an excellent 2K, 240Hz display on offer powered by an Nvidia RTX 4080, the M16 is a gaming laptop that doesn’t make compromises on its non-upgradeable hardware.
Users however might be expecting more in terms of SSD storage and RAM for a laptop that sells at about $2000, but the M16 does allow for easy access to its expansion slots and upgrades are simple to do thanks to dropping DRAM and flash memory costs across the board. The Alienware laptop offers excellent cooling and build quality along with plenty of connectivity options for users looking for a gaming laptop that can pass as a business unit while offering significant processing power under the hood.
ASUS ROG Scar 17 X3D
The Best Performance Gaming Laptop For Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 3
The ROG Scar 17 X3D from Asus is a gaming and productivity laptop that features the first AMD mobile processor with 3D V-Cache, the Ryzen 9 7495HX3D. The laptop is also powered by an RTX 4090 mobile GPU that has a TGP of 175W. It comes with 32GB of DDR5-4800 RAM, 2TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe M.2 SSD. It packs a 17.3-inch WQHD (2560 x 1440) IPS display with 240Hz refresh rate and 3ms response time. The ROG Scar 17 X3D sports a 90WHr battery, and it supports 100W charging via USB Type-C, along with charging through its massive 330W AC adapter.
- Operating System
- Windows 11
- CPU
- AMD Ryzen 9 7945HX3D
- GPU
- Nvidia RTX 4090
- RAM
- 32GB
- Storage
- 2TB
- Battery
- 90Whr
- Display (Size, Resolution)
- 17.3, WQHD, 2560×1440
- Camera
- 720P HD camera
- Speakers
- 2-speaker system
- Weight
- 6.61 lbs
- Brand
- ASUS ROG
- Model
- Scar 17 X3D
- Adaptor and Battery
- 33W AC, 90WHr
- Keyboard
- Backlit Chiclet Keyboard Per-Key RGB
- Connectivity
- Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3
- Comes with the fastest mobile gaming CPU possible, The Ryzen 9 7945HX3D
- Has a top-of-the-line RTX 4090 GPU in tow
- Has plenty of RAM and Storage on offer
- Has an excellent 2K, 240Hz display with the hardware to push that resolution in COD
- Uses liquid metal as part of its cooling solution under the hood to allow for better performance
- Prohibitively expensive versus other options with no sales in sight
Recommended Game Presets: Ultra preset at QHD/4K resolution (Native Display is QHD, 240Hz)
The ASUS ROG Scar 17 X3D is one of the newest RTX 4090-based gaming laptops on offer in 2023. It offers a nifty upgrade that most of its alternatives lack, making it arguably a contender for the most powerful gaming laptop, period. It utilizes AMD’s 3D V-cache technology integrated into the Ryzen 9 7945HX3D CPU too, making it the fastest gaming laptop on offer currently on the list by far.
It also comes with an RTX 4090 that can push as much as 175W in TGP. This makes it equivalent to a slightly lower-clocked version of the desktop RTX 4080 GPU which is identical otherwise to Nvidia’s fastest mobile GPU to date. It powers an excellent 2K, 240Hz display that Scar 17 X3D should be looking to max out, thanks to its top-tier hardware and liquid metal-infused cooling on offer.
The Scar 17, while pricey with no discounts in sight, takes multiple performance crowns even as it throws in plenty of SSD storage and RAM as extras out of the box. Gamers will appreciate it as a complete premium gaming laptop solution that also happens to be Game Rant’s pick for the best performance or premium gaming laptop to polish off COD enemies in style in 2023.
FAQ
Q: What is the recommended competitive GPU for Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 3?
Activision recommends an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 / RTX 4070 or a AMD Radeon RX 6800XT/7800XT GPU for Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 3.
Q: How Much Storage Do I Need For Call Of Duty Modern Warfare 3 On PC?
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 requires up to 149GB of SSD storage on a PC. This excludes a high-rez assets cache on-disc of 32GB that Activision recommends as well as subsequent updates. It is advisable to install COD:MW III on an SSD that is 500GB or larger to avoid issues with larger patches down the line as the title inevitably balloons over time with subsequent patches.
