COD MW4 PC Settings & Benchmark
September 29 official PC feature briefing for the launch build. No universal preset or guaranteed FPS increase; hardware and supported features determine the available choices.
Use MW4’s built-in Benchmark Tool to establish a baseline before changing a PC preset. The official PC briefing describes a simulated Multiplayer sequence with average FPS, CPU/GPU data, ping and input latency, followed by per-zone results and suggestions. Compare those results with one setting change at a time; the publisher’s 90 FPS recommended-spec target is not a measurement of your PC.
Build a useful before-and-after comparison
Complete the compatibility and shader checks
Use the launch requirements and finish any active shader preparation before comparing performance. Record the GPU, resolution, current preset and relevant driver version so that two runs describe the same setup.
Run the built-in Benchmark Tool
Use the game’s Benchmark Tool to run its simulated Multiplayer scene. The official briefing does not provide a fixed menu path, so this guide does not invent one. Save the report’s average FPS, CPU/GPU data and input latency.
Inspect the zone breakdown
Compare individual zones with the overall result and read the tool’s suggestions. A poor result in one scene can be hidden by an acceptable average; CPU/GPU figures help identify which component is limiting that workload.
Change one relevant option and repeat
Keep the resolution and other settings fixed while testing the chosen change. Compare both frame rate and latency, then check a real match for target visibility before accepting the result.
Documented visibility and display choices
On a small screen, scroll the table sideways to read every column.
| Setting / feature | Documented behavior | What to compare |
|---|---|---|
| Enhanced FOV — PC only | Increases peripheral view through lens effects without changing centre FOV | Peripheral awareness and comfort against your prior view |
| World and Weapon Depth of Field | Separate settings for environmental and weapon blur | World clarity while keeping or removing weapon-focus effects |
| HDR10+ | Adapts contrast/lighting with a supported display | Readable dark and bright detail on your actual display |
| Global sharpness slider | Available across upscalers | Edge clarity versus an over-sharpened image |
| Screen Space Reflections, Shadow Filtering, Occlusion / Screen Space Lighting | Named graphics-quality controls in the PC briefing | The benchmark’s scene-dependent result and the image you prefer |
Upscaling, anti-aliasing and frame generation
The briefing lists NVIDIA DLSS 4.5, AMD FSR Redstone, Intel XeSS 3 and Filmic SMAA T2X. Availability depends on the graphics card and supported feature; listing a technology is not proof that every GPU can use every option.
Compare an upscaler against the previous image at the same output resolution. Judge small moving targets and image stability as well as the headline FPS. Frame generation and a higher displayed frame count should be evaluated alongside the tool’s input-latency result, not substituted for it.
Ray tracing is announced for Campaign, Multiplayer and DMZ, with a separate published 4K-upscaled hardware tier. It is an optional visual comparison, while TPM and Secure Boot are compatibility requirements.
Keep the result tied to the tested setup
Record the final setting, resolution and benchmark result together. Restore the earlier value if your chosen image or latency gets worse even while the FPS average rises. This comparison method is editorial guidance; the site has not benchmarked these settings on its own hardware.
If the first-match problem is shader preparation rather than sustained GPU load, use the shader notification explanation. Disabling an unrelated graphics feature is not evidence that compilation completed.
Sources & scope
An independent editorial reference compiled from the sources below. This site does not claim firsthand gameplay testing.
- Activision: PC features and release briefingSeptember 29, 2026; benchmark, PC preload, display and shader delivery.
- Activision Support: launch PC requirementsDesktop launch specifications; driver and security requirements.
Source material checked: . This is a source-check date.
Useful next reads
- PC hardware requirements — Compare launch desktop tiers, SSD and security prerequisites; keep the support-page and storefront specification differences visible.
- TPM 2.0 & Secure Boot — Check Windows security status before changing firmware; use official attestation results and manufacturer guidance for failures.
- Shader preloading notification — Identify the documented Windows tray message, distinguish Beta-era shader preloading from launch ASD and find the supported controls.