Modern Warfare 4 best PC settings for more FPS
Specs and FPS · Best PC settings · Loadouts · Patch notes · WARDOGS hub
Option names are as Activision lists them in its PC features post. What each one costs comes from players' posts (linked and dated) until we have captures of our own. Early-access figures can change with the launch build.
Change these first, in this order
- Run the built-in Benchmark Tool once so you have a baseline.
- Turn on your card's upscaler at Quality: DLSS 4.5 on RTX, FSR Redstone on Radeon, XeSS 3 on Arc.
- Turn Enhanced FOV off unless you rely on it.
- Leave Ray Tracing off for Multiplayer and DMZ.
- Keep frame generation off to start with, and only add it if you're still short of your refresh rate.
- Then lower Shading Quality, Screen Space Reflections, Shadow Filtering Quality, Occlusion and Screen Space Lighting one step at a time, re-running the benchmark each time.
- Set World and Weapon Depth of Field to taste: they're mainly a clarity choice.
Every option Activision names, and what players report
| Setting (official name) | What Activision says | What players report |
|---|---|---|
| Automatic configuration | The game sets your graphics options from your hardware on first launch. | Start from these, then change one setting at a time. |
| Upscaling: NVIDIA DLSS 4.5, AMD FSR Redstone, Intel XeSS 3, Filmic SMAA T2X | Listed together as the upscaling and frame generation choices, picked to suit your graphics card. | Usually the biggest FPS lever. Earanak reports about 120 FPS native and about 160 with DLSS Quality on an RTX 4090 at 1440p (Earanak, Steam, 20 Oct). Start at Quality. |
| Frame generation | Offered alongside the upscalers. | Raises the FPS counter but adds generated frames, not faster input. One RTX 5080 owner at 4K max with RT and frame generation on Auto reports a flat 116 FPS, held just under the refresh rate (NetshadeX, Steam, 20 Oct). Test with it off first for Multiplayer. |
| Sharpness | A new sharpness slider that works with any upscaler. | Clarity only; no FPS cost reported. |
| Enhanced FOV (PC only) | Uses lens effects to widen the field of view at the edges of the screen without changing the centre. | Two players report 20 to 30 FPS back after turning it off (alien_tickler, Steam, 17 Oct, kiryusha, Steam, 17 Oct). Turn it off first if you need frames. |
| Ray tracing | Supported in Campaign, Multiplayer and DMZ (reflections, shadows and lighting). | The heaviest option players mention: about 50 FPS with RT High against about 120 without on an RTX 4090 at 1440p (Earanak, above); 28 to 30 FPS with RT at 4K on an RTX 4090 (BERZERK47, Steam, 18 Oct). A player reports the upscaler locks while RT is on (Shay, Steam, 18 Oct). Off for competitive play. |
| Shading Quality | New setting in MW4. | No player measurements yet. Lower one step and re-run the benchmark. |
| Screen Space Reflections | Listed among the new visual settings. | No player measurements yet. |
| Shadow Filtering Quality | Listed among the new visual settings. | No player measurements yet. |
| Occlusion and Screen Space Lighting | Listed among the new visual settings. | No player measurements yet. |
| World Depth of Field / Weapon Depth of Field | Depth of field is split in two, so you can keep a sharp world and still have the aiming blur. | Mainly a clarity choice. |
| HDR10+ | The engine adjusts contrast and lighting to your screen in real time. | Display feature, not an FPS setting. |
| Sub-frame mouse polling | Listed under PC input features. | Input feature, not an FPS setting. |
| Benchmark Tool | Runs a simulated Multiplayer sequence; shows average FPS, CPU, GPU, ping and input latency, with a per-zone breakdown. | Use it for before-and-after comparisons on your own PC. |
| Advanced Shader Delivery | Precompiled shaders delivered ahead of time through the Xbox PC app, whichever PC store you use. | Install the Xbox PC app before your first launch. |
Official names and descriptions: Modern Warfare 4 PC features (callofduty.com, 29 Sep 2026). Player reports are from the Call of Duty discussions on Steam, quoted as posted and not checked by us. Launch drivers named by Activision: AMD 26.7.1, NVIDIA 616.56, Intel 32.0.101.8974.
Consoles and Switch 2
On Xbox Series X|S the beta offered a 60 Hz mode (higher resolution) and a 120 Hz mode (higher frame rate); see the results for what Pure Xbox measured. We haven't found official details of PS5 or Switch 2 graphics modes yet. On Switch 2, Digital Legends says docked Multiplayer targets 60 FPS.
Measured one of these?
Run the benchmark before and after changing one setting and send both, with the change in the settings field. We'll add measured figures here.
RigFPS is independent and not affiliated with, endorsed or sponsored by Activision, Infinity Ward, Beenox or Digital Legends. Call of Duty and Modern Warfare are trademarks of Activision Publishing, Inc. We use the names only to describe the game; no logos or game art are used.