Update: Modern Warfare 3 is now here! Check out our updated list of the best laptops for Modern Warfare 3 right here.
No one wants their gaming laptop to slouch during a competitive match, especially when frame drops could mean the difference between winning and losing. Fortunately we have the low-down on the best gaming laptops for Modern Warfare 2 so you don't get caught short in your Call of Duty escapades.
With the Modern Warfare 2 system requirements setting a pretty high bar, you'll want to consider getting one of the best gaming laptops for the job. We suggest aiming to meet recommended or competitive system requirements to give yourself the edge in the online battlefield. Plus, there's a higher chance you'll be ready for the next Call of Duty once it rolls around.
That being said, what should you look out for? Well, firstly, you'll need something with a high refresh rate to ensure you're maximising your frames per second (fps) for smoother in-game movements. This should allow you to keep track of your surroundings a little easier, even when the heat of the battle starts to turn up and things get pretty hectic.
You'll also want to lean towards something with 12GB+ RAM, an Intel i5 or AMD Ryzen 5 3600 and above, plus a decent graphics card in order to process all the action, even the intense graphics, quickly.
When it comes to graphics, 4K resolution and HDR aren't huge deals for Modern Warfare 2. They'll demand you play at lower settings to offer a clearer picture, but you'll be playing on a laptop screen and they won't improve the gameplay.
If you want to play the game at its maximum settings, then a 1080p or 1440p display is best here.
With all this in mind, we've put together a list of what we feel are the best laptops for Modern Warfare 2, taking price and reviews, along with their features, into account during our selection process.
Best laptop for Modern Warfare 2
Table of Contents
Gigabyte Aorus 15
Best gaming laptop for Modern Warfare 2
Graphics Card: Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 - Memory: 16GB DDR5
Storage: 1TB M.2 SSD - Refresh Rate: 165Hz - Resolution: QHD
The Gigabyte Aorus 15 is one of the best gaming laptops at its current value, and it more than meets the requirements you need to play Modern Warfare 2 on any setting - even 4K.
It packs a 165Hz refresh rate for ultra smooth movements in-game, on a detailed 1440p screen. This is easy to max out with the brand new Nvidia RTX 4070 under the hood. Since it's a 40 series card, it's also prepared for any game that supports DLSS 3's Frame Generation feature. Modern Warfare 2 and Warzone don't just yet, but they might in the future.
Read More: Best monitor for Modern Warfare 2
The Intel Core i7-13700H absolutely blows the i9-9900K recommended for Ultra 4K Specifications out of the water, with 14 cores and support for Thunderbolt 4. You won't miss a beat behind enemy lines on the new Modern Warfare 2 maps while playing at the highest fps possible.
All of this is wrapped in a Windforce Infinity Instant Cooling system to keep components chilled and running as they should. When it's not impressing with its in-game performance, it's wowing with its efficiency, from between the dedicated GPU when gaming to the integrated GPU to save power thanks to a MUX Switch.
The Gigabyte Aorus 15 isn't just a brilliant laptop for Modern Warfare 2 and Warzone, it's a great investment for future instalments in the series.
MSI GF65 Thin
Best budget laptop for Modern Warfare 2
Despite its relatively low price tag, this MSI GF65 Thin laptop looks as though it can still pack a punch if you're looking to run Modern Warfare 2 at the highest settings.
It comes with an Intel Core i7-9750H processor which, when teamed with the GTX1660Ti graphics card and FHD resolution, should mean the gameplay runs smoothly and in immense detail.
Read More: Best laptop under 300
The IPS display produces an impressive 120Hz refresh rate as well, which should add to the fluidity of the action. This is particularly important when competing online as you're able to play at a higher FPS which, in turn, means you should be able to react quicker when you encounter an enemy.
Also, the 512GB SSD is more than enough storage to download Modern Warfare 2 along with a selection of other AAA titles if desired. Plus, MSI boasts its laptop is fairly light too, making it an ideal option to consider if you're after something portable to continue to play Modern Warfare 2 wherever you go.
ASUS ROG Zephyrus M15
Best 4K laptop for Modern Warfare 2
If you're looking to showcase all the action on the battlefield in the best quality possible, then we'd recommend checking out this ASUS ROG Zephyrus M15 as it features a 4K UHD resolution.
Combined with the 4K resolution is this laptop's RTX 2060 graphics card, which pushes toward Activision's competitive requirements for the game. This means you'll be able to run the game at the highest graphics settings possible to showcase the new campaign in immense detail.
Read More: Best laptop under 500
In terms of memory and storage, you get 24GB of DDR4 RAM and a 1TB SSD. That's a lot, so you should find the processing speed when gaming pretty fast, plus there is enough storage if you want to load up other games onto the laptop as well.
It also features an Intel Core i7-10875H processor with a 16 MB cache memory, a base frequency of 2.30 GHz, and a boost frequency of 5.10 GHz. As a result, you should find it's more than powerful enough to take on heavy-duty applications like Modern Warfare 2 without missing a beat.
On the whole, this is a powerful laptop with an impressive display if graphics are your number one priority for Modern Warfare 2.
Gigabyte AORUS 17G
Best 17" laptop for Modern Warfare 2
This Gigabyte AORUS 17G boasts a pretty beastly set of specs capable of taking on even the most demanding of AAA titles, including Modern Warfare 2.
Firstly, you get an 11th Gen Intel i7 processor and a staggering 32GB of RAM, both of which should help improve responsiveness and your frame rate in-game by providing a higher processing speed.
In terms of graphics, you're getting the NVIDIA RTX 3080 which should not only do an excellent job of showcasing even the most graphically-intense games available right now, but also future-proof your setup for graphics-heavy titles released for years to come.
Perhaps the most notable feature of this laptop is its huge 300Hz refresh rate and full HD IPS display. As a combination, you should find you're able to play the game with an almost unbeatable frame rate, whilst still showcasing every tiny detail in excellent quality.
Chillblast Fnatic Flash
Best QHD laptop for Modern Warfare 2
We're rounding off our list as we began with this Chillblast Fnatic Flash QHD, 165Hz laptop that comes packed with some pretty impressive specs.
For instance, you get an Intel Core i7 processor, housing 14 cores in total for some seriously high clock speeds, an NVIDIA RTX 3060 graphics card bringing realistic ray-tracing to the table, plus two 8GB DDR5s that should make long load times a thing of the past.
The laptop also features a 16" IPS display which, coupled with the QHD resolution and 100% sRGB colour reproduction, will likely result in Modern Warfare 2 being shown in rich detail, contrast, and colour.
Moreover, Chillblast boasts a rather unique cooling system to avoid overheating mid-game. The laptop is kitted out with four heat pipes designed to conduct heat away from key components, while dual fans work to keep the internal systems cool to maximise the CPU and GPU performance.
Ultimately, if you're looking for a laptop to deliver both high processing speeds along with detailed graphics in-game, then we'd suggest checking out this Chillblast machine.
Frequently Asked Questions
Finding a top laptop for Modern Warfare 2 may result in a few questions. Don't worry though, we've answered some of the most commonly asked queries right here.
What are the minimum system requirements for Modern Warfare 2?
According to Activision, the minimum system requirements for Modern Warfare 2 are as follows:
- OS: Windows 10 64 Bit
- CPU: Intel Core i3-6100 / Core i5-2500K or AMD Ryzen 3 1200
- RAM: 8 GB
- Hi-Rez Assets Cache: Up to 32 GB
- Video Card: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 960 or AMD Radeon RX 470
- Video Memory: 2 GB
However, we'd recommend you lean more toward the recommended or competitive requirements if you're looking for something to run the game smoothly and with as much detail as possible.
Should you buy a gaming laptop or a PC for Modern Warfare 2?
Some of the best gaming PCs tend to be more powerful than comparably priced laptops, so why should you even consider a laptop for Modern Warfare 2?
Well, the major benefit of choosing a laptop over a PC is that it's more portable. A PC can take up a ton of space and typically requires several peripherals to go with it.
By contrast, a laptop has pretty much all the tools you need to play Modern Warfare 2 right in front of you. They're also smaller, so should save space when playing at a desk or if you want to play video games on the road.
Laptops can sometimes be just as powerful as a PC as well, depending on what specs you invest in, so it really comes down to what you're looking to get out of your device and how you want to play Modern Warfare 2.
What size screen is best for playing Modern Warfare 2?
The screen size of a laptop can vary from around 11" to upwards of 17", but choosing the right size for you will come down to personal preference.
Smaller laptops will, for the most part, be lighter and, therefore, should be easier to transport if you want to take Modern Warfare 2 with you on the road.
However, you may find a 13" screen, for example, is too small for playing Modern Warfare 2 on, especially if you're sitting at a desk setup. Therefore, going for something with a 17" display may be more suitable in this instance.
Ultimately, the decision is yours though as choosing the best screen size will come down to what feels most comfortable for you.
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