Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 has made headlines with its impressive yet demanding system requirements. This popular title invites players into its competitive multiplayer mode but sets the bar high for smooth gameplay. Despite a GPU requirement that seems manageable on paper, players may find themselves needing more powerful hardware to truly enjoy the experience without performance issues.
Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 Requirements and What You Need to Know
Black Ops 7 requires at least a GeForce GTX 970 or GTX 1060 from NVIDIA, or AMD’s RX 470 to play at low to medium settings. However, to enhance the gaming experience, it is recommended to use more modern GPUs such as the GeForce RTX 3060 or the Intel Arc B580. For the best experience, players should ensure their system matches or exceeds the recommended specifications, including a strong CPU to complement the GPU. Reports suggest testing identified the top five graphics cards from AMD and NVIDIA that maintain over 60 FPS on ultra/extreme settings.
Best GPU Picks for COD: Black Ops 7
Best Overall: AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT (200+ FPS @1440p, 60+ FPS w/RT High)
ASUS Prime Radeon RX 9070 XT OC
Nothing beats the RX 9070 XT in COD: BO 7 when it comes to the best price-to-performance ratio. If you want consistent triple-digit performance for the lowest price, the RX 9070 XT is a no-brainer.
| Architecture | GPU | Shaders | VRAM | Boost | TDP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RDNA 4 | NAVI 48 | 4096 | 16 GB GDDR6 | 3030 MHz | 304 W |
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| + Triple-digit FPS at 4K | – Usually available for a higher price than MSRP |
| + 16 GB VRAM capacity | |
| + Best price-to-performance ratio |
Many Call of Duty games favor AMD GPUs, and Black Ops 7 is no exception. The RX 9070 XT outperforms its competitor, the GeForce RTX 5070 Ti, by about 30.6% in performance. The RX 9070 XT is an excellent choice with its 16 GB VRAM, providing a superior gaming experience at 4K and 1440p resolutions. Even though it is priced higher than the MSRP, it still offers better value than its NVIDIA counterpart.
A Quick Look at Performance Numbers
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You may check our detailed COD: Black Ops 7 benchmarks post to see where these GPUs stand in the hierarchy.
FAQ
How much VRAM should my GPU have for Black Ops 7?
While minimum specifications by Activition mention 3 GB of Video Memory, the VRAM usage will depend on the resolution and the graphical presets. Higher resolution and higher graphical presets will require more than 8 GB VRAM, and Activision recommends up to 16 GB for 4K.
My current GPU is slightly below recommended, will I be able to play the game anyway?
Yes, the game does run even on entry-level GPUs, but you will need to tweak the graphics to the lowest preset. FPS will depend on the graphics settings, resolution, and your GPU prowess. So, it can be below 30 or up to 60, depending on the factors mentioned.
Are there any special GPU features I should look for?
COD: Black Ops 7 is the first game to support AMD FSR Redstone Ray Regeneration, and also supports both AMD FSR 4 and DLSS 4 to allow leveraging AI capabilities of latest AMD and NVIDIA GPUs to boost performance and visuals. Make sure to use those if you are struggling to achieve high FPS.