In the next Call of Duty, the action again takes place on the fields of the Second World War. Subtitled Vanguard , this edition is based on the 2019 Modern Warfare engine , which means a much more technologically advanced picture than WW2 . The system requirements have also grown – for maximum settings, even at a resolution of 1920×1080, at least a GeForce GTX 1070 is needed (even though the official requirements specify the GTX 1060). The requirements for the processor are also corresponding to 2021 – 4-core models can no longer cope, at least 6 at a high frequency and modern architecture are needed.
Fortunately, this does not mean that owners of legacy or budget systems are forced to play at the lowest settings. In this guide, we will show you how to set up graphics in Call of Duty: Vanguard for a stable 60 FPS with a pretty good picture.
What computer do you need for Call of Duty: Vanguard (system requirements)
The game can load up to 16 processor threads. Therefore, even an Intel Core i9 or AMD Ryzen 9 cannot be considered redundant. In addition, for a stable 60 FPS at maximum settings at 1080p, a video card of the level of GeForce GTX 1080 or Radeon RX 5700 is required.
As for the official system requirements, they are designed only for 1080p (1920×1080) and 2K (2560×1440) resolutions. We reviewed independent game benchmarks and added recommendations for 4K (3840×2160) gaming.
Official minimum system requirements (1080p @ 60 FPS, low preset):
- Operating system: Windows 10 (64-bit only!).
- Processor: Intel Core i3-4340 / AMD FX 6300.
- Video card: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 960 / AMD Radeon RX 470.
- RAM: 8 gigabytes.
Official Recommended System Requirements (1080p @ 60 FPS, high preset):
- Operating system: Windows 10 x64.
- Processor: Intel Core i5-2500K / AMD Ryzen 5 1600X.
- Video card: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 / AMD Radeon RX 580.
- RAM: 16 gigabytes.
Tests of the game on the most popular video card among Steam users
Computer for gaming at 1440p @ 60 FPS (according to tests):
- Operating system: Windows 10 x64.
- Processor: Intel Core i7-8700K / AMD Ryzen 7 2700X.
- Video card: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 / Radeon RX 6600 XT.
- RAM: 16 gigabytes.
4K @ 60 FPS PC (Tested):
- Operating system: Windows 10 x64.
- Processor: Intel Core i7-9700K / AMD Ryzen 7 3700X.
- Video card: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 / Radeon RX 6800 XT.
- RAM: 16 gigabytes.
Call of Duty: Vanguard Optimization Tips
What the game looks like at maximum graphics quality
Next, we will briefly analyze each setting and give tips on how to increase FPS in Call of Duty: Vanguard.
- “Screen resolution”. Set it to 1920×1080 for a standard Full HD monitor, 2560×1440 for a WQHD screen, or 3840×2160 for a 4K panel. The first option is likely to suit you.
- “Vertical sync (in game)”. It is best to always disable it in online games to avoid input lag.
- “Vertical sync (in the menu)”. But in the main menu, you can turn it on – so the interfaces will work more stable.
- “Frame rate limit”. On a PC, it doesn’t make much sense to limit it, but for a weak PC, it can help to increase the smoothness. Setting a limit of 60 frames is a better solution than “cotton” V-sync.
- “Screen format”. Leave the “Auto”option . The game itself will determine the aspect ratio of the display.
- “Rendering Resolution”. The number sets the percentage of the current screen resolution. Better to set it to 100 and turn off the “Dynamic Resolution”Otherwise, the whole picture will immediately become “soapy” in especially dynamic scenes.
- “Resolution of textures”. The recommended value depends on the amount of video memory on your video card. For less than 2 gigabytes, set “Low”, for 2–4 – “Medium” , and if you have 6 gigabytes, you can already set “High” .
- “Anisotropic filtering”. This is an oblique blur fix that hasn’t been consuming a lot of resources in years. Therefore, you can set the maximum quality here.
- Particle quality. You can turn it on to the full, as it consumes very little. But there can be problems on very weak or old processors.
- Particle Resolution. Similar to the previous parameter.
- “Traces of bullets and drawings.” Can overload the processor in large-scale battles. Therefore, it is better to turn it off.
- “The quality of the shaders.” Responsible for the photorealism of objects. However, it consumes a lot of graphics card resources, so on a weak PC it is better to downgrade to medium.
- On video cards from the early 2010s and older, it makes sense to lower it, since they do not cope well with post-processing.
- “Distance of switching the level of detail”. You can free up a significant amount of CPU and GPU resources by setting this to a minimum value. Moreover, in the heat of battle, you are unlikely to be looking at landscapes.
- Detailing up close. And here it is better to raise it to at least medium, so that the nearest environment looks acceptable.
- Detailing in the distance. Similar to “Distances for switching the level of detail”.
- “Distance of displaying details of the external environment.” Additional atmospheric special effects. The quality of the picture as a whole has little effect, so it can be reduced to a minimum.
- “Shadows in screen space”. Additional shadows for small objects. On a weak PC, it is better to turn it off.
- Shadow Maps Resolution. Set the quality to medium, which will eliminate artifacts and add 1-2 frames.
- “Cascading shadows from the sun.” Quite difficult to calculate shadows, which are mainly used in the distant shots. Better to turn it off.
- Sun Shadow Buffering. It is better to enable it – especially helps on video cards with a small amount of graphics memory.
- Local Shadow Buffering. Similar to the previous one.
- Point Shadow Buffer. Similar to the previous two parameters.
- “The quality of shadows from point sources.” You should not raise it above average, as it has little effect on the quality of the picture.
- Particle Lighting. Another small cosmetic detail that only eats away productivity in vain – turn it off.
- Background light shading. Adds shadows at seams and inside grooves for a more natural look. For older video cards, it is better to choose GTAO (only for static objects) or disable it altogether, and for modern video cards enable the maximum value.
- Screen space reflections. Set it to “Low” to at least look natural and free up to 15% productivity. But you can completely turn it off, getting another couple of FPS.
- “Smoothing”. For most not-too-powerful PCs, it is better to set SMAA 1X, the outlines of objects will flicker a little, but at least get rid of the ladders.
- “Depth of field”. It is better to turn it off in online modes.
The final optimal settings for Call of Duty: Vanguard for a weak (and not only) PC
IMPORTANT: all recommendations below are for 1920×1080 resolution.
Optimal settings for a weak PC (GTX 960 / RX 470):
- Vertical sync (in game): Disable.
- Vertical sync (in menu): enable.
- Frame rate limit: 60.
- Screen format: auto.
- Rendering resolution: 100.
- Dynamic Resolution: Disable.
- Texture resolution: medium.
- Anisotropic Filtering: Average.
- Particle quality: low.
- Particle resolution: average.
- Bullet marks and drawings: include.
- Shader quality: average.
- Tessellation: just beside.
- Detail level switching distance: close.
- Detail Near: Medium.
- Detail in the distance: medium.
- Distance of displaying details of the external environment: average.
- Screen spaceshadows: local shadows only.
- Shadow maps resolution: low.
- Sun Cascading Shadows: Low.
- Sun Shadow Buffering: Enable.
- Local Shadow Buffering: Enable.
- Point Shadow Buffer: Medium.
- Point Shadow Quality: Medium.
- Particle illumination: low.
- Background Light Shading: Static Objects (GTAO).
- Screen space reflections: low.
- FidelityFX Super Resolution 1.0: Disable.
- FidelityFX CAS: Disable.
- Anti-aliasing: SMAA 1x.
- Depth of Field: Enable.
Optimal Settings for Starter Gaming PC (GTX 1660 / RX 590):
- Vertical sync (in game): Disable.
- Vertical sync (in menu): enable.
- Frame rate limit: unlimited.
- Screen format: auto.
- Rendering resolution: 100.
- Dynamic Resolution: Disable.
- Texture resolution: high.
- Anisotropic Filtering: High.
- Particle quality: medium.
- Particle resolution: average.
- Bullet marks and drawings: include.
- Shader quality: high.
- Tessellation: just beside.
- Detail level switching distance: further.
- Detail Near: Medium.
- Detail in the distance: medium.
- Distance of displaying details of the external environment: average.
- Screen spaceshadows: local shadows only.
- Shadow Map Resolution: Medium.
- Sun Cascading Shadows: Average.
- Sun Shadow Buffering: Enable.
- Local Shadow Buffering: Enable.
- Point Shadow Buffer: Medium.
- Point Shadow Quality: Medium.
- Particle Illumination: Medium.
- Background Light Shading: Static Objects (GTAO).
- Screen space reflections: average.
- FidelityFX Super Resolution 1.0: Disable.
- FidelityFX CAS: Disable.
- Anti-aliasing: SMAA T2x.
- Depth of Field: Enable.
Optimal settings for a medium power PC (RTX 2070 / RX 5700 XT):
- Vertical sync (in game): Disable.
- Vertical sync (in menu): enable.
- Frame rate limit: unlimited.
- Screen format: auto.
- Rendering resolution: 100.
- Dynamic Resolution: Disable.
- Texture resolution: high.
- Anisotropic Filtering: High.
- Particle quality: high.
- Particle resolution: high.
- Bullet marks and drawings: include.
- Shader quality: high.
- Tessellation: just beside.
- Detail level switching distance: further.
- Detail close up: high.
- Detail in the distance: high.
- Distance of displaying details of the external environment: high.
- Screen spaceshadows: local shadows only.
- Shadow maps resolution: high.
- Sun Cascading Shadows: High.
- Sun Shadow Buffering: Enable.
- Local Shadow Buffering: Enable.
- Point Shadow Buffer: High.
- Point Shadow Quality: High.
- Particle illumination: high.
- Background Light Shading: Everything.
- Screen space reflections: high.
- FidelityFX Super Resolution 1.0: Disable.
- FidelityFX CAS: Disable.
- Anti-aliasing: SMAA T2x.
- Depth of Field: Enable.
Optimal settings for a pre-top PC (RTX 2080 / RX 6700 XT):
- Vertical sync (in game): Disable.
- Vertical sync (in menu): enable.
- Frame rate limit: unlimited.
- Screen format: auto.
- Rendering resolution: 100.
- Dynamic Resolution: Disable.
- Texture resolution: high.
- Anisotropic Filtering: High.
- Particle quality: high.
- Particle resolution: high.
- Bullet marks and drawings: include.
- Shader quality: high.
- Tessellation: just beside.
- Detail level switching distance: further.
- Detail close up: high.
- Detail in the distance: high.
- Distance of displaying details of the external environment: high.
- Screen spaceshadows: local shadows only.
- Shadow maps resolution: high.
- Sun Cascading Shadows: High.
- Sun Shadow Buffering: Enable.
- Local Shadow Buffering: Enable.
- Point Shadow Buffer: High.
- Point Shadow Quality: High.
- Particle illumination: high.
- Background Light Shading: Everything.
- Screen space reflections: high.
- FidelityFX Super Resolution 1.0: Disable.
- FidelityFX CAS: Disable.
- Anti-aliasing: SMAA T2x.
- Depth of Field: Enable.
That’s all. Write in the comments if you have any questions about setting up graphics in Call of Duty: Vanguard or if you have technical problems with the game – we will try to help you!
