Introduction

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare (2019) revolutionized the FPS genre with its stunning graphics and fast-paced gameplay. However, players often report FPS drops and lag issues, which can negatively impact competitive performance. This guide covers proven methods to fix FPS drops, reduce lag, and optimize your PC for smooth gameplay in Modern Warfare.

1. Verify System Requirements and Upgrade if Necessary

Ensure your PC meets at least the minimum or recommended specs for Modern Warfare (2019):

Minimum Requirements:

  • CPU: Intel Core i3-4340 or AMD FX-6300

  • RAM: 8 GB

  • GPU: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 670 / GTX 1650 or Radeon HD 7950

  • Storage: 175 GB free space

Recommended Requirements:

  • CPU: Intel Core i5-2500K or AMD Ryzen R5 1600X

  • RAM: 12 GB

  • GPU: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970 / GTX 1660 Super or Radeon R9 390 / AMD RX 580

If your hardware falls below these, upgrading your GPU or RAM can significantly improve performance.

2. Update Graphics Drivers and Windows

Outdated drivers are a common cause of FPS drops. Always keep your graphics drivers up to date:

  • Download latest NVIDIA or AMD drivers from their official sites.

  • Perform a clean driver installation to remove potential conflicts.

  • Keep Windows updated to the latest build for optimal game support.

3. Optimize In-Game Graphics Settings

Tweak the following settings to balance visuals and performance:

  • Display Mode: Use Fullscreen mode for best performance.

  • Render Resolution: Lower this if you experience FPS drops; 90-100% is a good start.

  • Texture Quality: Set to medium or high depending on VRAM.

  • Shadow Quality: Set to low or medium. Shadows are GPU-intensive.

  • Anti-Aliasing: Disable or use SMAA 1X for less impact on FPS.

  • Ray Tracing: Disable unless you have a high-end GPU.

  • Film Grain: Disable for clearer visuals and slight FPS gain.

  • V-Sync: Turn off to reduce input lag and potential stuttering.

4. Manage Background Applications

Close any unnecessary apps running in the background:

  • Use Task Manager to close CPU or RAM heavy applications.

  • Disable startup programs that aren’t needed during gaming.

  • Pause downloads and software updates while playing.

5. Adjust Windows Power Settings

Set your PC to High Performance mode:

  • Go to Control Panel > Power Options.

  • Select “High Performance” plan to avoid CPU throttling.

6. Enable Game Mode and GPU Scheduling

Take advantage of Windows gaming features:

  • Enable Game Mode via Settings > Gaming.

  • Enable Hardware-Accelerated GPU Scheduling if your GPU supports it.

7. Optimize Network Settings for Lag Reduction

Lag and packet loss can mimic FPS drop symptoms:

  • Use wired Ethernet connection over Wi-Fi.

  • Configure Quality of Service (QoS) on your router prioritizing gaming traffic.

  • Choose servers closest to your physical location in-game.

8. Monitor Temperatures and Prevent Thermal Throttling

Overheating causes FPS drops and lag spikes:

  • Use monitoring tools like MSI Afterburner.

  • Clean dust from fans and heat sinks regularly.

  • Consider better cooling solutions if necessary.

9. Advanced Tweaks and Config File Editing

For experienced users:

  • Modify Modern Warfare’s config files to cap FPS and disable V-Sync.

  • Set processor affinity in Task Manager to optimize CPU core usage.

10. Adjust Nvidia Control Panel / AMD Radeon Settings

Tweaking your GPU control panel can help prioritize performance for Modern Warfare:

  • Nvidia Users:

    • Open Nvidia Control Panel > Manage 3D Settings.

    • Set “Power Management Mode” to “Prefer Maximum Performance.”

    • Turn off “Vertical Sync.”

    • Set “Texture Filtering - Quality” to “High Performance.”

    • Enable “Threaded Optimization.”

  • AMD Users:

    • Open Radeon Settings > Graphics.

    • Set “Power Efficiency” to off.

    • Enable “Radeon Chill” only if it doesn’t affect FPS negatively.

    • Disable “Wait for Vertical Refresh.”

    • Adjust “Texture Filtering Quality” to Performance.

11. Clean Boot and Disable Overlays

Software overlays can cause stuttering and FPS drops:

  • Disable Discord, Steam, Nvidia GeForce Experience, or any game overlays before launching the game.

  • Perform a clean boot of Windows to reduce background apps and services that may conflict.

12. Defragment Your Hard Drive / Use SSD

  • If your game is installed on an HDD, defragment it regularly to improve loading times and reduce stutters.

  • Preferably install Warzone and Modern Warfare on an SSD for faster data access and smoother gameplay.

13. Use FPS Monitoring Tools

Track your performance to identify issues:

  • Tools like MSI Afterburner, Fraps, or RivaTuner Statistics Server help monitor FPS, CPU/GPU usage, and temperatures in real time.

  • Analyze patterns in FPS drops to correlate with background processes or thermal throttling.

14. Disable Fullscreen Optimizations and DPI Scaling

  • Right-click on the game executable > Properties > Compatibility tab.

  • Check “Disable fullscreen optimizations.”

  • Also check “Override high DPI scaling behavior” and select “Application.”

15. Reset Game Settings if Needed

  • Sometimes corrupted config files cause lag.

  • Reset the in-game settings to default or delete config files located in the game directory or Documents folder.

Conclusion

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare (2019) offers an immersive and intense gameplay experience, but FPS drops and lag can undermine that enjoyment. By verifying system specs, updating drivers, optimizing in-game and Windows settings, managing background applications, monitoring hardware health, and applying advanced tweaks, you can greatly enhance performance and achieve smoother gameplay.

Consistent maintenance of your PC and patience while testing different settings is key to finding the best configuration tailored to your setup.

Summary

By following these steps, you can significantly improve FPS and reduce lag in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare (2019). Regular maintenance of your system, along with proper game settings and hardware management, ensures the smoothest possible gaming experience.