Black Ops 7 PC Specs Are Shockingly Low — Here’s What That Really Means

Why these specs actually matter

Black Ops 7’s PC system requirements dropped ahead of the open beta, and they’re unusually friendly to older rigs: GTX 970/RX 470 or Intel Arc A580 on the minimum side, and an RTX 3060/RX 6600 XT for “recommended.” This caught my attention because recent big-budget shooters have been drifting toward 16GB RAM as a baseline and mid-tier GPUs as the new normal. Treyarch and Activision are signaling a wide tent here-good news if your PC hasn’t seen an upgrade in years-but there are caveats that matter more than the bullet points.

• Minimum asks for GTX 970/RX 470 or Arc A580 with 8GB RAM; recommended bumps to RTX 3060/RX 6600 XT and still just 8GB RAM.
• 60GB SSD is required-spinning drives are out.
• TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot must be enabled, a likely anti-cheat requirement that can lock out older systems and Linux handhelds.
• The “8GB RAM is fine” line is optimistic for modern CoD—expect real-world headroom needs to be higher.

Breaking down the announcement

The minimum spec calls for Windows 10 64-bit, an Intel Core i5-6600 or Ryzen 5 1400, and a GPU on the level of a GTX 970, RX 470, or Intel Arc A580 with at least 3GB VRAM. Recommended steps up to an i7-6700K or Ryzen 5 1600X and an RTX 3060 or RX 6600 XT, with 8GB VRAM suggested.

Two quick notes. First, if you spotted an “Intel Arc B580” floating around in some lists, that model doesn’t exist—chalk it up as a typo. Arc A580 as minimum makes sense performance-wise. Second, seeing 8GB of system RAM listed for both tiers feels like marketing optimism. Yes, you can boot a lot of games on 8GB in 2025, but sustained multiplayer performance with background apps, overlays, and browser tabs open? That’s where stutters live.

The real story behind 8GB RAM

Call of Duty’s recent entries lean hard on texture streaming and background asset management. On paper, 8GB gets the game running; in practice, once you hop into 6v6 chaos or larger PvP modes, RAM usage spikes, shader compilation hits, and Windows decides to juggle memory, you’ll feel it as hitching. If you’re already on 16GB, you’re golden. If you’re still on 8GB, close everything and consider a cheap upgrade before launch—it’s one of the best value boosts you can make for a shooter.

VRAM is the other gotcha. A GTX 970 technically “meets minimum,” but that card’s infamous 3.5GB fast + 0.5GB slow memory split has hurt it in texture-heavy games before. Expect to run low textures and keep resolution in check. A 6GB GTX 1060 or RX 580-class card will have a much easier time at 1080p with fewer compromises.

TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot: why this is the sticking point

TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot being required is the most consequential line in the whole spec sheet. This typically ties to kernel-level anti-cheat. Valorant popularized the requirement; some big shooters followed. If your motherboard or laptop firmware doesn’t support TPM 2.0 (or has it disabled), you’ll be locked out until you enable it in BIOS—assuming your hardware even has it. Older pre-2016 boards may not.

For handheld and Linux players, this is effectively a “no.” Ricochet-style anti-cheat has historically blocked Proton, and Secure Boot/TPM isn’t a thing under SteamOS in a way these games accept. If you were hoping to hop into the beta on a Steam Deck, don’t hold your breath. Even Windows-to-Go installs on older PCs can stumble here.

60GB SSD and the storage reality check

60GB on an SSD sounds merciful for a Call of Duty, but remember: we’re talking pre-release/beta-scale content. Full launches tend to balloon with HD texture packs, campaign assets, and seasonal updates. The SSD requirement is standard now—texture streaming and shader caching just work better on solid-state. Budget 100-120GB free if you plan to stick around post-beta; history says the footprint grows.

Performance expectations and upgrade advice

If you’re sitting on a GTX 970/RX 470, expect 1080p low/medium at playable but not silky framerates. An RTX 3060 or RX 6600 XT should comfortably push 1080p high and 1440p medium with upscaling. We don’t have confirmation on DLSS/FSR/Frame Gen here, but recent CoD entries have embraced upscalers—if that continues, mid-range cards will get a nice bump. Intel Arc A580 owners: make sure you’ve got the latest drivers; modern CoD engines tend to like DX12, which is where Arc is strongest, but day-one driver hotfixes can make or break stability.

Bottom line: the headline looks welcoming, and it is—but don’t mistake “runs” for “runs well.” 16GB RAM and an SSD aren’t just boxes to tick; they’re the difference between smooth gunfights and micro-stutter misery.

TL;DR

Black Ops 7’s PC specs are low on paper—great for older GPUs—but TPM 2.0/Secure Boot will gatekeep some rigs and handhelds. 8GB RAM might launch, but 16GB is the smart play if you want smooth multiplayer. Plan for more than 60GB after the beta, and keep your drivers ready for day-one patches.