System Requirements for WOW Battle for Azeroth World of Warcraft Battle for Azeroth Guide

Last update: 20 August 2018

World of Warcraft has been around for over 14 years. This is an old production, which can be seen in the graphics of some zones. However, Blizzard makes every effort to evolve, update and extend the old graphics engine as much as possible, which has changed the game's hardware requirements over the years.

It's no different in Battle for Azeroth - the expansion increases the system requirements, so World of Warcraft won't run on some older laptops anymore. Despite that, you may sleep calmly, it is still one of the most optimized MMORPGs on the market.

• Minimum system requirements - PC
• Recommended system requirements - PC
• Minimum system requirements - Mac
• Recommended system requirements - Mac
• How to optimize World of Warcraft?
• A few simple tips that may increase your FPS
• Graphics Settings

Minimum system requirements - PC

1. Operating System: Windows 7 64-bit
2. Processor: Intel Core i5-760 or AMD FX-8100
3. Graphics card: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 2GB or AMD Radeon HD 7850 2GB, or Intel HD Graphics 530
4. RAM: 4 GB RAM (8GB in case of Intel HD Graphics 530)
5. Disk space: 70 GB
6. Internet connection required to play: Yes
7. Controllers: Keyboard & mouse

Recommended system requirements - PC

1. Operating System: Windows 10 64-bit
2. Processor: Intel Core i7-4770 or AMD FX-8310
3. Graphics card: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 960 4GB or AMD Radeon R9 280
4. RAM: 8 GB RAM
5. Disk space: 70 GB on SSD
6. Internet connection required to play: Yes
7. Controllers: Keyboard & mouse

It is worth noting that World of Warcraft supports a minimum resolution of 1024 x 768 and does not support Windows XP or Vista. In addition, the game will not work properly on 32-bit operating systems.

Minimum system requirements - Mac

1. Operating System: macOS® 10.12
2. Processor: Intel Core i5-760
3. Graphics card: NVIDIA GeForce GT 750M or AMD Radeon R9 M290, or Intel HD 530
4. RAM: 4 GB RAM
5. Disk space: 70 GB
6. Internet connection required to play: Yes
7. Controllers: Keyboard & mouse

Recommended system requirements - Mac

1. Operating System: macOS 10.13
2. Processor: Intel Core i7-4770
3. Graphics card: AMD Radeon R9 M395X
4. RAM: 8 GB RAM
5. Disk space: 70 GB on SSD
6. Internet connection required to play: Yes
7. Controllers: Keyboard & mouse

How to optimize World of Warcraft?

World of Warcraft is an MMORPG, not a shooter, so it seems that the number of FPS (frames per second) is not that important. At least that might seem like that, but practice points to something quite different. The smoothness of the image is not only crucial for the comfort of playing - even slightest frame rate drops while raiding may cause serious problems. Not to mention PvP, where the opponent is waiting for our mistake.

For this reason, it's a good idea to tweak and optimize the game's graphics settings to get as much speed and quality as possible. If you don't have a high-budget desktop PC or notebook and you care about the smoothness of the game, we have a few tips for you. It turns out that in World of Warcraft some features can be disabled, which will have a positive impact on the number of frames per second, but at the same time will not spoil the visual experience of the surroundings at all.

A few simple tips that may increase your FPS

At first, it's worth reducing the quality of the Environment Detail option. It's responsible for detail of the terrain, but there is no major difference between the maximum value and the average ones (comparing 10/10 and 7/10) in terms of image quality. However, a reduction of this option can provide up to 20 FPS or more.

The same applies to Liquid Detail (water settings) and Shadow Quality (shading settings). There is no need to select the Ultra level when Good is completely sufficient.

In the case of Lighting Quality, which is responsible for lighting, if you have problems with the unsatisfactory amount of FPS, it is worth to turn off this option completely. And there's no point in using DirectX 12 if you don't have the right equipment.

If you are not a keen PvP fan, you will not benefit from the high value of View Distance. This option allows you to see distant areas. This means that the higher the level, the more details you will see in the background. This is especially handy in battlegrounds between players and when you want to admire the landscapes or horizon. However, in casual gameplay, it makes no sense to keep the View Distance at a high level - this is a very resource consuming option.

Graphics Settings

World of Warcraft has a variety of graphical settings, so everyone can customize the options according to their own preferences or hardware. Some of them dramatically improve image quality, but require the use of suitably strong equipment. Other do not have much influence on the game, although the connoisseurs will definitely appreciate the light reflections on the water, or the fantastic sunsets on Kul Tiras and Zandalar.

Below you will find a description of each function, which you can find in the graphics settings:

1. Display Mode - is responsible for the display mode: in a full window, in a window without frames, or in a window.
2. Windows Size - determines the size of the window in relation to the resolution.
3. Resolution Scale - is responsible for scaling up the resolution.
4. Anti-Aliasing - this function smoothens the edges of images. The effect is visible to the naked eye, but requires stronger equipment.
5. Vertical Sync - is responsible for correct display of games on standard LCD monitors with 60 Hz refresh rate.
6. Texture Resolution - determines the texture resolution of all objects in the game.
7. Texture Filtering - makes the textures sharp at any time, resulting in a blur effect on further objects to reduce CPU wear when the value of this option is low.
8. Projected Textures - determines the quality and detail of area of effect spells in the game. Reducing this option may improve performance.
9. View Distance - indicates the range at which objects are loaded to be visible from the perspective of our character.
10. Environment Detail - is used to determine the detail of the surroundings.
11. Ground Clutter - responsible for ground details like plants and grass.
12. Shadow Quality - determines the quality and intensity of shadows in the game.
13. Liquid Detail - this value indicates the quality of in-game water.
14. Sun shafts - provides light reflections in the sky and affects the quality of sunsets and other effects related with light.
15. Particle Density - affects the intensity of all particles in the game. This is not the most important option, but reducing it can make characters spells and skills look a bit unnatural.
16. SSAO - gives the environment depth and realism, but is not very important for the gameplay. Actually, this effect is not visible to the eye.
17. Depth Effects - determines the depth and sharpness of the visible image. The higher the value, the more items will be sharpened on the screen.
18. Lighting Quality - is responsible for all lighting effects associated with magic and the environment.
19. Outline Mode - is used to scratch important elements when multiple objects are on the screen. For example, in a crowd of enemies we always notice an enemy important for the current quest, because it is appropriately highlighted.