Overwatch 2 Gaming PC Builds & Requirements

Overwatch 2 is the newest iteration in the Overwatch franchise and brings functionality and visual changes enabling higher FPS on a range of PC hardware. Overwatch 2 is built, like most other competitive shooters, to prioritize refresh rate depending on the game settings so people have the most real-time view on screen at any given time. Games like these are often CPU bound but need a decent GPU to pick up the slack in generating frames.

Overwatch 2 can run on an unspecified i3 Intel processor or an AMD Phenom processor with at least 2.3 Ghz clock speed and a GPU with at least 1GB of VRAM. This is not recommended if you plan on playing at a higher resolution.

Apex Gaming PCs recommends going with at least a 4 core CPU like the Ryzen 4100 combined with a GTX 1650, for the best entry level experience on 1080p monitors.

This article reviews every consideration made when wanting to get the most out of Overwatch 2 and how much peripherals can play into a competitive experience.

Does Overwatch 2 Need a Powerful PC?

Overwatch 2 by itself does not need a very powerful gaming PC and can also be played on all major consoles including the Nintendo Switch. Where the need for a more PC oriented experience comes is competitive play and the reaction time accompanying that. 

Overwatch 2 System Requirements

Here are the minimum and recommended requirements for Overwatch 2. 

Minimum Requirements: 

Operating System: Windows® 10 64-bit (latest Service Pack)

Processor: Intel® Core™ i3 or AMD Phenom™

Video Card: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 600 series, AMD Radeon HD 7000 series(≥1GB VRAM)

Memory: 6 GB RAM

Storage: 50 GB available hard drive space

Resolution: 1024 x 768 minimum display resolution

Recommended Specifications:

Operating System: Windows® 10 64-bit (latest Service Pack)

Processor: Intel® Core™ i7 or Ryzen™ 5  

Video Card: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 16 series, AMD RX 380 (≥4GB VRAM)

Memory: 8 GB RAM

Storage: 50 GB available hard drive space

Resolution: 1920x 1080 recommended display resolution

Overwatch 2 Gaming PC Builds

Apex Gaming PCs offer a wide range of PCs able to run Overwatch 2, depending on your price bracket, from machines explicitly built to pass the minimum or recommended settings to luxurious PCs able to output the highest refresh rate for a competitive edge.

Budget

You don’t have to have the best hardware to make a high refresh rate and responsive system for Overwatch 2. I would recommend going with our Apex Bronze with 16GB of RAM and a GTX 1650 meeting the recommended systems specs for Overwatch 2 at 1080p resolutions. 

Mid-Tier

For something that can hold its own on larger resolutions or higher refresh rate, getting a mid tier system like our Apex Alpha which has access to the latest and previous generation of Intel, Nvidia, and AMD hardware. This also includes a larger airflow oriented case for CPU cooling solutions like 240mm or 360mm AIO.

High-Tier

To get little to no compromise on your PC’s performance, going with a higher tier of components allows for Overwatch 2 to be unconstructed and run at higher refresh rates on 280Htz 1080p monitors, allowing for the most optimized performance regarding reaction time. We would choose the Apex Carbon to best fit the needs of any 1080p or 1440p gamer at stock values.

Ultimate

For the best no compromise experience in Overwatch 2 or any other game on the market, consider getting an Apex Xtreme with an RTX 4080 and an Intel i7 or i9 13700KF/13900KF guaranteeing over 300 FPS on 1080p and 1440p monitors and upwards of 200 FPS on 4k monitors. 

Recommended Gaming PC Components for Overwatch 2

If you want to go a more custom route with your gaming PC, mixing and matching the best components may be right up your alley. Understanding how each piece of hardware interacts with each other when considering Overwatch 2’s performance enables every bit of performance to be squeezed out of your desktop.

You can see a detailed list of statics regrading GPUs and CPUs used for Overwatch 2 and the prices vs. performance. 

GPUs

Using the data we know about performance between the latest AMD and Nvidia products, then AMD is outperformed by Nvidia; but not in a bad way. At almost ½  the price of the highest card variants from Nvidia, AMD delivers just below 15% of the performance of Nvidia cards at ¾ the power consumption.

If raw performance is your goal, then get a Nvidia card and preferably a G sync monitor to alleviate screen tearing. If your price for gaming is significantly lower; then going with AMD will be your best bet.

CPU

CPUs are the cornerstone for Overwatch 2 as a main requirement is to buffer as many frames for the GPU to render as possible. As of writing, Intel’s 13th gen. CPUs are known for their stability regarding new technology like DDR5 and DDR4 motherboards.

This has also translated to game development, as having support for legacy hardware makes performance more stable as opposed to adopting new technology.

Ideal Overwatch 2 Settings

In addition to a gaming PC that runs Overwatch 2, optimizing your in-game settings allows any connected monitor to get the most out of your system.

-Make sure your screen option is set to “Window Borderless” for ease of access with multiple monitors or a singular monitor.

-Enable Nvidia Reflex to better accommodate system lag time especially if you have a Gsync or Freesync compatible monitor with a Nvidia GPU.

-Overwatch 2 automatically caps your frame rate at your system’s frame rate output, if you encounter frame tearing on automatic, make sure to check your PC’s refresh settings by right clicking the desktop and clicking “display settings” and check your refresh rate.  

-While having the best components generally maxes out Overwatch 2’s performance on any given monitor, make sure to lower your texture quality if your PC is not capping out the frame rate. 

Overwatch 2 Gaming PC Build FAQ

Here are some frequently asked questions regarding optimizing and understanding the requirements for Overwatch 2.

Is Overwatch 2 a Demanding Game on PC?

No, any system with dedicated graphics from the last 13 years can run Overwatch 2 at its minimum or recommended settings. The only demanding portion of Overwatch 2 is the refresh rate and maxing it out as much as possible for the best competitive edge.

Is Overwatch 2 CPU Intensive?

Yes, like most competitive games like Rainbow Six Siege, CSGO, or DOTA 2, Overwatch 2 relies on the CPU to do most of the heavy lifting due to being a primarily online service with the client’s hardware only needing to keep up in connection speed and performance.

Do You Need a Good Graphics Card for Overwatch 2?

Not particularly, GPUs that have 1GB of VRAM are capable of running Overwatch. However it is recommended to have at least 4GB for modern systems as that allows for higher refresh rates and graphic performance.

Summary of Overwatch 2 Gaming PC Builds

Whether you are in it for a competitive thrill or just want to play causally, Overwatch 2 has a wide range of appeal for a wide range of hardware. With further support for the game assured for the community and its competitive player base, getting into Overwatch 2 has never been this easy.

At Apex Gaming PCs, we commit to offering affordable and luxurious systems for games like Overwatch 2 for the best competitive edge. In addition to the required hardware, our cases are also airflow oriented to make sure our systems are the coolest they can be. Whatever your Overwatch 2 system needs, we hope to be of service at Apex!

Written By William Wilson

Photos Credits: Dylan Lam

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