AOE3 Forums

The X300 is a low-end card, just playable beyond the traditional integrated solutions... most X300s are on 64-bit buses, which will limit performance by quite some bit.

Gaming with AOE3 should be done with AT LEAST 512MB memory if you want stable frames... your processor at minimum specs + 512MB RAM + video card should play it without any lag, at least on minimum details.

"1 question do graphics cards wear out?"
--Answer is no, generally they don't unless you overclock them and burn out, or if they overheat from similar causes. I've got an ancient 3DFX VooDoo 3 (about 7 years old), and its still fine, though its pretty useless.

"6100 vs 6300" - a page back
Well integrated solutions that rely on the motherboard/chipset for power generally perform around the same area. The difference can be anything from CPU-related to the chipset/motherboard manufacturer, and in some cases, the quality of the graphics unit. The 6100 is an integrated graphics solution, while the 6300 can be an OEM card or integarted solution. The 6300 is rare at best, and is likely a spot holder for days where they can't get enough of 6200/6400/6500-based hardware. Performance of both are nothing to get frustrated or comparing at.
[Edited on 8/3/2006]

ok thanks ex_pwn, this question really confuses me. Why are the x1300 chipset and the x1600 chipset falling behind the x800/850 chipset?

I need a little help.
My computer is a Microsoft Windows 2000 XP Service Pack 2. This is not meant to be a gaming computer. My dad bought it last year knowing this. Technology has increased and there are not any very good video cards out there for a PCI slot only. I do not have PCIexpress or AGP slots in my PC (i checked w/ my dad who works at lenovo). We have .99 GB of RAM, a 2.66 Ghz Celeron Processor, a good thinkvision monitor, and good soundcards, keyboard, and mouse. I even bought an XBOX 360 controller which fits into a USB port.

I looked at a few video cards, actually a few thousand.
The only 2 I could find were nVidia GeForce 5200 FX (256 mb video memory), and ATI Radeon 9250 (256 mb video memory).

Are there any other good video cards that work with AOE III and/or LOTR BFME II (I have both games). Basically when I run a "Will this work on my computer" check for AOE III & LOTR B4ME II, I fail only in the video card position. Everything else passes the recommended and required status.

HELP PLEASE, I need it badly, email is jblues39@nc.rr.com, or I just started this account 20 minutes ago, and I will check this. Thanks, god bless any helpers.

the geforce 1 might help it wont bring good quality of graphics but at least it will tun the game!

The GeForce 5200 will perform slightly better than the Radeon 9250 (AoE III also recommends NVidia cards). Neither will blow you away with amazing graphics, but should let the game run without problems. I'd recommend the 5200 on those grounds, however make sure your power supply can run the card as the 5200 uses more power than the 9250 (you'll probably be fine with either though).

Unfortunately you're pretty stuffed for getting a better graphics card, however you could buy a new motherboard for £20-30 and then choose an AGP card instead :)

how much watts would a 6600gt need?

Buy a new motherboard...that might be my only option. Is there one that you suggest that either --comes with a good nVidia video card, or --- does not come w/ a good nVidia video card, but has the appropraite AGP/PCI-e slots for a good nVidia video card?

Based on what I've seen and read, Even if I get a GeForce 5200 FX, The game will still be a little bit laggy, and the 5200 FX will help, but not enough to make a great differnce. I want to upgrade my computer for about $250-$300. If I spend enough time taking out all of the components, and then putting the motherboard back in, I would have great computer. I just want a good video card that will be good for 3 years or so. Should I go ahead and get a GeForce 7 Series or top notch GeForce 6 series to go in my new computer, or should try to find a motherboard with that already in, and atleast 1 AGP or PCI-express slot.

I also noticed that my computer has 3 PCI slots and then a blank slot that is nothing. In little white writing is says AGP. It was supposed to be an AGP slot but because this computer is an Intel like 850, not an Intel 865, my computer didn't come with that.
Is there any place you can take your computer and they can install an AGP slot, or DO THEY MAKE SWITCHOVERS, like something that plugs into to PCI slots, and spits out 1 PCI-Express slot...sounds crazy, but has anyone heard of that or know where to get one if they made those?

Any help would be appreciated.

well the intel chipet 865 eh. well it may have a agp port

yeah it has an AGP port check this site

http://www.intel.com/products/chipsets/865g/index.htm

i have the intel express chipset desktop board 915 (GAG) and that has a pci-e port but unfortunately i have the ingrated graphics provided by it... :( so i either want a 6600gt or 6800gs (depending on availbiltty

It does, but my computer doesnt, I just have a blank space on the motherboard, where you could have put one on during the building of the computer, I was wondering what can I DO with that blank space, possibly take the CPU somewhere and put an AGP slot/port on my motherboard, or is that not possible?????????