AOE3 Forums

Due to the long list of cards, obsolete cards (all discontinued AGP and PCI-E versions) will be moved to the EOL list in each update to make it easier for those to find current cards at the performance points they need.

>>) I am not employed with Ensemble or Microsoft; I'm just helping out when I can :)

1) AOE requires a dedicated video card; some integrated solutions will play the game, but not well at all. If you're thinking about a memory (RAM) upgrade versus a graphics card upgrade, choose the graphics upgrade first if you are using an integrated card. 512MB of RAM is good enough for smooth gameplay... rest is heavily graphics-dependent.

2) This thread is for posting help about Video Cards and their relationship with AOEIII; I can offer suggestions and possible video troubleshooting issues.

3) If you do decide to purchase a graphics card, then refer below:

Depending on your motherboard, you will have either PCI-Express, AGP or only PCI slots. PCI-E is most preferable, follwed by AGP. PCI is not desirable at all and should only be used if you have no other options. Note that PCI and PCI-E are not compatible in any way.

A ! denotes AGP version available,
A ^ denotes PCI-Express version available.

For PCI cards, please read below on the note of PCI cards.
A bold name indicates Shader 3.0 support, showing support for bloom effect.

Shader 4.0, Direct X10 cards, are indicated as "DX10"

The cards are generally listed by INCREASING PERFORMANCE, except if indicated.

Low range:
(medium-average detail, 1024x768-1280x1024)

Nvidia 7300GS 128/256MB^

Nvidia 8300GS^ DX10
ATI X1300/Pro/X1550 128/256MB/512MB!^
nVidia Geforce 7300GT 128/256MB!^

ATI HD 2400!^ DX10

nVidia Geforce 8400GS 256MB^ DX10

Mid range:
(average-high detail, 1024x768-1280x1024)
nVidia Geforce 8500GT 256MB^ DX10

ATI X1600Pro/X1300XT 256MB/512MB!^

nVidia Geforce 8600GS 256MB^ DX10
ATI X1650Pro/X1600XT 256MB!^
nVidia Geforce 7600GS 256MB!^

ATI HD 2600Pro!^ DX10

High range:
(high detail,1280x1024, capably higher)
ATI X1650XT 256MB!^
nVidia Geforce 7600GT 256MB!^

nVidia Geforce 8600GT 256MB^ DX10

ATI HD 2600XT!^ DX10

nVidia Geforce 7800GS 256MB! AGP ONLY

nVidia Geforce 8600GTS 256MB^ DX10

Ultra-High end:
(high detail, 1280x1024-1600x1200)
ATI HD 3850 256MB^ DX10.1

nVidia Geforce 8800GT 256MB^ DX10

 

Flagship High-end
(high detail, 1600x1200 or higher)- currently the best

ATI HD 3850 512MB!^ DX10.1

nVidia Geforce 9600GT 512MB^ DX10

ATI HD 3870 512MB^ DX10.1

nVidia Geforce 8800GT 512MB^ DX10

nVidia Geforce 8800GTS 512MB^ DX10

nVidia Geforce 8800GTX 768MB^ DX10

nVidia Geforce 9800GTX 512MB^ DX10

nVidia Geforce 8800Ultra 768MB^ DX10
ATI HD 3870X2 1GB^ DX10.1

nVidia Geforce 9800GX2 1GB^ DX10

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Older End-of-Line Cards (better cards listed FIRST, decreasing in performance)

PCI-Express Cards, Shader 3.0 in BOLD:
High Range:

ATI HD 2900XT 512MB DX10

nVidia Geforce 8800GTS 640MB DX10

nVidia Geforce 8800GTS 320MB DX10

ATI HD 2900Pro 512MB DX10
nVidia Geforce 7950GX2 2x512MB See: 7950GX2 Compatibility List

ATI X1950XTX 512MB

ATI X1900XT/XTX 512MB

ATI X1950XT 256MB

nVidia Geforce 7900GTX 512MB

ATI X1900XT 256MB

ATI HD 2900GT 256MB DX10

ATI X1950Pro 256MB

ATI X1800XL/XT 256/512MB

nVidia Geforce 7950GT 512MB
nVidia Geforce 7800GTX 512MB

nVidia Geforce 7900GT 256MB

ATI X1950GT 256MB/512MB
nVidia Geforce 7900GS 256MB
ATI X1900GT 256MB
ATI X1800GTO 256MB
nVidia Geforce 7800GT
ATI X800/X850/XT 256MB
nVidia Geforce 6800GT/Ultra 256MB

Midrange:
nVidia Geforce 6800GS 256MB
ATI X800XL 256MB
ATI X800GT/GTO/GTO2 256MB

nVidia Geforce 6600GT/6800/6800XT 128/256MB

Low end:
ATI X550/X600/X700 Pro 128/256MB

nVidia Geforce 6600 128/256MB

Nvidia 6600LE 128/256MB

Nvidia 7100/7200

Nvidia 6200 128/256MB
ATI X300/SE 128MB
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
End-of-Line AGP cards(better cards listed FIRST, decreasing in performance), S3 in BOLD:
High range:

ATI X1950XT 256MB

ATI X1950Pro 256MB

ATI X1950GT 256MB/512MB
nVidia Geforce 7900GS 256MB
nVidia Geforce 6800GT/Ultra 256MB

ATI X800/X850/XT 256MB
nVidia Geforce 6800GS 256MB
ATI X800XL 256MB
ATI X800GT/GTO/GTO2 256MB

Midrange:

nVidia Geforce 6600GT/6800/6800XT 128/256MB
ATI X800/X850 Pro 256MB

ATI X700/Pro 256MB
ATI 9800/Pro, 9600/Pro/XT 128/256MB

nVidia Geforce 6600 128/256MB
ATI 9700/Pro, 9500/Pro 128/256MB
ATI 9550 128/256MB

Low end:
Nvidia 6200 128/256MB
nVidia Geforce FX 5600/5700/5900/5950 series.
Nvidia FX 5200/5500 128/256MB
ATI 9200/9250 128/256MB
nVidia Geforce 4 (all, inc. MX420/440/460, Ti4600/Ti4200/Ti4400)
ATI 9000/8500 64/128MB
nVidia Geforce 3 (all)
ATI 7500 64MB, NOT 32MB; mobile 32MB is reported to work
nVidia Geforce 2 MX400 64MB
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Onboard Graphics-NOT RECOMMENDED (although may still work):

Intel Integrated Graphics
G35-X3100 (reported working)

i810G/i815G/i845G/i865G/i915G/i945G/P965G

ATI Integrated Graphics

780G/V IGP (should work)

X1200/X1250 (should work)

Xpress 200M
ATI 9100 IGP

Nvidia Integrated Graphics
nVidia nForce 8200 (should work)

nVidia nForce 6100/6150 (reported working)

nVidia nForce 2

--------------------------------------------------------------
Former Thread:
Video Card sticky #2: Graphics Card Compatibility Thread V2

 

Due to university, that I will cease to maintain continual support here, as I'm pretty sure many of the questions are recurring, and that the game, along with PC hardware & software has matured to the new generation of graphics card-dependent gaming. I will try to update the front page with new graphics cards, but outside of that, I will leave the support questions to be directed at any other user that can help.
Hendrix has been doing a good job, keep it up!

Thanks for all the questions and issues you have provided us to keep AOEIII a great gaming experience for all of us.

Regards,
EX_PWN

Cheers!
[Edited on 04/08/2008]

For Beginner's guide to graphics cards please take a read here:
Beginner's Guide to Graphics Cards
Courtesy of Ankh:
Graphics Beginners' Guide, Part 2: Graphics Technology.


Hierarchy of slots: PCI-Express - AGP - PCI
(does not mean "better" graphics for a low PCI-e card vs a midrange AGP card, this is only upgrade-path wise)

***The Following For Users with PCI slots***
*** Please note: PCI and PCI-Express are not interchangeable and are completely different slots!!!

Desirability-wise, AGP and PCI-express slots are for the better of the graphics cards out there. Don't get a PCI graphics card unless you have no choice. There aren't many, if at all, AGP AND PCI-Express combination boards; you'll likely have one or the other (if you really have no luck, then you're stuck with PCI).

If you mention your chipset model, I can help you determine what slot you might possibly have, for example:

Intel i810/815/845/865 = possible AGP slot
Intel i915/i945/P965G = possible PCI-express slot

Intel X3100 GMA = possible PCI-express slot
ATI Xpress 200M = possible PCI-express Slot
ATI 9100 IGP = possible AGP slot

ATI X1200/X1250 = possible PCI-express slot

ATI 780G/V= possible PCI-express slot
nVidia nforce 2 integrated = possible AGP slot
nVidia nforce 4 integrated = possible PCI-express slot
nVidia nforce 6100/6150 integrated = possible PCI-express slot

nVidia nforce 8200 integrated = possible PCI-express slot

***I say "possible", since some integrated boards mentioned above DO NOT have AGP nor PCI-express slots. It is therefore necessary to check inside your PC!

All boards will have PCI slots, but don't fall on this option unless you do not fit in the above categories (or lack an AGP or PCI-express slot). Laptop users are for the most part stuck with the card they bought the laptop with.

If you are stuck with no AGP or PCI-express slots, then the PCI cards that should work playably, in order of performance:

ATI X1550 256MB PCI

ATI X1300 256MB PCI
nVidia Geforce 6200 128/256MB PCI
nVidia Geforce FX 5500 256MB PCI
nVidia Geforce FX 5200 128/256MB PCI
ATI Radeon 9250 128/256MB PCI
nVidia Geforce 4 MX4000 128/256MB PCI

***Please remember that you won't be able to turn on many eye-candy options with these cards. However, they will fare much better than onboard solutions, and more than likely eliminate the graphics lagging issues, i.e. ship battles.

Images of AGP, PCI-Express, and PCI slots

These are reference images, and not necessarily coloured the same as your motherboard's.

AGP (orange), PCI-Express x16 slot (red) PCI slots (white):
Albatron PX915P-AGPe AGP/PCI-Express combination board

The blue slots are PCI-Express x1 slots, which you don't need to worry about at this point.
[Edited on 03/17/2008]

Laptop information:

 

Most laptops purchased today do not come with a dedicated graphics card. Some of these integrated solutions include:

 

Intel i915G/i945G (GMA 900 and GMA 950)

Intel G35 (X3100)

ATI Express X200M

nVidia Geforce 6150

 

What you want to look for in AOE3 for better performance is dedicated graphics cards:

 

Low-end

ATI Mobility Radeon X300/SE

nVidia Geforce Go 6200

nVidia Geforce Go 6400/6500

nVidia Geforce Go 7300

nVidia Geforce Go 7400

ATI Mobility Radeon X1300/X1400

 

Midrange

ATI Mobility Radeon 9700/9800

ATI Mobility Radeon X600/SE

ATI Mobility Radeon X700

ATI Mobility Radeon 2300/2400 DX10

nVidia 8400M DX10

nVidia Geforce Go 6600

ATI Mobility Radeon X1600

nVidia Geforce Go 7600

nVidia 8600M GS/GT DX10

nVidia 8700M DX10

 

High end

nVidia Geforce Go 6800

nVidia Geforce Go 6800 Ultra

ATI Mobility Radeon X850

ATI Mobility Radeon X1800

nVidia Geforce Go 7800

nVidia Geforce Go 7900GS

nVidia Geforce Go 7800GTX

ATI Mobility Radeon X1800XT

nVidia Geforce Go 7900

nVidia Geforce Go 7900GTX

nVidia Geforce Go 7950GTX

nVidia 8800M GTS DX10

nVidia 8800M GTX DX10

 

For those with nVidia-based laptops:

If manufacturer doesn't have an updated driver follow these steps:

After downloading and attempting to install the latest Nvidia driver: Error message occurs.

1) Now, right click open area of desktop. Then hit properties.

2) click the "Settings" tab.

3) Click "Advanced"

4) Go to the "Adapter tab"

5) Click "Properties"

6) Click the "General Tab"

7) Click "Update Driver"

8) If asked to connect, select the "No" option

9) Select the "Install software from a list or specific location"

10)Select second option "Don't search, I will choose driver to install"

11)Click "Have Disk"

12)Click "Browse"

13)Go to C:\Nvidia\Win2kXP\81.98\ and click "nv4_disp" and hit open.

14)It should show you a list of graphics cards.

15)Select GPU (i.e. nvidia Geforce 4 MX420)

16)If noted that the driver is not certified, install anyways.

17)Reboot!

 

18) You should be good and happy :)!

 

Cheers!

 

Note: your driver number (81.98) may be different.

Some common graphics glitches/fixes

Be sure you have the latest drivers for your video/sound cards and have DirectX 9.0C and Microsoft XML 4.0 installed.

If you have tweaked any of your Graphics driver options, for example Image Sharpening, please reset to default if you encounter crashes.

Blocky shadows/units?
In graphics options in AOE3, turn shaders down to the "LOW" setting

Ship battle lagging?
In reference to above, you probably are using an integrated graphics solution. Try turning particle effects, tracer effects, shaders, shadows to "LOW" or "OFF". The issue is known; which is why a graphics card is listed as a "Required" component on the box.
Please note that although increasing RAM can help, the graphics card has a much greater effect on playability, and is a more beneficial upgrade.

Turn Water Reflections "OFF"

Trees blocky?
In graphics options in AOE3, turn shaders down to the "LOW" setting.
[Edited on 8/28/2006]

About Factory Overclocked Graphics Cards:

Most likely when you go to purchase your graphics card, you may notice that the manufacturer advertises a specific clockrate for both the core and the memory. These are sometimes marginally higher than the ATI or nVidia-specific reference clocks.

The performance increases range from negligible to almost competition with the next tier of cards.

Noticeable differences ONLY AFFECT HIGH RANGE and better cards. Don't expect overclocking of anything less to make a difference, if at all.

Generally, some of the ones you should compare clockrates of are ANY of the "High Range" or better cards. Clockrates on slower cards really don't make much of a difference.

When faced with core clock versus memory clock difference, generally the higher core clock/lower memory wins out over higher memory clock/lower core clock.

About Ageia PhysX accelerator cards:

While a great addition to a hardcore gamer's arsenal, these cards still have to mature as not all games support them, and the bonus effects experienced with anything but stellar cards is very little.

My suggestion is to watch the technology mature and be implemented in more games in the future. Currently AOE3 does not take advantage of PhysX cards.

AGEIA has merged with nVidia. PhysX will no longer be developed. [Edited 04/01/2008]

System Compatibility Checklist:

CPU: 1.4GHz or higher (although tests show that even 1Ghz is possible); AMD or Intel; Mobile or Desktop
RAM: 512MB (256MB just doesn't cut it anymore for gaming)
Power Supply: Recommended at least branded 400Watts, depending on hardware and video card requirements.
Video Card: Generally anything mentioned above
Hard Drive: Enough space to install, plus minimum 0.5GB free space

Sound Card, Modem, etc. all optional and don't impact performance.
[Edited on 8/3/2006]

Why do you sy taht the Nvidia 6600 LE is a LOW END card?? Its great no lag RAELLLYYY HIGHHHHH SHADERS AND GRAPHIXCS DAMMIT. Thats a graet card si why do you sy that??

welcome back EX_PWN :)