This article lists the minimum system requirements that a computer must have to run Microsoft Age of Empires III. Additionally, this article lists the supported and unsupported video hardware devices.

This article is intended for a beginning to intermediate computer user.

You may find it easier to follow the steps if you print this article first.

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The following are the minimum requirements for a computer to run Age of Empire III:

•	Microsoft Windows XP
•	A computer that has a 1.4 gigahertz (GHz) processor
•	256 megabytes (MB) of system RAM
•	A hard disk that has at least 2 gigabytes (GB) of available space
•	A 32x speed CD drive
•	A 64 MB video card that supports Hardware Transform and Lighting
•	An audio card and speakers or headphones
•	A Microsoft mouse or a compatible pointing device
•	A 56.6 kilobytes per second (KBps) or faster Internet connection for online play
•	DirectX 9.0c

Note These are the minimum system requirements that a computer must have to run Age of Empire III. You may experience increased performance on computers that exceed these requirements.

Note To install Microsoft Age of Empires III Expansion: The War Chiefs, you must have Age of Empires III installed.

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Step 1: Start the DirectX Diagnostic Tool

Windows Vista

To start the DirectX Diagnostic Tool in Windows Vista, click Start, type dxdiag in the Start Search box, and then click OK.

If you are prompted for an administrator password or for a confirmation, type the password, or click Continue.

Windows XP

To start the DirectX Diagnostic Tool in Windows XP, click Start, click Run in the Open box, type dxdiag, and then click OK.

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Step 2: Collect computer details

a.	On the System tab, view the processor details and the memory details.
b.	Click the Display tab.
c.	In the Device area, note the name of the video card and its approximate total memory.
d.	Click Exit.

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Game Advisor

To determine whether the computer that you are using can run Age of Empires III, visit the following Game Advisor Web site: You can use the Game Advisor to download a small piece of software that scans the system that you are using. This software will help you determine whether a computer has the correct hardware for the game that you want to play. If you do not have the hardware that you need, the Windows Game advisor provides links to hardware providers that can help you upgrade the system.

To start scanning the system, click Start.

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Supported video hardware

Age of Empires III requires a minimum of 64 megabytes (MB) of memory for video hardware. Additionally, the video hardware must support Hardware Transform and Lighting. Your hardware must pass a system check when you start the game. If your video hardware did not pass the system check, you receive one of the following error messages that indicate that Age of Empires III does not support the video hardware:

Unsupported video hardware

The following list contains video hardware, chips, and chip sets that are not supported by Age of Empires III. For more information about how to upgrade your video hardware, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

•	3dfx • Banshee • Rush (Alliance) • Rush (Macronix) • Voodoo 1 • Voodoo 2 • Voodoo 3 • Voodoo 4 • Voodoo 5
•	3D Labs • GLiNT • GLiNT 300SX • GLiNT 500TX • GLiNT G1 • GLiNT MX • Oxygen Series Gamma2 • Oxygen Series R3 • Oxygen Series R4 • Permedia • Permedia 1 • Permedia 2 • Permedia 3 • Permedia 4
•	ATI • ATI ES1000 • IGP 340M • Mach 32 • Mach 64 • Mobility Fire GL • Mobility Radeon 7000 IGP • Radeon 7000 IGP • Rage 128 • Rage 128 Pro • Rage Fury Pro-MAXX • Rage II • Rage II+ • Rage IIC • Rage LT • Rage LT Pro • Rage Mobility • Rage Mobility 128 • Rage Pro • Rage XC • Rage XL
•	Chromatic • MPact
•	Cirrus • CL4610 • CL4614 • CL5462 • CL6729 • GD5430 • GD5434 • GD5436 • GD5446 • GD5464 • GD5465 • GD5480 • GD7543 • GD7548
•	Compaq • QVision
•	Digital • TGA • TGA2
•	Guillemot • GeForce 256 • TNT2 • TNT2 M64 • TNT2 Ultra • TNT Vanta
•	Intel • 740 • 752 • 810 • 810e • 815 • 830 • 845 • 865G • 915 • 915G • 915GM • 945G For more information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: 907881 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/907881/) Known graphics issues in Age of Empires III • 945GM For more information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: 907881 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/907881/) Known graphics issues in Age of Empires III • 965 For more information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: 907881 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/907881/) Known graphics issues in Age of Empires III
•	Matrox • Millennium • Mystique • Millennium II • G100 PCI • G100 AGP • G200 PCI • G200 AGP • Fusion G450 • G400-450 • Mistral • G550
•	NeoMagic • 128 • 128ZV • 128XD • 256AV • 256ZX • 256XL
•	Number Nine • Revolution 3D • Revolution IV
•	nVidia • GeForce 256 • GeForce 256 DDR • GeForce 256 Quadro • GeForce 256 Ultra • NV 1 • NV 2 • Riva 128 • Riva 128 ZX • TNT • TNT Vanta • TNT2 • TNT2 Aladdin • TNT2 M64 • TNT2 Ultra
•	Rendition • Verite 1000 • Verite 2100
•	S3 • Aurora 128 • Graphics Twister • ProSavage • Savage 2000 • Savage 3D • Savage 3D S3 • Savage 3D S4 • Savage IX • Savage MX • Savage4 ProSavage • SuperSavage 128 IX • SuperSavage 128 IX DDR • SuperSavage 128 MX • SuperSavage IX • SuperSavage IX DDR • SuperSavage IXC DDR • SuperSavage IXC SDR • Trio 3D • Trio 64 • Trio 64 DX • Trio 64 Plus • Trio3D • Virge • Virge DXGX • Virge GX2 • Virge MX • Virge MXC
•	Silicon Motion • Lynx 3D • Lynx 3DM
•	SiS • 305 • 315 • 530 • 650 • 6205 • 6215 • 6326
•	ST Microelectronics • Kyro I-II
•	Trident • 975 • 9753 • 3D Image • Blade 3D • Cyber • Cyber XP5 • Cyber9320 • Cyber9385 • Cyber9388 • Cyber9397 • Cyber9397 DVD • Cyber9520 • Cyber9520 DVD • CyberBlade E4 • CyberBlade i7 • CyberBlade XP • CyberBlade XPm
•	Tsend Labs • ET4000 • ET6000 • ET6300
•	VIA • CLE266 • KM400 • VIAS3G UniChrome Pro IGP
•	VideoLogic • PowerVR • PowerVR2
•	Weitek • P9000 • P9100

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Supported processor

Age of Empires III requires a minimum of a 1.4 gigahertz (GHz) processor. Additionally, the processor must support Streaming SIMD Extensions (SSE). Processors such as the 1.4 GHz Athlon Thunderbird do not support SSE. Your hardware must pass a system check when you start the game. If your hardware does not pass the system check, you will receive the following error message that states that Age of Empires III does not support the processor:

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For information about how to contact video hardware manufacturers, click the appropriate article number in the following list to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
Microsoft provides third-party contact information to help you find technical support. This contact information may change without notice. Microsoft does not guarantee the accuracy of this third-party contact information.
The third-party products that this article discusses are manufactured by companies that are independent of Microsoft. Microsoft makes no warranty, implied or otherwise, regarding the performance or reliability of these products.

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