Which graphics setup do you think will work better with Age of Empires III

[DaveyTN]

I've heard this game will have shader model 3.0? Does this tell us which graphics subsystem would be better? I'm thinking about buying a computer and want to be as ready as possible for AOE III. Thanks!!

 

[biostud]

S3 Trio

 

[Matthias99]

Originally posted by: DaveyTN
I've heard this game will have shader model 3.0?

It's supposed to, yes.

Does this tell us which graphics subsystem would be better?

Not really, although SM3.0 seems to offer a small performance edge over SM2.0 most of the time. This would suggest a GeForce6-based solution would be superior, but you really need to see benchmarks for this sort of thing, and they will likely still be very close.

I'm thinking about buying a computer and want to be as ready as possible for AOE III. Thanks!!

Wait until the game comes out or they release recommended system specs, then.

Regardless, a 6800GT SLI will destroy any single video card out there at anything GPU-limited (which AOE3 almost certainly will be if you crank everything up, based on the screenshots I've seen). It will also cost at least twice as much as an X800XT when you factor in the added costs of the SLI motherboard and beefier PSU.