When you play Microsoft Rise of Nations: Rise of Legends, the game performance may be slower than you expect.

To resolve this issue, use the following methods in the order that they appear in.

Method 1: Verify the minimum system requirements

Make sure that the computer that you are using meets or exceeds the minimum video, processor, and memory requirements to play Rise of Nations: Rise of Legends. To do this, follow these steps:

1. Click Start, click Run, type dxdiag, and then click OK.
2. On the System tab, note the Processor and Memory values in the System Information area.
3. On the Display tab or on the Display 1 tab, note the Approx. Total Memory value in the Device area.
4. Click Exit to close the DirectX Diagnostic Tool.

Compare the values that you noted to the minimum system requirements that are required for Rise of Nations: Rise of Legends. If the computer does not meet the minimum system requirements, contact the manufacturer of the computer for more information about how to obtain the required updates and upgrades.

For more information about the minimum system requirements for Rise of Nations: Rise of Legends, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

Method 2: Download and then install the Rise of Nations: Rise of Legends update

To resolve this issue, download the latest update for Rise of Nations: Rise of Legends. To download the game update for Rise of Nations: Rise of Legends, click Check for Updates on the main game screen. Alternatively, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

Method 3: Compare the computer that you are using to other computers

To analyze the performance of the game on the computer that you are using and to view the ranking of the computer when it is compared with other computers on the market, visit the following Microsoft Web site: For more information about the Windows Game Advisor, visit the following Microsoft Web site: If the computer has a low ranking, you can improve the game performance by using the methods that are listed in this article. However, you may have to update the computer's hardware for optimal performance. For information about how to update the computer's hardware, contact the manufacturer of the computer.

Method 4: Change game settings

You can adjust the game settings to use fewer resources. To change the game settings, follow these steps:

1. Start Rise of Nations: Rise of Legends.
2. Click Options and Extras, and then click User Options.
3. Click the Performance tab.
4. Drag the Basic Performance slider down toward Run Faster.

Note You can experiment with this slider. If the game runs correctly on the lowest setting, try a higher notch on the Basic Performance slider until you find the best balance of graphics quality and performance for the computer.

Method 5: Disable the Hardware Shadows option

1. On the main screen in Rise of Nations: Rise of Legends, click Options and Extras, and then click User Options.
2. Click the Performance tab.
3. Click to select the Allow Custom Options check box.
4. Under the Shadows section, click to clear the Hardware Shadows check box.
5. Click OK.

Method 6: Reduce the resolution

1. On the main screen, click Options and Extras.
2. Click User Options.
3. Click the Graphics tab.
4. Under Resolution, select a lower resolution then the resolution that is currently selected.

Method 7: Restart the game after you receive an MSN Messenger Nudge

To resolve this issue, exit and then restart your game of Rise of Nations: Rise of Legends. To prevent this issue, sign out of MSN Messenger when you are playing Rise of Nations: Rise of Legends.

Method 8: Improve game performance

For more information about how to improve game performance, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: