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Bethesda released the necessary PC specs for Oblivion. Overall, not too bad.

Recommended:

* 3 Ghz Intel Pentium 4 or equivalent processor
* 1 GB System RAM
* ATI X800 series, Nvidia GeForce 6800 series, or higher video card

Minimum System Requirements:

* Windows XP
* 512MB System RAM
* 2 Ghz Intel Pentium 4 or equivalent processor
* 128MB Direct3D compatible video card
* and DirectX 9.0 compatible driver;
* 8x DVD-ROM drive
* 4.6 GB free hard disk space
* DirectX 9.0c (included)
* DirectX 8.1 compatible sound card
* Keyboard, Mouse

My system should be able to EASILY handle this. Oh hey, what’s this? It looks like Bethesda also included a list of “Supported Video Card Chipsets:”

* ATI X1800 series
* ATI X1300 series
* ATI X850 series
* ATI x800 series
* ATI x700 series
* ATI x600 series
* ATI Radeon 9800 series
* ATI Radeon 9700 series
* ATI Radeon 9600 series
* ATI Radeon 9500 series
* ATI Radeon 9000 series
* NVIDIA Geforce 7800 series
* NVIDIA GeForce 6800 series
* NVIDIA GeForce FX series

Oh look, the nVidia 6600 series isn’t listed. Yeah, basically, one of the most powerful and affordable subsets of nVidia graphics cards (especially when used in SLI) have been ignored. I’d like to point out that a single 6600 GT benchmarks HIGHER than the early 6800’s. Thanks, Bethesda! Those of us that don’t HEMORHAGE money for our computers’ video cards are completely shafted.

UPDATE: This just in from the Bethesda forums:

We aren’t done adding to the list and that, along with other cards, will be added today to the list.

You’re welcome, for nothing.

Good to hear.