X3100 Dell XPS M1330 Enthusiast Information / Myths / Facts

Given that we have more than 125 broken GeForce 8400M GS equipped Dell XPS M1330 in this forum and given the rumors about all GeForce 8400M GS being defective more and more people are asking:

What can I expect from X3100 graphics of the GM965 chipset in Dell XPS M1330?

Office:

. Vista Aero works fine, no lagging even in 1920 x 1200 and 1280 x 800 in extended Desktop.

. The average memory consumption during office with a 1920 x 1200 screen is ~180MB. This memory is taken from main memory and can't be used otherwise. It may use up to 358MB, but I've never seen that. There's just one exception: If you have 4GB installed and a 32-Bit OS installed, then video memory is taken from unusable I/O area below 4GB. In practise this means with 4GB installed using GeForce 8400M GS or X3100 results in the same mount of usable memory which is 3,58GB (*) if I remember correctly:



Gaming:
Intel doesn't stop emphasizing that intel integrated graphics is good for gaming:
http://blogs.intel.com/technology/2007/08/gaming_on_integrated_graphics.php

Roughly speaking the performance of the GeForce 8400M GS, which isn't a great performer anyway, is still 3x better than the X3100 performance:
http://www.notebookcheck.net/Mobile-Graphics-Cards-Benchmark-List.844.0.html

Some feel reliefed once they discover that there is at least some performance left in the X3100:
http://www.computerbase.de/forum/showthread.php?t=309411
Some performance number os X3000 (not X3100!):
http://www.thinkdigit.com/forum/showthread.php?t=60232

Practise is different. It's not only about speed, it's about compatibility and stability. An image during gameplay might supposed to look like this one:



But you may end up looking at something like this:


source:
http://www.anandtech.com/cpuchipsets/showdoc.aspx?i=3258&p=8

In another game the textures of your characters might be invisible:


I also do see people encountering crashes in World of Warcraft. Therefore the best strategy for gaming regarding X3100 is: Expect nothing, but be happy if things run.

If you bought X3100 already for gaming, you might be interested in knowing how to switch between Software T/L and Hardware T/L:
http://www.intel.com/assets/pdf/whitepaper/318888.pdf
http://softwarecommunity.intel.com/isn/Community/en-US/forums/permalink/30229561/30255386/ShowThread.aspx#30255386

Heat / Power Consumption:

. Can't say for sure. I've done some testing and my current believing is that X3100 with GM965 consumes ~ 1 Watt less than GeForce 8400M GS including PM965 during Office work.

. During office my temps with T7500 @2,2V undervolted at 1,025V and ambient being 24,6°C look like this (A12 BIOS):


. Some guys asked me to play Trackmania Nation Forever in 1280 x 800 native resolution at normal settings and I did that. Look at maximum temps:


. The above temperature shot was taken after several hours of office, development use. Therefore the table on which the Dell XPS M1330 stands gets warm and cooling isn't that efficient anymore. I lifted M1330, such that cooler ambient air can reach the bottom of the notebook. Replayed Trackmania and got these numbers:


H.264 BluRay playback:

. X3100 doesn't have VC-1 nor H.264 (MPEG4-AVC) hardware acceleration for BluRay content. Only for wmv9.

. I don't have BluRay player in my notebook. Therefore I downloaded Wanted 1080p movie from Apple Trailers:
http://www.apple.com/trailers/universal/wanted/hd/

It's a 10MBit/s MPEG4-AVC encode:


And played it back using CoreAVC Codec. Output on 1920 x 1200 screen I got this cpu utilization on T7500:


Doesn't look too bad and has some room left. It's true that GeForce 8400M GS features hardware accelerated H.264 playback. But you'll need to buy a Codec using this facility. I think it's only included in the Ultra Edition of PowerDVD in case you're interested in HD (1080p, 720p) content:
http://www.cyberlink.com/multi/products/compare_1_ENU.html

Home Theater PC:
24Hz output support disappeared in recent drivers. There are also some issues with Denon receivers. Read yourself:
http://softwareblogs.intel.com/2008/05/19/less-is-more-why-24fps-is-important-in-home-theater-pcs/

CUDA:
There's no CUDA for X3100. But since there's no serious x264 development regarding CUDA currently, it doesn't bother me that much:
http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?p=1151050#post1151050

Linux:
. People love X3100 for being open source:
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=446978
https://www.linuxfoundation.org/en/Linux_Graphics_Essay

. Compiz-Fusion runs just fine

. HDMI made some troubles by outputing one pixel off: e.g. 1920 x 1199 instead of 1920 x 1200. This was the bug:
https://bugs.freedesktop.org/show_bug.cgi?id=15370
but its fixed in intel video drivers 2.3.2
http://lists.freedesktop.org/archives/xorg-announce/2008-June/000589.html

. I've been playing with WQXGA ( 2560 x 1600 ) on analoge VGA output. It's fun. I don't know for sure yet, but I think with the HDMI SDVO transceiver you might be stuck at 165 MHz signal bandwidth. If you have a display which allows to display low vertical refresh rates like 24Hz you might be able to display this using HDMI.

Mac OS X:
. Leopard 10.5.4 runs fine on integrated graphics on Dell XPS M1330.

. You will encounter one little issue, which is known as sleep trick to get the genuine Apple driver working, but QE/CI works just fine.

. Only internal display and VGA out work. HDMI will most likely never work (I think it does for GeForce 8400M GS).

Summary:

Only two days ago, I wouldn't seriously recommend anybody a Dell XPS M1330 with X3100 graphics. There was a serious issue, which resulted in data corruption with all recent intel drivers:
http://softwarecommunity.intel.com/isn/Community/en-US/forums/2/30250940/ShowThread.aspx
This got fixed in the A12 BIOS release. You may now use the latest DirectX 10 driver, which is currently 7.15.10.1472 (v15.9). I'm not saying it was painless to get where we're now with X3100 graphics, but it's great being finally there!

If you asked me whether I'd buy integrated graphics again, I'd say yes.

(*) Dell ships Vista with PAE mode enabled from what I read. If you do your own install, you have to enable that one as well, otherwise you might be stuck at 3,12 GB:
http://support.microsoft.com/?scid=kb%3Ben-us%3B929605&x=13&y=14

P.S.: HWMonitor is the only tool I found which reads the GM965 chipset temp and updates its values (SpeedFan will also read it, but values are stuck). Vista gadgets are nice to display those values:


To get those I needed a small adapter application:
http://blog.orbmu2k.de/tools/hardware-monitor-gadget-host/

 

So how much did Intel pay you?

 

I hadn't heard about that bug before. Maybe that's why my Vista install went bad and I had to reinstall. I'd thought it was due to a bad Windows update.

 

7oby,

Thanks for the info. Your info is enough for me to cancel my m1530 order and reorder the m1330 with the integrated vid card.

 

even with the problems with 8400, i still want a machine with a graphics card

 

@7oby: regarding the serious data corruption bug, i believe i experienced this as well (vista continually popped up msgs "xxx file is corrupt or unreadable, run chkdsk etc."). this was on a 1330 with discrete graphics card. i ran chkdsk a few weeks ago and everything seems fine now.

my question: after running chkdsk and repairing the bad files and then flashing to A12, am i now in the clear? or should i do a clean install? just wondering if my system is still somehow unstable even after repairing and updating.

 

You signature tells as well that you're really meaning GeForce 8400M GS. I do have some insight in this data corruption bug and this I can tell for sure: There is no way you could have encountered the same bug with the GeForce 8400M GS. It must have been a different issue on you machine.

Since you don't know the source of the bug, you don't know for sure whether it's gone. If it's not a hardware issue (run Dell Diagnostics), then it's most likely a driver fault. The driver with the most probability of failing is the graphics card driver.

Anyway: To verify whether your Windows installation is still valid open an "administrator command line" and enter:

Code:

sfc /scannow

This will verify and repair the integrity of your Windows installation. You may also open the installer of one of the most important application suites you are using (MS Office?) and check "repair". Just to be on the safe side.

 

Is it powerful enough to play older games (i.e. Warcraft III, Morrowind) on higher settings?

 

I can see that intel tested World of Warcraft since it is forced to use Software T/L in the driver configuration. It is also mentioned in intel's compatibility list:
http://www.intel.com/support/graphics/intelgm965/sb/CS-026200.htm

You have to reduce graphics quality (and maybe resolution) more than with GeForce 8400M GS. Image quality and fps are better with GeForce, but in general WoW with X3100 works:
http://forums.worldofwarcraft.com/thread.html?topicId=7015145587&sid=1

Regarding Warcraft III situation seems to look better. Out of the box, the framerates are aweful and intel didn't test the game. But switching from HW T/L to Software T/L does the trick:
http://forums.guru3d.com/showthread.php?p=2608157#post2608157

Why is Software T/L faster on old games?

Well, X3100 has 8 unified shaders. Those are split to be used for vertex processing (= HW T/L) and pixel shading. The vertex processing power required by older games can easily be done on the CPU (it's not very computation intensive) and you have more shaders available for pixel shading. That's why it's faster.

All you've got to do is edit registry and add your game to SW T/L List:
HKR,, ~WoW.exe, %REG_DWORD%, 1

Reread my top posting. It contains links to information on how to switch from HW T/L -> SW T/L.

 

Does this mean that the video drivers should be reinstalled after flashing the bios from A11>A12? Recommended? Necessary? Not needed?

 

If you had 15.9 in Vista installed before (*), you don't need to update/reinstall graphics drivers again. Otherwise update and get bugfixes and speed increase. Here's the 32-Bit Vista driver:
http://downloadmirror.intel.com/15884/a08/winvista_159.zip

(*) well if you had 15.4.2 - 15.9 installed with X3100 graphics and <= A11 BIOS, then you had memory corruption. In this case I recommend at least "sfc /scannow". Read intel thread linked in my first posting in section summary.

 

ran sfc /scannow.

looks like it was autochk.exe that got corrupted and can't be fixed (hence the rest of the corrupted files that accumulated). prob gonna do a reinstall later today.

 

"The driver being installed is not validated for this computer"

Vista Ultimate, XPS 1330 and Intel X3100.

Any clues as to why it will not install?

-Funk

 

. Download driver. Here's a link to 32 Bit version: http://downloadmirror.intel.com/15884/a08/winvista_159.zip

. unzip driver
. open device manager
. select graphics card
. right mouse button / update driver ...
. search computer ...
. select from list (NOT search)
. Have disk ...
. point to unzipped driver Graphics\kit13330.inf
. will ask for reboot after installation
. done

 

Hi,
i'm curious if somebody plans to do the GPU cooling mod on the x3100. On my laptop, the fan mostly starts running because of the temperature of the chipset/GPU, so perhaps with improved cooling connection this could be improved, so that it' wont start anymore
greetings,

 

I would rather like to underclock and do the copper mod to a 8400gs than having a x3100

 

well i have a desktop for gaming which has a much more powerful graphics card, so i only use the laptop for studying...
And i don't need a card which is likely to overheat my laptop...

 

There is not a kit13330.inf in the zip.

-Funk

 

I wrote directory Graphics\kit13330.inf.

 

I know, I looked in the Graphics folder and kit13330.inf is not there.

I do however have a kit13732.inf.

-Funk

 

There is just one .inf in Graphics folder. And the name of this .inf changes from driver version to driver version. I was refering to the most recent intel driver v15.9. But maybe they changed something in the meantime and the .inf name again.

You're fine just using the one .inf in the Graphics folder and your driver is supposed to be updated.

 

There in lies the problem. Using that inf I get the error message I posted earlier.

-Funk

 

Indeed they changed the .inf file (without renaming the download e.g. to 159b.zip):

Code:

Files Graphics/TVWSetup.exe and g2/Graphics/TVWSetup.exe differ
Files Graphics/hkcmd.exe and g2/Graphics/hkcmd.exe differ
Files Graphics/igfxcfg.exe and g2/Graphics/igfxcfg.exe differ
Files Graphics/igfxext.exe and g2/Graphics/igfxext.exe differ
Files Graphics/igfxpers.exe and g2/Graphics/igfxpers.exe differ
Files Graphics/igfxsrvc.exe and g2/Graphics/igfxsrvc.exe differ
Files Graphics/igfxtray.exe and g2/Graphics/igfxtray.exe differ
Files Graphics/igfxzoom.exe and g2/Graphics/igfxzoom.exe differ
Files Graphics/igxpun.exe and g2/Graphics/igxpun.exe differ
Only in Graphics/: kit13330.cat
Only in Graphics/: kit13330.inf
Only in g2/Graphics/: kit13732.cat
Only in g2/Graphics/: kit13732.inf

However both .inf files still contain:

Code:

%iCRGD0% = i965GM0, PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_2A02

which is the PCI identification, which has to match for driver installation.

I have seen this error that you reported, but only if you try to install by means of the installer or if you do NOT get that far to select "Have Disk ...". Therefore I included the step by step instructions (modulo translation errors from german). I'm clueless why it wouldn't work for you if you've been doing all this.

 

In Device Manager what do you have listed for the Display Adapter?

-Funk

 

"Mobile Intel(R) 965 Express Chipset Family"

I just went back to 15.8.3 drivers and then updated to 15.9 again. Even those changed ones with the "Graphics\kit13732.inf" in it. It just worked.

I asked you to replay the step by step instructions. If you still have problems please take screenshot of the failure message and upload to http://www.imageshack.us/. Also provide a screenshot of the window one step prior to the error message. Just before you pressed the mouse button and the error showed up.

 

7oby, are the heating issues very bad with the 8400M GS discrete graphics card vs the X3100 integrated graphics? does the 8400M GS make the fan turn on more than with the X3100? is the fan very loud? for just office work, would you definitely just recommend the X3100?

 

OK, this is embarrassing and frustrating. I've gone back and read your instructions, and I've also tried the manual installation instructions in the Intel Readme. Everything I try comes up with the OS refusing to install the 15.9 drivers because it says either that the best driver is already installed or (when using the Intel installer) that it's incompatible with my machine. Any further help very much appreciated...

 

Ditto, same messages I am getting.

Point it to the new drivers and I get "best driver is already installed". Try the Intel installer and I get the "incompatible with my machine" message.

-Funk

 

Even wierder...the Intel download I get from the link above has only "kit13732.inf" and nothing else...???

 

This is the process of updating your Vista drivers manually. Slight deviations from this process resulted in error message such as:

. This driver is not validated for you computer. Get drivers from your OEM / vendor.
. No updated drivers found

Step 0 : Download an uptodate driver. Intel offers drivers as .exe and .zip. Get the .zip version and extract it to some directory you remember.

Step 1 : open Start / Controlcenter / Device Manager

Step 2 : right click graphics adapter and select "update drivers" :



Step 3 : click search computer :



Step 4 : click select from list (that's the red box below):



Step 5 : click "Have disk ..."



Step 6 : click "Search ..."



Step 7 : Go to directory Graphics of unzipped driver and select the .inf file found there. The name of the inf file changes from intel driver release to driver release and doesn't matter. After selecting the .inf file, click Open :



Step 8 : driver location in path text field has been replaced with uptodate driver. Select OK:



Step 9 : one driver should show up in the following list. Just hit Continue :



Driver is installing ...



Step 10 : Installation is finished. Press Close



Step 11 : System will ask for reboot. Hit Yes



Step 12 : done

If the above procedure doesn't work for you, check your graphics chipset and whether you downloaded the correct drivers. If that's the case, but you still can't update your drivers then replace driver first by Standard VGA driver and after that installing intel graphics driver.

 

Regarding 8400M : I can't say much since I do not own one.

Regarding comparison 8400M GS vs. X3100 and fan speed probably ask user filpfire, he has both and can compare:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showpost.php?p=3628033&postcount=10

The fan runs most of the time at 3000 rpm and is not loud. For office work I would recommend the X3100, but I can't tell whether and how much hotter a GeForce 8400M gets.

 

OK, I must be an idiot...but following this procedure EXACTLY did the trick. Thanks! Not sure why other upgrade paths did not work...but what works, works.

 

Same here. Even got a .1 bump in my Vista score in Aero.

Any idea why this method worked and the other "standard" methods we were trying failed?

Thanks for keeping up with us 7oby, MUCH appreciated.

-Funk

 

I've noticed this jump on my system as well, but I don't care about Vista Performance index anyway.

Now that you know how to install a driver, you might be interested in which is the best. In this posting I've written something about differences of v15.8.3 and v15.9:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?p=3638843#post3638843
Also check user "Eason's" subsequent posting.

Another note:
There's also an HDMI sound driver in the intel graphics driver package. Some of those driver revisions resulted in no audio output on HDMI. The intel HDMI audio drivers are named "Intel(R) High Definition Audio HDMI". In case you don't get audio as well with a specific version, use the Microsoft default driver "High Definition Audio-Device", which worked for me.

 

Ehhhhmmm, new problem. Vista refuses to run several of the new files without approval on start-up (examples: hkcmd, igfxtray, igfxpers). I went into the file properties to try to unblock them, but no luck, even when signed on as the admin...any suggestions welcome...

 

> (examples: hkcmd, igfxtray, igfxpers)

I don't have that problem. UAC is enabled on my machine and the only application that asks for administration privileges is igfxcfg.exe. That is actually the application that is launched when clicking "graphic properties" in the taskbar.

I didn't recognize the other applications yet at all. But starting them from Windows\System32 doesn't yieldn in an error message. I even don't know when those are supposed to be launched.

The account I'm using is the same account that installed the drivers.

 

using HWMonitor

my 8400M GS idle at arond 62 in a 78deg room, around 70 in a 88deg room.... fan doesn't turn on all the time at 70-75

if i play games and quit(HWMonitor reports up to 95, someitmes 104 if im in a hot room), the fan will turn on and continue even if the temp stabilizes around 72....(probably becuase the CPU[~50] is hot as well)

 

Hi,

I see you discuss this famous x3100 equiped by the great xps1330 and now I know I am not the only one using this great tandem of modern technics...

I downloaded the last driver from intel (even it is still not approved by dell) and still have one and the same alwful issue:

When playing any kind of video on my computer (Divx, dvd, mkv, whatever), when there are fast moving objects on the screen, on random basis arise 2-3 flicking lines... it looks like the card cannot refresh the frame or something like this... when movement is slow - they is no such lines...

I ready all posts before and much more and couldn't found a solution how to fix it...

Does someone faced this case and knows some fix?

Thank you for reading it! Cheers!