Intel x3100 a possible chance?

Though most gamers tend to avoid playing games on integrated graphic. I incidentally come across to install Company of Heroes on my Vaio Fz140E w/ Intel X3100 integrated graphic. I knew that it obviously won't work, but then it runs and during the performance test with most settings low, FPS was 30-40. I am completely surprise. Is it possible that intel manage to pull itself off? Gameplay was smooth though some choking when zooming or mass explosion.

 

What resolution settings are those?

 

You should be able to play most current games at low settings. Games comeing in the next few months I am not so sure about.

 

I personally am quite dissapointed with Intel. I thought they were creating the next generation of IGP's, that could perform on par with some low to mid range GPU's. Maybe I was dreaming; even so, it is about time that someone revolutionized integrated graphics.

 

It performes on paar with last generations low end cards like the go7300 and ATI x1300. Intel claimed it was on paar with the x1400 and better drivers might bring it close.

 

And this has been proved to be untrue, which is why I'm dissapointed.

 

If you compare them, the X1400 is almost (not exactly, but almost) twice as good as the X1300, (refering to 3Dmark 05/06) Im not exactly sure that drivers can make a IGU TWICE as good. And i can run Company of Hero's 1280X800 medium-max graphics AAx2, no problems, 20-60 Fps. So.... the X3100, has a long way to go if the drivers are supposed to make that much of a difference.

 

I believe the x1400 is simply an overclocked x1300.

 

Did you install the beta drivers for the X3100 that allow it to use its hardware shading features? I recommend it.
XP:
http://downloadcenter.intel.com/detail_desc.aspx?ProductID=2576&DwnldID=13638&agr=Y
Vista:
http://downloadcenter.intel.com/detail_desc.aspx?ProductID=2576&DwnldID=13639&agr=Y

I installed the Vista version on my laptop but I have yet to test any games.

You would be correct.

 

Surprisingly, I didn't install the beta driver to run the game. Yet it still works on 1024 x 728.