*****The GMA X3100 gaming thread - HL2 screens + more*****

There are quite a few questions going around about the X3100 and its capabilities. This thread is here to show you just what this chip is capable of.

Half-Life 2
Settings
Min: around 14 - 15, doesn't stay there for long though. Only when there are a lot of people with shadows. If I turn the shadows down I think it would not slow down as much.
Average: Probably around 27 - 30. Very playable
Max: 45

Most of the time I had framerates in the range of 25 - 35 FPS, mainly toward 30.

I'm running my X3100 with the beta drivers that can be found here - it enables the X3100 to use its hardware shading capabilities:
Windows XP Driver
Windows Vista Driver

Ok, enough talk. You wanted screenshots - you got 'em. Here's Half-Life 2. Pretty amazing! Settings are saved in the screenshot. Unfortunately none of the FRAPS FPS overlays were saved with the screenshots but I gave you a rundown of what I got. The FPS in these shots ranged from 25 to 40.

 

More shots . . .

Counter-Strike: Source
The last three uploaded pictures are from CS:S.

Stress Test Results:
800x600 High settings: 27.45 FPS
1280x1024 Low settings: 19.28 FPS

Half-Life 2: Lost Coast

Even if I enabled HDR it didn't work so consider it disabled.

Stress Test Results:
1024x768 High settings: 14.26 FPS
800x600 High settings: 18.02

This game is not very playable. It looks great though. I'll run it at lower settings later and see if it does any better.

 

nice, chaz

I say run it in 640x480 and hook it up to a TV.

I think that pretty much puts the intel x3100 at above xbox quality.

 

it was 1024x768 as it said in the settings.

 

Very nice thread, by chance does anyone have X3100 and CS:S benchmarks?
Thanks

 

I'll get CS:S downloaded and run some benchmarks for that too. I'll edit the first post and add them later.

Edit: I can't upload any more pictures to post #1 so CS:S has been added to #2. Enjoy.

 

Do you have any graphics errors while playing CS:S such as foggy models and gun/hand models disappeaing when looking at walls and other objects like I do?

 

Thanks so much. That answers the question if it will play games. The answer is a definite yes. I noticed your processor is a t7500. I think this also makes a huge difference. I don't think you would get as many FPS with the 1.5 duo core 2. Great write up.

Best Wishes,

SXO792

 

ㅜ.ㅜ looks like way powerful then original integrated graphics....
so chaz, can you upload any other new games?? like quake 4 and stuff...
i wonder if it works but it should run

 

No artifacts or issues like that here.

Actually you misread my signature. I have an L7500. It's a Low Voltage processor with a 1.6GHz clock, 4MB L2 cache, and 800MHz FSB.

I'll see what I can do. My ThinkPad does not have a CD drive so it takes a while to get games onto here.

 

When you installed the 15.6b driver, did you update the old one or uninstall the old one and then install the 15.6b one?

 

I updated it. It is not actually necessary to uninstall the old driver before installing the new one but it's safer to do it like that.

 

Oh... well, I tried both and I get this problem...

see screenshot below. Does anyone know how I can fix this? I have a VAIO VGN-FZ145E.

- Core 2 Duo T7100
- 2GB DDR2
- X3100

 

Any chance you could put it at like 1280x1024 at low settings, no HDR and get the FPS?

Really considering if this this "good enough" for occasional CS:S at school

 

I am able to run it fairly well at 1280x800 w/ Medium texture and model, low shader, trillinear lighting, no AA, no HDR.

 

I just finished playing an actual game (not the stress test), and you're right - I have the same issue with the disappearing gun. Maybe when the official non-beta drivers come out we'll get a fix. That is the only issue I've come across though. At least the aiming reticule stays in place.

It's definitely good enough. I'll try 1280x1024 when I get the chance. I was just on a server with the same settings as I posted above (XGA + high) and everything was fine. Definitely more than playable and it looks pretty good. I'm really impressed with the X3100 in these games.

 

Chaz if you get time can you try Batllefield 2 or 2142?

 

any hl2 lost coast?

 

That I can do.

It looks like I'm going to have to buy a USB CD drive for that one.

 

Isn't there an IBM ultrabase for the X61 Chaz? They are worth getting IMO. The one on my X20 was invaluable.

 

There is, but I didn't opt for it. It would basically function as a $300 DVD player.
A) It would anchor me to a desk (last thing I want)
B) It does not offer me any more ports
So it isn't a good option for me.

 

id say run the css stress test all low at 800x600 with a nice config to see how it runs. my 6100 ran well using those settings 50-60 average

 

$300? Yeah, USB DVD-RW FTW! They're only about £25 here ($50).

 

Uploaded another screenshot for CS:S. I also added Half-Life 2: Lost Coast and did some more runs through the CS:S stress test with different settings.

 

hi, can you try warcraft 3: the frozen throne?

 

I'm pretty sure Warcraft 3 would run maxed out on ANY new hardware. The X3100 will be superfluous in power.

 

ok thanks! i'm thinking of either buying a T61 with x3100 or with GMA950 and a 1440x900 screen. wonder if wc3 will work with full detail.

 

DON'T THINK, BUY IT! YOU CAN'T Go WRONG!
btw x3100 comes standard with the T61

 

i'm buying 2nd hand. i thought x3100 comes standard with x3100 too. then i saw this http://shoponline.com.sg/product_info.php/products_id/4390. i asked the seller whether its a 950 or x3100 already. hope he replies soon

 

Chaz, can you give me your Steam Account name. I want to add you to my friends list.

 

does anyone think that this X3100 is better than or equal to the 8400 gs? Im Trying to recommend my cousin a cheap laptop for under $700.

 

The 8400m GS is much better then the X3100 for gaming, but battery life will suffer.

 

By how much will it suffer?

 

I can't imagine it being more than 15 - 30 min

 

You should check reviews to fine the actual amount of battery life you are going to lose by opting for the dedicated graphics card.

 

I'm thinking of buying a Fujitsu-Siemens Amilo Pi2515 with core 2 duo T5250 CPU, 2gb RAM and a X3100 card. Would strategy games like the "total war" series work on a computer like this? The CPU and RAM should be more important for "big" strategy games then the GPU, right?

 

The GPU is always going to be the most important component for gaming; the RAM comes second and the CPU comes in third.

What are the requirements of the games you want to play? If they are several years old then I think they would be fine on an X3100.

Don't forget that we can help you find a notebook - just complete the FAQ in the What Should I Buy forum.

 

The HW req. for Rome:Total war is like this:

Operating System: English version of Microsoft® Windows® 98SE/ME/2000/XP
Processor: Pentium® III 1.0GHz (1000MHz) or Athlon™ 1.0GHz (1000MHz) processor or higher
RAM: 256MB RAM
CD-ROM: 8x Speed CD-ROM drive (1200KB/sec sustained transfer rate) and latest drivers
Hard Drive: 2.9GB of uncompressed free hard disk space (plus 500MB for Windows® swap file)
Video Card: 3D hardware Accelerator Card Required - 100% DirectX® 9.0b compatible 64MB Hardware Accelerated video card and the latest drivers*.

And, if possible, Medieval 2:Total war:

Operating System: Microsoft® Windows® 2000/XP
Processor: Celeron 1.5GHz Pentium 4® (1500MHz) or equivalent AMD® processor.
Memory: 512MB RAM
Optical Drive: 8x Speed DVD-ROM drive (1200KB/sec sustained transfer rate)
and latest drivers
Disk Space: 11GB of uncompressed free hard disk space WTF
Sound Card: 100% DirectX® 9.0c compatible 16-bit sound card
and latest drivers
Input Devices: 100% Windows® 2000/XP compatible mouse,
keyboard and latest drivers
DirectX: DirectX® 9.0c
Graphics Card: 128MB Hardware Accelerated video card with Shader 1 supportand the latest drivers. Must be 100% DirectX® 9.0c compatible.
Display Resolution: 1024 x 768
Multiplayer: Internet (TCP / IP) play supported;
Internet play requires broadband connection and latest drivers;
LAN play requires Network card.

I suppose medieval 2 is screwed, but what do you think abot Rome?

 

Anyone have any success with City of Heroes/Villains with the X3100? I played it (with turned down settings) on my previous notebook with a Radeon 200M with 128MB and a terrible processor (1.5Ghz celeron) and less RAM (1.5gigs vs. 2gigs). I'm not looking for performance really at all, just runnability.

I will be able to test it myself, shortly, so if no one knows, I can post up when I find out.

 

no, no, no not at all. The 8400M GS rips through the X3100. For comparisons sake, my friend has a hp dv2500t, and he can run HL2 at all high, with 8x af at 1280x800, with no AA and everything on and keep between 40-50 FPS.

 

And thats the 8400M GS that runs Half Life 2 at high right?

 

You guys think there will be any further improvements with driver updates? I've read something about shader model 3 not yet being supported. There are supposed to be drivers available in august that would support shader 3 though.

Think this would improve framerates and overall playability of HL 2 even more?

I will probably buy a laptop for my wife in september, which would have the X3100. Next year, when pc6400 and 64 GB SSD become (more readily) available, I'll buy a second one with Nvidia 8400. Both will probably be the XPS m1300 if there is no better light and small laptop out there by end of september.

 

It should be nicely playable on lower settings, however CoH/CoV are driver whores so the slightly dodgy drivers for the X3100 right now could dent performance a bit.

I think it depends on the X3100's openGL performance. The x200m's is famed for being awful.

 

There are going to be more drivers coming out toward the end of the year. We could see more performance improvements - remember that we have only installed the beta drivers.

 

Yes, and CS:S as well.

 

Is it possible to play Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War on medum-high settings on a GMA X3100 (with the beta drivers, of course) at an acceptable FPS? If not, will it play at low-medium settings at least?

 

??? I don't know, but lets put it this way... Intel is not known for Graphics cards, at least not good ones.

 

I know that. But it's a relatively old game. I think it will run, but I wanted to make sure. It's bugging me out because my friend can play it on his crappy PC, but can't play KOTOR, yet the X3100 can play KOTOR on medium-high settings, yet my friend with the X3100 says canyourunit.com is telling him he can't play Dawn of War.

(Also please no one tell me I should have gotten a dedicated card... it's simply not an option on tablet PCs.)

 

The minimum system requirements are as follows:

# Windows® 98/2000/XP/ME with Direct X 9.0b (included)
# 1.4 GHz Intel Pentium III or AMD Athlon XP processor
# 256 MB RAM
# DirectX 9.0b compatible AGP video card with Hardware Transform and
# Lighting and 32MB of Video RAM
# DirectX 9.0b compatible 16-bit sound card
# 4x CD-ROM drive
# Keyboard and mouse

The recommended system specifications are:

# 2.2 GHz Intel Pentium 4 or equivalent
# 512 MB System RAM (required for 8-player multiplayer games)
# nVidia GeForce 3 or ATI Radeon 8500 or equivalent with 64 MB of Video RAM



it should be fine.

 

Thank you, expo25kr