Tricks to run Fallout 3 on Intel Integrated Graphics Cards

Hello everyone. This is not a mod per say, but a description of how to get Fallout 3 running on very low end PC's but still looking decent, particularly those with integrated graphics cards. My own PC uses an integrated graphics card; it's a Dell Inspiron N5110 with Intel HD Graphics 3000. When I first loaded up vanilla Fallout 3, using the d3d9ll hack, I could run at medium settings, but I dropped to on average 10 fps outdoors and 20-25 fps indoors, unless shiny surfaces took me to 15 fps or worse indoors too. Now I run on an average of 30fps wherever I am in the game (and I'm running FWE and MMM!). See the attached files for a very long description of what to do.

I also describe one of the greatest performance vs graphics hacks ever: setting your textures to low or medium in the launcher, than installing ultra High Resolution textures meant for really high end PCs, but where your PC can handle them as "medium" detail.

This lets you have textures at different levels simultaneously, not possible through the Fallout 3 launcher. To get good fps, run high textures indoors and low textures outdoors. Just check out the attached text file.

Personal Request:

If you have had success on your own managing to run Fallout 3 decently on a pretty low end computer, please share your own tweaks in the comments.

Disclaimer:

These tricks WILL make VANILLA (unmodded) Fallout 3 work as promised, assuming the only mods you install are the ones I mention. HOWEVER! Installing additional mods that add new buildings, creatures, and NPCs MAY include textures or lighting that makes you lag. For example, I am running Fallout Wanderer's Edition without any of its scripts causing me lag, but to run Mart's Mutant Mod I had to do some tweaking. In my case, I had to disable Wannamingos, Stalker Creatures, and Young Creatures. For some reason, my computer hated Wanamingo textures, and any spawn point for Stalker or Young Creatures lagged me regardless of texture size.

As you increase spawns with MMM, you will have to tone down actor fade from it's max value.

CHANGELOG: 1. 0: Posted text file of tweaks. 1. 1: Added disclaimer about extra modding. 1. 2: Added disclaimer about running Mart's Mutant Mod and the level of Actor Fade.

Credits: The internets (lots of forums, modders on the Nexus)