Grimrock

I am running on the following system (non-gaming laptop for VMs, etc):
Core i5-3320M (2.6ghz)
HD4000 integrated graphics
16GB RAM
Windows 8.1
resolution 1366x768 (it's a 12.5" screen)

The game runs fine, but not silky smooth with all the settings maxed. Once I changed the rendering quality to low, kept the texture resolution at high and it runs flawlessly. For my purposes, since I am usually using a small screen, the difference in graphic quality is negligible.

I am not running in 1080p, so that might be partially responsible, but it shouldn't cause that huge jump down to what you are getting. I have a Windows 7 VM running in the background, but that should only really consume some of the RAM. I do have a faster processor and probably more RAM (since 16GB is impractical and unnecessary for most desktop uses at this time).

For those of us with integrated graphics, we should not expect perfect performance, because these are not gaming systems. Integrated graphics are fine for productivity and some games, but if integrated was as good as dedicated people wouldn't buy or pay for dedicated graphics cards.

If I were you I would try lowering the resolution just to test if that makes a difference.

Your 3rd generation HD4000 is a lot faster than mine 1st generation HD Graphics, your card is a somewhat decent one for gaming despite its Intel HD signature
I don't know about the amount of difference between i3 and i5 or my 4GB and yours 16GB but i assume the difference is only found on GPU.

I'm not really seeking for perfect performance, just a bearable one and i can't really find it.
I'm actually trying to play the game with 640x480 resolution, VSync off and Rendering quality to zero. And there are areas (well not areas but scenes) where i get 15 frames and other where i get around 8 and these numbers does not involving any monsters or forest or anything, just in the open.

I strongly believe the number is polygons is abnormal in some cases where the horizon is deep and some kind of LOD is strongly needed for these cases. I don't care about stuff rendered in 1Khm from me while i can't see them and bleeding my no-gpu card to death.

For those of us with integrated graphics, we should not expect perfect performance, because these are not gaming systems. Integrated graphics are fine for productivity and some games, but if integrated was as good as dedicated people wouldn't buy or pay for dedicated graphics cards.

Well, i ended the first GR1 with my lowly HD child's play with high framerate. Also know that nowadays HD drivers are a lot better than past. I'm not asking for 60 fps, im way past them, just some bearable gameplay without need to wash the graphics on 640x480.

PS. i'm begging for the console command for showing the triangle count per-scene or some wireframe to get a "feel" about how heavy a scene is.