I just did a fresh install of Ubuntu 8.10 on to a box with an intel
x3100 integrated graphics card connected to a 22 inch lcd (toshiba
22LV505) display that should be capable of 1680x1050. I do not care
about video acceleration, the box has a quad core that should be able
to deal well enough without, though it would be nice.

Using 'vesa' X11 works, but only for less than optimal values of works
(800x600). Using 'intel' I see a momentary bit of display screen, and
then black.

Does anyone have any suggestions (or for that matter example xorg.conf
's ?) I have included the relevant log and (rather pathetic) conf
files.

I see a couple of things that look interesting in the X11 logs:
(WW) VESA(0): Bad V_BIOS checksum
WTF?

(II) Module "ddc" already built-in
(II) VESA(0): VESA VBE DDC supported
(II) VESA(0): VESA VBE DDC Level none
(II) VESA(0): VESA VBE DDC transfer in appr. 0 sec.
(II) VESA(0): VESA VBE DDC read failed

Can I take this to mean that X11 could not pull compatible modes from
the monitor?

(II) VESA(0): Total Memory: 127 64KB banks (8128kB)
(II) VESA(0): Configured Monitor: Using default hsync range of 31.50-37.90 kHz
(II) VESA(0): Configured Monitor: Using default vrefresh range of 50.00-70.00 Hz
(WW) VESA(0): Unable to estimate virtual size
(II) VESA(0): Not using built-in mode "1600x1200" (no mode of this name)
(II) VESA(0): Not using built-in mode "1280x1024" (no mode of this name)
(II) VESA(0): Not using built-in mode "1024x768" (no mode of this name)
(II) VESA(0): Not using built-in mode "800x600" (no mode of this name)
(II) VESA(0): Not using built-in mode "640x480" (no mode of this name)
(WW) VESA(0): No valid modes left.  Trying less strict filter...
(II) VESA(0): Configured Monitor: Using hsync range of 31.50-37.90 kHz
(II) VESA(0): Configured Monitor: Using vrefresh range of 50.00-70.00 Hz
(WW) VESA(0): Unable to estimate virtual size
(II) VESA(0): Not using built-in mode "1600x1200" (hsync out of range)
(II) VESA(0): Not using built-in mode "1280x1024" (hsync out of range)
(II) VESA(0): Not using built-in mode "1024x768" (hsync out of range)
(--) VESA(0): Virtual size is 800x600 (pitch 800)
(**) VESA(0): *Built-in mode "800x600"
(**) VESA(0): *Built-in mode "640x480"
(==) VESA(0): DPI set to (96, 96)
(II) VESA(0): Attempting to use 60Hz refresh for mode "800x600" (115)
(II) VESA(0): Attempting to use 60Hz refresh for mode "640x480" (112)

Refresh rate issues, I would think...

-- 
Rob Wultsch