Vista - STALKER issues

I am not sure if this is a problem with vista specifically or if my laptop
just isn't right for running STALKER but i have run into a strange issue
regarding running the game at any setting other than MINIMUM for the
graphics. Here are my laptop specs:

Dell Inspiron 6400
Windows Home Premium 32 bit

Intel Core2 CPU t7200 @ 2.00 GHz
2046 MB RAM

Graphics card:
GeForce Go 7300 128 mb

now the recommended system requirements for the game suggest 256 mb graphics
card. with those specs would the difference between the 256 and 128 really
cause me to have to run the program at minimum settings in order to have the
frame rate at a playable level.

One thing i did notice was that after turning off Aero i believe (so
basically vista looks like xp with the grey bar for the start menu area) as
well as turning the battery settings to high performance rather than power
saver i was able to increase my FPS in game and run the game possibly on low
tho the FPS does get rather bad in larger shoot outs.

To sum it up i am just wondering if the performance i am getting out of this
game is normal with my current specs and should live with it or if i should
figure out why the game is not playing correctly.

Other games i have noticed the same problems with. Thanks a lot for any
help anyone can give me!