3. Download graphics-2.6.29.1-tinycore.tcz (I tried it under TC 3 too with graphics-2.6.33.3-tinycore.tcz and resolution changed 1280x800 inmediately in commandline just after download)
There's two different things here:
In tc-3, loading graphics-2.6.33.3-tinycore will cause the i915 module to load and put the console mode into kms - i.e. high resolution/small font
In tc-2, loading graphics-2.6.29.1-tinycore will not cause this to happen (kms wasn't implemented) and, in my experience, the agpgart and i915 modules will not autoload