Upgrading a Acer Aspire 5315?

Hello

I recently was given a Aspire 5315, brand new out of the box. So I was thinking of upgrading it, and using it as my primary PC for the time being. I removed the feeble stock hard drive and replaced it with a Sata 320gb 16mb cache. Also stuck another 1gb ram stick into it. I didn't bother reinstalling Vista on the new HD, thought Xp would run much smoother. But now my problem is that I have to upgrade the mobo since the graphics adapter is integrated and it stinks..Can't get much more than 8-16 FPS on Darkfall. So I was thinking if it was even worth it to just fully upgrade the Motherboard, Processors, and sticking a much bigger PSU in to it.

I am a newb when it comes down to laptops, and only have some experience with bigger desktops, etc. So I have been wondering, and searching the net for any tips or any sort of help I may be able to get on the best route to take.

Also, how do PSU's work on laptops? Are they integrated with the mobo?

Just so many questions lol.

 

Bump...

Someone has to know.

 

the PSU is the external adapter you use, the block thing.
so you wouldn't need to get a new one.

Edit: you would be better of just buying a new laptop since the mobo and a new cpu will cost a lot, unless you buy them from ebay or something.
you have the X3100 graphics, so do i. check this thread:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=128777&page=175

also for an external graphics solution check this out:
http://www.overclock.net/laptops-notebook-computers/266492-pcmcia-video-cards-laptops-do-they-4.html

I post as cccccc on that forum.

 

Finding a compatible Mobo to swap with the older one will be difficult, expensive, troublesome and in my opinion, not worth it.

Even if you could find a compatible Mobo with a more powerful graphical unit, you would run into problems with thermal dissipation

Your laptops heatsink system is meant to provide adequate cooling for an integrated graphical unit, which in this case I am guessing is an intel 3100?

Stick anything larger in there and you will be able to fry an egg as well as your HD and Mobo

PSU's on laptops work much like the PSU on an Xbox or any other gaming console. Whereas the "brick" is built into the cord and not inside the unit like on a traditional desktop.

 

Overclock your celeron for free performance as shown here.

If needed more cpu/gpu, consider offloading and buying a bargain gamers unit, eg: MSI EX625/GX620 or ASUS G50VT. Works out better and cheaper that way.

 

Thanks for all the feed back guys. I might just start from scratch, and not do anything else on this laptop from what I have concluded. It will be risky, and troublesome like you guys had mentioned