The FX series consists of a range of Intel and AMD processors. The AMD motherboard differs substantially from the Intel motherboad, but the general approach for opening the case is applicable to most models, as far as I can tell.
Place the computer on a surface with plenty of space. Disconnect the computer from its power adapter and remove the battery/batteries. Fold the screen back as far as possible and place paper or a cloth on it to protect it. This is quite important, since other components will rest on the screen as they are removed.
There is a single screw on the left side of the case, retaining the purplish plastic strip that contains the speakers, the programmable buttons and the power switch. Remove this screw.
Slide the panel a little to the right then lift it up, placing it on the screen unit. This exposes a screw near the F6 key on the keyboard. Remove this screw.
Ease the keyboard back and up, resting it on the screen and speaker panel. Take care not to overstretch the wiring linking the speaker panel to the motherboard.
The main user-replaceable units of the computer are now exposed. On the left is the heat sink unit covering the CPU and video chipset. In the centre is the hard disk unit. On the right is the CD/DVD unit. The hard disk unit must be removed before either of the other two units.
The hard disk crate is retained by four screws, as indicated in the diagram (click it to see a larger version). Remove each screw, then lift the hard disk crate straight up. There will be resistance from the connector cable at the top, however it should come free quite easily.The drive itself is held in the crate by two screws on each side, but it is much easier to remove the drive by releasing the two screws at the top holding the flat PCB cable, too. The drive can then be separated from the cable.
Copy the drive to its replacement using whatever tool you prefer.
The CPU is hidden under the fan & heat sink unit: see the picture on the right. Click on it for a better view. The unit is retained by 4 screws plus a fifth screw securing the groundingbracket. This screw is top left, near the mark "2/4". Remove the screw and be prepared to lift the bracket out of the way when removing the unit.The other screws, marked 1/4, 2/4, 3/4 & 4/4 need to be unscrewed to release the heat sink unit from the motherboard. Since the numbering may be the tightening order, it might be sensible to undo them in reverse order. They only need about 5 turns each, but because the unit has to be slid forward to free it from the rear cover, screw 3/4 should be removed completely to facilitate this.
Release the two-pin connector supplying power to the fan.
Ease the heat sink unit forwards and up. Be VERY CAREFUL here: it may leave the CPU in its socket, or it may bring the CPU with it. You really don't want to bend any pins here so you need as much "up" as possible. On my machine, the CPU came out with the heat sink. I separated the CPU from the heat sink very carefully, and noted the thermal conduction pad was bone dry.
If your CPU stays inside the machine, then you can either leave it well alone, unless you're popping a different one in, or check that it hasn't been disturbed by the procedure. The CPU is held by a notebook ZIF socket. The socket has a single screw on the right. Rotate this right to release the CPU, left to lock it again.
Click on the picture to see a larger version. The CPU ZIF socket is the white thing slightly to the left of top center. The socket's locking screw is on the right of the socket. It turns through 120 degrees clockwise to unlock. The video chip is below the CPU socket with the video RAM to its left. This whole area gets filled with dust since the fan seems to pull air in through both the air inlet in the left-hand side of the case and through the PC card unit (plastic bit below the video chipset).
The heat sink unit needs to be eased carefully into position over the CPU. Tighten its screws carefully, probably in the numbered order. The objective here is to apply even pressure to the top of the CPU.
When installing the new hard disk in its crate, leave a little play in the two screws holding the part of the connector that mates with the motherboard. This will make it easier to make the connection. Once the disk crate is in place and connected, replace the four screws holding the crate to the motherboard and finally tighten up the two screws holding the drive's connector.
Other very similar Vaio notebooks use AMD chips, and I believe the AMD equivalents are freely available so AMD owners may have better luck experimenting with upgrading their machines. The motherboard will look way different, but the steps involved are similar.
Spec sheet for the Intel Mobile Pentiums used in the FX series. It seems to top out at 1GHz.
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