General - Php.ini mail function

i am trying to configure the php.ini file to send emails through my domain email address (powered by googlemail) from my members area on my website (eg. account activation emails.). I have searched 100's of forums all claiming to sort it bla bla bla.
I have enabled the php_openssl.dll extension in php,,,so before any1 says 2 do this i have lol.

my php.ini config currently looks like this

[mail function]
; For Win32 only.
SMTP = ssl://smtp.gmail.com/
smtp_port = 465
username = emailaddress (noob cant post)
password = password


; For Win32 only.
;sendmail_from = emailaddress (noob cant post)


this show that i have the authentication set up. These are correct values also as i have a phpbb3 forum on my website and its sending emails itself through the same settings and being successful.

i have seen alot about programs like phpmailer being able to take care of all this...but not actually giving an understandable tutorial....eg i dnt want to know how to send emails...i want to know how to set it up and then being able to send emails in the way i said above (php controlled members area)

thanks for any help u can give me