If you're leaving because you are dissatisfied with the job (your salary or role, etc.) you should give your employer the opportunity to address the issues. You may be surprised to learn that your boss didn't know there was a problem, or didn't appreciate the depths of your dissatisfaction. I would at least make a couple of attempts to outline what the problems are and communicate that these are serious issues which affect your ability and desire to do your job. Don't make threats. "I want to make sure you understand how important it is to me to have more responsibility and a career path" is way better than "If I don't get a promotion, I'm quitting", but it makes the same point.
There is a way to bring up your issues without sounding like a whiner. Make sure to review the section on dealing with difficult people for help in handling tough conversations. Your problems deserve some attention and response. It may be that your boss can't remedy the situation - especially if the problem is money or job role, but at least you have made him aware that you are unhappy. You can ask a couple of times, but if it is clear that your boss is unable or unwilling to give you what you want, then it is time to move on rather than repeating yourself in fruitless meetings.
One point: a good boss wants to know if her employees aren't happy and will try to fix the situation if it's within her power. But once you have expressed your dissatisfaction a bad boss may feel resentment or worse. That shouldn't affect your decision to talk with her, because a boss who feels threatened by a dissatisfied employee probably isn't a good person to be working for anyway.
