MSI motherboard CMOS battery obsolescence: Difference between revisions

{{ProductLineCargo|ReleaseYear=2025-Current|Website=https://us.msi.com/Motherboards/Products|InProduction=Yes|Company=MicroStar International (MSI)|Category=PC Motherboards}}

[[File:MSIBatteryZoom.png|alt=MSI CMOS Battery Page in Manual |thumb|MSI Manual Citation |none]]

==Consumer-impact summary==

Mainboard CMOS CR2032 battery is no longer contained within a standard easily accessible clip-mount holder. Instead the CMOS battery is hidden beneath the Voltage Regulator Module (VRM) heatsink assembly, and is affixed to the mainboard via a lead, and mounted with adhesives and shrink-wrap plastic. All current models (2025-2026) of motherboard have a line of text in the user manual that states the following:

<code>● This product contains an irreplaceable battery.</code>

This is False. The battery is a standard CR2032 battery. It is not rechargeable, or unique, and is replaceable, with some extended effort.

While the battery remains a standard CR2032 coin battery, and the mounting mechanism is not completely inaccessible, due to this misleading language in the manual and obfuscated location of the battery, it is a blatant attempt to make the mainboard obsolete when the battery dies. Replacement requires service from an experienced technician, leading to more device turnover. For 40 years of mainboard design, replacing a CMOS battery has required locating the battery on the face of the mainboard, pressing a clearly marked tab and removing the old battery out of the standardized component clip slot, and putting a replacement one in its place. There is no reason to have changed this.

*Obtain a new standard CR2032 battery.

*Un-mount your mainboard from your computer case and look for several screws on the reverse side of the board.  Removing these allows you to remove the VRM heatsink.

*If your model contains an RGB lighting assembly on the VRM heatsink watch for the cable that is attached to the mainboard to enable this.  Remove that cable if present.

*Locate the CMOS battery and unplug the leads.  The leads should be a pair of black and red wires leading to a miniature mainboard plug. Unplug the connector.

*Dismantle the wrapping on the battery unit itself and un-mount the leads from the battery surface by either force, desoldering, or clipping them.

*Solder each lead to a piece of nickle strip, and use a tackwelder to re-anchor each strip to the battery surface.  Alternatively, simply wrap some electricians tape to re-anchor leads to the terminals though this solution will weaken over time. Upon completing this assembly to your satisfaction, move on to the next step.

*Encase the new battery with electrical tape and re-mount it near the original location. Standard double sided foam tape should function nicely for this. Hotglue also works.

Congratulations!  Your CMOS battery has now been changed.

MSI Motherboards 2025-2026(Current)

[[Category:Computers]]