MSI motherboard CMOS battery obsolescence: Difference between revisions

Recent [[MSI]] motherboards have moved on from easily accessible clip-mount holders for their CMOS batteries. Instead, MSI has begun shipping board designs where the CMOS battery is hidden behind the {{Wplink|voltage regulator module}} (VRM) heatsink assembly<ref>[[:File:CSWiki MSIZ890Assembled Labeled.png]]</ref><ref>[[:File:CSWiki-MainboardBatteryMSI.png]]</ref>, and is affixed to the mainboard via a lead, and mounted with adhesives and shrink-wrap plastic.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=benjy124302a4 |date=2022-04-15 |title=MSI Pro B660M-A CMOS battery location? |url=https://forum-en.msi.com/index.php?threads/msi-pro-b660m-a-cmos-battery-location.374514/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260302095843/https://forum-en.msi.com/index.php?threads/msi-pro-b660m-a-cmos-battery-location.374514/ |archive-date=2026-03-02 |access-date=2026-03-02 |website=MSI Global English Forum}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=2023-11-29 |title=Where is the location of CMOS battery on this motherboard? |url=https://www.msi.com/faq/9918 |url-status=live |access-date=2026-03-02 |website=MSI Global}}</ref>  This substantially complicates servicing/repair of devices that are assembled using mainboards that have this layout.  For more than 40 years CMOS batteries have been standard CR2032<ref name=":2" /> batteries that are available, cheaply, at any store, and mounted in an accessible location.  This new board design means testing the battery now necessitates a full device disassembly, and replacing it requires a specific replacement part, with a specific plug interface, or the type of equipment that only a professional repair shop would have.  This pointlessly adds more consumer cost and increases the likelihood of an entirely functional devices being disposed of due to the failure of a simple battery.