MSI motherboard CMOS battery obsolescence

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Background

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 voltage regulator module (VRM) heatsink assembly, and is affixed to the mainboard via a lead, and mounted with adhesives and shrink-wrap plastic.^[1]^[2] 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^[3] 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.

MSI Motherboard CMOS Battery Obsolescence

MSI Mainboard CMOS CR2032 batteries are no longer contained within a standard easily accessible clip-mount holder. Instead the CMOS battery is hidden beneath the VRM heatsink assembly, and is affixed to the mainboard via a lead, and mounted with adhesives and shrink-wrap plastic.^[1]^[2] Some of the lower-end tier models of MSI motherboard still have a clip-mount, but it is blocked by heatsinks (that are not part of the VRM assembly). All current models (2025-2026) of motherboard have a line of text in the user manual that states the following:

● This product contains an irreplaceable battery.^[4]

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.

The operating temperature of a CR coin cell is typically -30°C to 85°C, it's recommended to consult the manufacturer should the temperature exceeds 70°C^[3]. VRMs typically run at higher temperatures typically around 80°C to 90°C, with safe operating temperature exceeding 100°C^[5]. Mounting the CMOS battery at or very close to the VRM heatsink can reduce the battery life.

MSI's response

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Lawsuit

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Consumer response

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Workarounds

If your CMOS battery dies and needs replacing, here are some steps to follow to replace your 'irreplaceable' battery.

CMOS Battery Location

MSI Z890 Edge TI Wifi Mainboard with VRM heatsink removed and CMOS battery highlighted

Obtain a new standard CR2032 battery. Alternatively, replacement CR2032 for MSI Laptops that ship with the lead are available from third party vendors. The connectors from these products appear to match the MSI mainboard plug, though this is unconfirmed. If you have obtained one of these and the connector fits, you will not need a tack welder or shrink wrap in the steps below.
Un-mount your mainboard from your computer case and look for several screws on the reverse side of the board opposing the VRM assembly. Removing these allows you to remove the VRM heatsink.
Be mindful of the exposed thermal pads, and keep them clean while performing this process. Cover exposed pads with plastic wrap if your work environment is not clean.
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. Carefully unplug 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.
If you are using a standard CR2032 replacement battery :
- 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 tack-welder to re-anchor each strip to the correct polarity battery surface. Alternatively, simply wrap some electricians tape to re-anchor leads to the terminals, though be mindful, that tape adhesive will weaken over time, leading to possible loose connections. Tack welding is preferable. Upon completing this assembly to your satisfaction, move on to the next step.
- Encase the new battery with electrical tape or heat shrink-wrap.
Re-mount it near the original location. Standard double sided foam tape should function nicely for this. Hotglue also works.
Replace the VRM heatsink, ensuring good contact across all thermal pads, and reconnecting the RGB lighting connector if it is present.
Re-Anchor the screws on the opposing side of the PCB.

Your CMOS battery has now been changed. Reassemble the device, and test .

References

↑ ^1.0 ^1.1 benjy124302a4 (2022-04-15). "MSI Pro B660M-A CMOS battery location?". MSI Global English Forum. Archived from the original on 2026-03-02. Retrieved 2026-03-02.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
↑ ^2.0 ^2.1 "Where is the location of CMOS battery on this motherboard?". MSI Global. 2023-11-29. Retrieved 2026-03-02.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
↑ ^3.0 ^3.1 "CR2032 CR Coin-type Lithium Battery" (PDF). Panasonic Energy. 2024-07-01. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2026-03-02. Retrieved 2026-03-02.
↑ "MEGZ890GODLIKE_English.pdf" (PDF). MSI Global. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2026-03-02. Retrieved 2026-03-02.
↑ u/jayyywhattt (2022-01-07). "Motherboard, vrm temperatures". Reddit. Archived from the original on 2026-03-02. Retrieved 2026-03-02.