MSI B650 CMOS Battery Replacement.

[Grimley]

OK folks,
I'm in the process of upgrading my everyday rig, got a 9600x incoming, so I'm doing a bit of research on what motherboard to put it in. The last few rigs i've built have had MSI boards, I'm looking at a b650 board.
Looking at comments elsewhere, I've discovered that the CMOS battery cannot be replaced on a couple of these boards,
I've checked the manuals on these boards and it says so. MSI obviously designed this out of their b650 boards.
Now in 30 years of dealing with PCs I've very rarely changed the CMOS battery on a motherboard. Ive have probably only a couple of instances where I've had to do that.
I've had a look at a couple of gigabyte and ASUS boards. As far as I know, the ability to remove the CMOS battery is still there.

Having been on this forum for 17 almost 18 years, I know that the ability to remove the CMOS battery can make a difference between a working PC and a broken one, especially if the motherboard is out warranty and cannot be RMA’d

I'm not particularly happy that MSI have done this to their b650 motherboards, I'm not sure if they've actually done this to all of their current range of motherboards.
Even though I'm not happy I don't want this to sound like I'm ranting about it.

This thread is to make others here aware and to see what others here think of that.

 

[mickyflinn]

You may have to update the bios on a b650 motherboard for a 9000 series CPU to work so make sure the motherboard has bios flashback.

B850/x870 motherboards are 9000 series compatible from first bios so no worries.

 

[tamzzy]

I'm not particularly happy that MSI have done this to their b650 motherboards, I'm not sure if they've actually done this to all of their current range of motherboards.
Even though I'm not happy I don't want this to sound like I'm ranting about it.

This "safety" feature is in all new MSI boards.
But...you can replace the bios battery. You just need to remove the plastic clip that sits within the retaining latch.

I'm assuming they've done this because someone irresponsible has allowed their young kid nearby and the battery was ingested. Then sued MSI.

 

[freddie64]

Wonder if RMA will be refused if they find the safety clip has ever been removed?

 

[tamzzy]

Wonder if RMA will be refused if they find the safety clip has ever been removed?

Possibly, but by the time one would need to replace the bios battery, the warranty period would be long expired I would suspect

 

[WARburton]

Wonder if RMA will be refused if they find the safety clip has ever been removed?

i would think so as it would be classed as damage, but like @tamzzy said the batters tend to list a long time, i have a 7 years old board and the battery is still the same one as from new

 

[Rocky-Roader]

Due to having a slight OCD, each time I have looked through the window of my tower I have been anxious about the text on the battery being upside down.

A couple of weeks ago I tried to remove it and thought crikey this in tight I shall leave it.

Luckily I found the above YouTube video that @tamzzy has linked to and on Friday finally managed to remove the battery and put it in so the text is the right way up.

Putting the safety catch back in was a chore too.

The days when your uncle in Truro could call you up and ask you to talk him through replacing his motherboard battery are going to be a thing of the past if every manufacturer starts fitting these.

However if the introduction of this safety clip saves just one life - It'll be worth it.

 

[Scooby-DoobyDoo]

Had me worried for a bit as I have an MSI board. Glad I watched the video on the clip, it would have caught me out.