The Official 1722/GX720 Lounge

It comes pre-wired for 3.

There's a vendor on eBay selling them for $299.00 NEW SHIPPED.

The problem with the 1722's now is tracking down the standard Superdrive. Everyplace is consistently sold out with 2-3wk lead times.

BTW, thanks to all for the +rep. Much appreciated.

 

Just tried this today on my 1651 purchased from oconabudget. The turbo function does not work with the stock bios. Using the bios and firmware for the gx620 as well as using the scm for the gx620 I now have the turbo button function. My p8400 is now running at 2.73 ghz.

 

Thanks electrosoft,

I have a tube of AS5 left, is it worth it to use that instead of the included thermal paste? Sorry, this is my first laptop build (but i've built many desktops)

Does the MSI-1722 have a 'hidden' turbo button like the 1651 that can be enabled with the GX720 bios?

 

NO TURBO FUNCTION, only for the GX720 model.

 

My guide proves otherwise.

 

I scraped the stock mess off and used AS5.

I checked in the BIOS, and there are no Overclocking options with the QX9300 installed.

I will check into flashing the GX720 firmware/Bios and see if the Turbo function can be enabled sans the button ala the 1651 which Bwhxeon discovered on his 1651.

 

=/ the extreme models are still kind of a waste for the system, since there is no multiplier overclock option.

 

did you guys use AS5 on the cpu/video card/southbridge?

 

I used as5 on my gpu and cpu. Southbridge I left alone. The heat pad they had on before was paper thin and a pain in the butt to get off. I would say buying some thermal grease is a requirement for these laptops.

 

Outside of just the sheer frequency increase w/ quad core capability, yep. the Quads are reported to OC decently so the turbo function would add a nice boost if it works since temps are nice.

The moment I can snag a dirt cheap M17 (or a vendor outside of AW offers the 1440x900 panel), I'll go that direction.

 

Can i stick a cheap Pentium Dual Core with 533FSB into this?

 

Anyone got a lead on where to get the DVD super multi drive for the 1722. Every place i've checked is out of stock.

 

You might want to ask one of the various smaller vendors here if it's the same as the one used in the 1651... I'm inclined to believe that it would be as it would just be another component that MSI uses that is the same across all platforms... kind of like the keyboards seem to be the same between the 1651 and 1722 and GX620 and GT627 and GT735 and GT725... keeps MSI's costs down.

 

To get the OC function to work you need to have the MSI GX720 keyboard cover with the OC button, no other option is possible.
The MS-1722 barebone is also missing the ECO button and the OC settings in the BIOS by default.
Then again the OC option isn't supported on the barebone options and that's why there is no other keyboard cover like the standard grey/black or the black/black cover.
You might try to order one or take/rip this off the MSI-GX720, but you must be carefull OC isn't removed for nothing from this barebone MS-1722.

 

why would they remove the OC and ECO buttons from the 1722 but not the 1651?

 

From the sounds of things the Overclock button is still there on the 1651, but it is NOT marked, and is right next to the ECO button.

To get the overclock to work on the 1651, apparently, you MUST use the GX620 BIOS as the feature is MISSING from the 1651 BIOS. It might not even work with your components, and they MAY have actually REMOVED the hw button from later 1651 models.

I'd assume given the 1651 and overclocking that this model is the same way. The buttons probably still exist but are NOT painted/labelled and the features are missing in the basic BIOS. Likely the retail BIOS would work like the 1651/GX620, but again they could've just removed the hw buttons.

I kind of doubt that they would remove the hw buttons though as it would require changes in their mfg process which would o.w. be identical between models excepting for the final labelling and coloring. (Then again they probably manually wire up those buttons, so it may actually save them a little on the barebones model as Chinese factories still do quite a bit of manual placement of some components as they lack the necessary automation, and it's likely cheaper to pay someone to actually do that sort of work than buying an appropriate machine given labor costs in China.)

NOTE: I KNOW that the GX620 BIOS works on the 1651 AND had the overclock feature enabled as I flashed it onto my 1651 in an attempt to see if that would fix my kb/hw keys flaking out every so often(it didn't). Also I did NOT even try the overclock feature, so I cannot say from personal experience that it works other than the retail BIOS flashes onto the 1651 and runs fine and am ASSUMING the same for this model and it's retail counterpart.

 

Couldn't have said it better myself. The buttons may not be marked, but the only difference between the barebone models and the retail model is the face plate. The buttons are all touch sensitive, to remove them would mean using a different motherboard.

 

so has the 1722 still got the touch sensitive buttons like the gx720?

 

NO, the top cover above the keyboard is only plastic no touch sensitive buttons are hidden, so no OC option and no ECO options.
The design is also different the MSI GX720 is with touch sensitive buttons and the MS-1722 isn't using this, the connector for the touch sensitive buttons panel is still there but there is no cover for this model.
Why because MSI is only allowing the touch sensitive buttons to be made only for the MSI GX-720 model.

 

This 1722 looks exactly like a GX720...

http://www.msicomputer.com/NB/product_spec.asp?model=MS-1722-ID2

Even the pictures show an Eco and Turbo button.

 

Not sure if he is right are not, here are two comparison pics from xotic pc.
http://www.xoticpc.com/laptop/GT725/GT7254.jpg
http://www.xoticpc.com/laptop/1722/17224.jpg

The gt model has the power button. While the barebone has two additional buttons below the power button. I still think there are touch sensitive buttons on the barebone, because there is a top plate on the barebone. If there were no buttons there, why would they need something to cover them? It would make more sense to cover them with the laptop plastics.

 

The grill is covered with some makeshift mesh and bezel. The speakers are placed identical to the 720. The mesh may be covering the touch sensitive controls.

My only concern with using the GX720 bios is it may not be quad certified, since the retail 720 doesn't have a Quad option last I checked. Does anyone know the bios revision of the GX720? Are the BIOSes released in tandem with one just tweaked for the 720's "extra" features?

 

I don't know what's going on with the extra units. Blu-Rays are out there in limited quantities @ $215+, and the Super drives are nowhere to be found and the lead time keeps getting pushed back.

With the flood of cheap 1722's, I guess MSI is coming out with a new barebones revision and is dumping the 1722's to clear inventory. Just hope they have enough super drives to cover and hopefully aren't discontinuing the drive (or if they are, hopefully the newer 725 form factor is the same).

I guess laptop vendors are keeping their units with their laptops to make sure they have them on hand.

I managed to track down two of them, but that was it.

 

there are 2 versions of the 1722. there is the id1 which is the gray colored note book. then there is the id2 which is the black and red notebook. the eco and oc buttons both work on my 1722-id2. the overclock only works when you have the notebook plugged into the ac powersupply.

my specs:
MSI MS1722-ID2
P8400 2.26Ghz
4Gb DDR2 mushkin ram
320Gb hd
9600gt 512Mb video card
Intel 5300
DVD-RW (soon to be blueray drive)

 

Did you have to update your BIOS/EC/SCM like bwhxeon to get the eco and oc buttons to work or did it work out of the box?

 

Just bought an MS-1722, and stumbled across this thread. You folks seem to have the most knowledge about these.

As a few people have stated, the optical drives are impossible to find. Has anyone successfully installed windows from a USB drive? Reason I ask is the only use I have for an optical drive is installing software, so if I don't need to buy one, it's not a problem. I'm assuming the optical drives are tray-loading IDE? Or is it SATA?

I'm also wondering about processor compatibility. I have an intel T5550 laying around, will this work or do I need to buy a penryn CPU?

Thanks in advance.

 

This is the only connection which is located under the keyboard cover.
The connector is for the keyboard cover with the touch sensitive buttons, which is only for the MSI-GX720 model and not for the barebone MS-1722 model.

 

ECO and OC button option are only supported on the MSI GX720 model not on the barebone version MS-1722.
There are different BIOS and Firmware updates, they can be used on both machines but when you use the firmware version for the MSI GX720 on the barebone MS-1722 the buttons on the left are not working correct and some BIOS settings are not correct. (OC, CPU, HDD, MEM detection are known to report errors)
This is the same when using the BIOS form the MSI GX720 model on the barebone MSI-1722

Latest versions:

BIOS 1.0R
EC 4.29

 

all the soft touch buttons have worked from the begining. yes that means both the eco and oc buttons. there is also a built in webcam, wireless and bluetooth and user prgramable button. all of them work. infact I am using the eco button for turbo battery mode right now as I wirte this. I forgot my screen is the wsxga+ 1680x1050.

 

The barebone has NO touch sensors in the above grille, all the active buttons are to the left; power, bt and wlan, camera, and P1. Above is ONLY a blank grille with the speakers under. You are comparing two completely different models; 1722=GX720 and the newer GT725........

 

Actually there are two MS-1722. The red and the black one. The black one just has the grille while the red one seem to have the buttons.

http://www.msicomputer.com/NB/product_spec.asp?model=MS-1722-ID2

 

hmm it doesn't state if it comes with a optical drive or not.

 

ID2 has the ODD pre-installed but is discontinued........

 

discontinued, where is this info from?

 

can anyone list the compatable processors for this laptop??? thanks

 

What do you think would be the best MXM-III card that could fit in there?

 

Without having a few MXM-III cards to modify / test (I'm trying to track some cheapies down), I can't really recommend any atm with any degree of confidence.

 

Ok, I'll be keeping my eye on the thread for the results.

 

Hi,
I am about to buy this barebone and thanks a lot electrosoft for what you have posted!

In your posts I see this:
Drops: MSI-1722, QX9300, 8GB DDR2, WD 320GB 7200RPM, 5300AGN

My bunch of questions (hope you don't mind)

Does the Intel QX9300 Mobile work in this barebone?
I called MSI yesterday, and they told me this does not?
I would be interested in a list of working-cpu as well.
I wrote to MSI but I haven't got an answer yet.
What aboout the new ULV-cpu?
What would you think would be the fastest working cpu for threaded (math) work (Linux & Perl programs) - not games

Beside this how difficult is it to take out the bios-chip to update the bios externally, as I don't have a default cpu just for updating the bios. Is it the same as a normal bios-chip of a dektop-motherboard? Would it be easy (and cheap ~ 10 Euro) to buy an add. allready updated and replace this - I have a bios tongs.

Thanks in advance, calli

 

is the dvd drive 9.6mm or the 12.7mm??? thanks

 

Looking at Rkcomputer it shows the QX9300 as one of the CPU options that you can buy with the computer, so I'd assume that they work in there.
The other CPU options are:
P8600
P8700
P9500
T9400
T9550
T9600
X9100
Q9000
and the Q9100

 

So where do you guys find the bios and EC firmware for the 1722's? All I can find is for the preconfigured notebooks.

Edit: What do they mean with "Glare" and "Non Glare" screens?

 

Bios is the same for the 1722 and can be found here:

http://global.msi.com.tw/index.php?func=proddesc&maincat_no=135&prod_no=1521

Glare = glossy screen

Non glare= Matte screen

 

Thanks! So the bios for the retail units works for the barebones?

 

Yes, both bios and firmware.

 

Q. Does the Intel QX9300 Mobile work in this barebone?
I called MSI yesterday, and they told me this does not?

A. It works fine, and has great temps. Make sure you're running the newest BIOS 1.0r to be safe. The three units I've configured so far all arrived with the 1.0H BIOS. That's from three different sources. You can also go with the MSI 1722 (GX720) BIOS which is dated December 2008 and has complete support. Firmware is dated Jan 2009 I believe.

Q. What would you think would be the fastest working cpu for threaded (math) work (Linux & Perl programs) - not games

If the applications support Quad Core, then the Q9100/QX9300 > then the X9100 or slower. If your applications are single or dual threaded, then go with an X9100, T9800, T9600, T9400 (in that order) for the larger cache versus the P series.

Q. Beside this how difficult is it to take out the bios-chip to update the bios externally, as I don't have a default cpu just for updating the bios. Is it the same as a normal bios-chip of a dektop-motherboard? Would it be easy (and cheap ~ 10 Euro) to buy an add. allready updated and replace this - I have a bios tongs.

A. I didn't check the bios seating, but I would assume it is soldered onto the PCB so you might have to desolder it versus using an IC extractor.

 

It's not advised to use the MSI GX720 BIOS and EC Firmware on the MS-1722 barebone.
If this isn't correct, why are there 2 different BIOS and EC firmware versions.

the EC firmware version for the MSI GX720 will not work correct on the MS-1722 barebone, the kotkey buttons on the left, power, BT/WLAN, P1 and camera button will not work when you use the MSI EC firmware.

 

update: MSI doesn't support any Quad Core on the full MS GX720 the MS-1722 barebone will, this is working fine for more info read the post and find the info.

update: BIOS 1.0R is the latest, this is advised for the best and full support for Quad Core Support.
Next to the BIOS you need the EC firmware version 4.29.
BIOS 1.0H is the first release this will not work with Quad Core and it will report some wrong detection and clock speeds for the Core 2 Duo P series.

If you need BIOS file and EC firmware file, just let me know.

update: It's soldered and hard to remove, but my advise is to get a cheap Core 2 Duo P series and use this to flash the BIOS. (safe and easy)

 

WOW, what a fantastic Forum and thread: Very fast and very qualified!
Beside that there is an 1722 ID2 (with the hot button at ebay: Item No.: 300290515486)

RePaRaQu: "..but my advise is to get a cheap Core 2 Duo P series and use this to flash the BIOS. (safe and easy)"
Core 2 Dou P has the Penry, what about a Merom-cpu with socket-P: eg. T3200 would half the price of a P-cpu?
(well I think every question will be very well answered here
Carl

 

No i mentioned a P series with lower voltage, but the T3200 well to be correct i don't know must be tested to be sure.