MSI MS-1651 Montevina BTO Notebook Barebone

Current 1651 BIOS is 1.0E
http://global.msi.com.tw/index.php?func=downloaddetail&type=bios&maincat_no=135&prod_no=1529

Maybe you need to update your BIOS?

Yes, Turbo OC 20% gives 5-10 fps more in a game.

 

This same problem occured in the previous notebook model with the overclock feature (MS-163A) .

The "barebone" notebook bios for the USA are found here:

http://www.msicomputer.com/support/bios_result_nb.asp


The bios for the MSI pre-configured systems are on the golbal TW site. You can reflash a MS-1651 with a GX620 bios but the notebook will not function properly. Turbo may be enabled but is not suported, and can cause other malfunctions. The info we have received on the current model (MS-1651) is the same as the previous. There are two different bios available, the "Barebone (MS-1651) should not use the GX620 bios. The MS-1651 should not have the turbo mode available, there is no marked turbo button for this reason. We have reflashed a few models here with the GX620 bios and this bios does disable the turbo memory feature. This is not the correct bios for this model.

 

THIS IS NOT FOR "BAREBONE" MODELS!!!!

Barebone bios for the USA are found here:

http://www.msicomputer.com/support/bios_result_nb.asp

 

Those updates on the US site are so behind.

 

Behind is not the problem, the GX620 and MS-1651 have two different bios available as did the previous GX600. You are looking on the global site and different regions have different models available. What I have posted has been confirmed with the manufacture in the "USA". And no the USA site is not behind, you are comparing this to the global site (different models) USA is updated as necessary for the "barebone" models.

 

So you are saying the Turbo Memory will definitely work, and their MS-1651 （Wasamandrapa, viking..) shouldn't have any issue with the Turbo Memory right?

 

As i said the other night, i am on a MS-1651 NOW!!

T9400
4GB Turbo memory installed and Pinned....
Vista Ultimate, etc, etc..........

For two weeks i have had this notebook and yes the turbo memory is functional. We have delivered the same to our customers and the turbo memory is functional.

If i reflash this model with the GX620 bios from the global TW site the turbo memory will become inoperative. Different model, the bios is not for the MS-1651 "Barebone"

Same was for the MS-163A (GX600) the bios is/was not the same, this is the warning from MSI USA:

Model Version Size Platform BIOS BIOS Date Counter

MS-163A v. 1.06 700 kb Intel AMI BIOS 3/27/2008 353
- Update CPU ID
- For MS-163A Barebone only. Not for GX600

 

Cool, and you have the actual 1651 BIOS to flash back as well?
You can post that so the few that had the wrong BIOS can flash to the correct one and use Turbo Memory.

 

Sorry, no we cannot due to reseller rules. (cannot post links) I would suggest that they contact their reseller for the correct bios or contact MSI USA for the original bios:

http://www.msicomputer.com/company/contactUs.asp

 

Rob thanks for the heads up. Would the correct BIOS allow me to use the turbo function as well? If so, how?

 

All the current info I have says "NO".

The barebone (MS-1651) should not/does not support overclock feature.

We will contact msi tomorrow to clarify if there has been any change to the support of the "overclock" feature on the barebone. If it is actually overclocking 20% you may be better off keeping that and dumping the turbo memory support.

 

Yea the one i have does not show the OC option in the bios and also does not OC when u hit the 'invisible' button(No OSD turbo image shows up). However, my 4 gigs of turbo memory works just fine.

I got 3 questions: how do u reflash the bios in case i decide to do it? Do u need a bootdisk and then u load the file in dos?etc

and secondly, i'm not sure if the thermal paste on my machine has been applied correctly. My temps display fine on hwmonitor (relatively low), but yet the right hand palmrest seems to get really warm even when just surfing the internet at regular room temperature after a few minutes. The left side with the HD is always a lot more cooler. It seems like people havent had this experience as they claim the laptop to be 'cool to the touch', so can i get some feedback on this?

Lastly, can someone post a closed up shot of their power adapter so that i may compare it to the one i have? Mine is a Lite-on adapter, was wondering if its the same for everyone.

thanks.

 

UPDATE:
MSI Taiwan reported GX620/720/MS-1651/MS-1722 do not support Turbo Memory.
The guy called me back and said they had wrong info.
So if it works, it's good.

 

just to clarify, i have the turbo memory installed but I am currently running XP so I cannot weigh in on this issue

 

Knivez, can you take a screenshot of the advanced tab in bios? I would like to see how your bios differ from mine.

Note: if anyone can fix Eco and Turbo for me (stopped working after I brought lappy to school), I would really appreciate it. Tried reinstalling SCM (reboots and all) and ECO + Turbo still won't work.. I know two touchsensors cannot have been broken at once. Sounds like it's not a hardware issue >.<

 

Sorry if this has been mentioned before, I couldn't find it in the thread.

My Force3551 just showed up from XoticPC, but there are no XP drivers for it. The CD only has vista drivers. MSI doesn't list barebone notebook drivers as far as I can tell, so what should I do?

Does MSI have XP drivers out for this thing? If so, where are they?

While we're on the topic, would BIOS updates be in the same place?

 

XP drivers are available for the 1651, contact your reseller and they should be able to help you out. The drivers are always on the msi global TW site, but the XP drivers are not up yet.

 

Well, XoticPC has just told me to install the Vista32 drivers twice now. Half of them don't work by default and I don't feel like modifying drivers and inf files all day. When I pressed the issue, I got, 'We do not support custom OS installs.'

Any other way I would be able to snag XP drivers for this thing other than waiting for MSI to throw up official drivers for it?

I'd rather not have a $1500 brick sitting around the house for however long it takes MSI to upload things.

EDIT: Called MSI and they gave me an FTP link to the XP drivers. I'm going to go out on a limb and assume they are all here and work. I'll report back if they do or not.

If they do would anyone be interested in a link? Can I legally do that?

 

Those should work fine, if you have any problem email me and i can send you the link from our FTP. I will have them uploaded this afternoon.

 

The MSI-Taiwan BIOS would seem to be the appropriate one to use for the MSI-1651. I get all the functions advertised in the MSI webpage and cannot use turbo memory. The only differences between the 1651 and GX620 seem to be cosmetic: the silver instead of red and the touch buttons over the keyboard.

It would seem to me that MSI-USA is forcing the GX620 into the 1651 case by selling it with a crippled BIOS that doesn't allow OC (to fit the lack of Turbo button), while shoving Turbo Memory in against the MSI Taiwan listed specs.

Sounds like a great business strategy for MSI-USA: you sell the laptop with a cheaper touch-button panel, force Turbo Memory compatibility so you can sell the modules and you lower your risk of malfunction by disabling the OC...

 

Not really. None of the manufacturers have facilities in the US that perform BIOS engineering. The US branch is more like a marketing company plus service. They sell what they got. By the way, GX620 & MS-1651 may look alike, but the internal circuit board as I have heard from tech support, are different. Therefore, do not try to flash with a BIOS that is not intended for your system otherwise you may risk bricking your system. Listen to Rob.

 

Thanks for that. Still, why would I get the turbo option on if I press on the invisible Turbo button then? Wouldn't that mean that I have the GX620 circuit board installed?

 

Good question, maybe we can ask them again about that.

 

Thanks man. Its so frustrating, I feel I've been sold a 300HP Audi with a nicer pair of tweeters but 13" wheels in exchange.

 

Hi Rob,

Nice Avatar ... is your Av picture ... OCZ Whitebook!?!?

G!

 

when i press the invisible button mine goes to turbo mode. So this means xotic PC installed the wrong bios on my computer? If so, what do I do about it.. do I need to reinstall vista too?

 

Wisedude it would appear to me that, since we have the turbo option, we have the GX620 circuit board and BIOS, but the wrong case.

I wont be using the Turbo function for now just in case, hopefully this will be cleared up soon.

Also, I believe you can flash the BIOS without reinstalling your OS.


*BTW, in page 60 of this thread Paladin said the US version of the 1651 would not have an external antenna connector (see picture below). Mine does...

 

To clear up some of the confusion here I offer the following:

The GX620 is the MSI System Part Number for the MS-1651 barebone.

The BIOS version that is used: 1.08 (All PowerPro P 15:3 models are using this version of the BIOS)

Overclocking is supported in this bios version

The EC flash version used: 1651EMS.421

Turbo Memory function will work in Vista with AHCI enabled and correct drivers installed.

Therefore, contrary to what has been stated by others, there is no harm in using this BIOS on either "model", and both the MSI Turbo Overclock feature and Intel Turbo Memory are supported.

 

((EDIT, Donald beat me on the response. ))

We have received similar information. There is no harm with using either bios.

 

Great news!

Justin, I tried to enable AHCI in the BIOS (after following these instructions: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/922976) but still get a BSOD.
Do you know of any other workaround, or should I reinstall windows from scratch to enable AHCI?

 

Wasamandrapa, send me a email and we can discuss this over email.

 

Make sure you don't wait too long with band-aid type fixes.

 

My bios doesnt support turbo OC, its running version 1.0E with EC build 1651EG61 ver. 4.22. Paladin or Justin, could you please post a link or attachment to the 1.08 bios? I really want to get that feature on my machine.

Also, can you post instructions on how to flash the file? Thanks again.

 

This is true of just about any manufacturer. Some are 15 days, some 21, some 30, some completely different.

I do not think this should be a sign (good or bad) as to the quality or service of a particular reseller.

 

I completely agree. Up to now I am satisfied with my purchase. All the issues seem to be related to software tweaking, not hardware.

This model is new and we are of the first people trying it. We should expect an initial period of configuration tweaks to solve unexpected issues.

The three main resellers, Rob, Donald and Justin are actively contributing to this in the forum, and I think that's great. I'm sure we'll have a list of all the common issues and their fixes in the short term...

 

Hi folks,

I've been looking at this computer for a while because it has everything I want. I especially like the built-in numeric keypad.

There are a couple of questions, however. Since I'm visually impaired, I'd like to know if the touch controls such as the wireless and turbo buttons are tactile in some way. Is there an outline or something around the buttons? If I run my fingers across the edge above the keyboard would I accidentally turn things on/off without knowing?

Thanks a lot. This is a great thread, and I can't wait for the review!

 

There is only a visual outline to the buttons above the keyboard. But they are perfectly smooth and the only cue that you have activated one is that they glow blue; either permanently if they are on (camera, wireless, bluetooth and eco buttons) or temporarily (multimedia controls and the P1 button).

Oh, and you see an icon pop in the corner of your screen for the camera, bluetooth, and wireless. And on the center of your screen for the ECO button and the hidden turbo button (which is not visible at all above the keyboard - it's the MSI-1651 cool secret )

Hope that helps.

 

I do perceive a very slight border in the buttons. To me, it'd be definitively noticeable if you purposefully look for them. The buttons that activate the webcam, wireless, bluetooth and P1 (a program of choice) do make a toggle sound when activated/deactivated.

The Multimedia (play, forward, etc), Eco and Turbo buttons do not make any sound in my system when turned on/off. This might be configurable though...

 

Can you please post the bios files or a link to download those? the ones on the site are v. 1.0E with ec flash A1651IMS.10E.

 

^--^
Knivez, please contact your vendor for help with the BIOS.

 

Hi NY.Sky.Scraper ...

Whatever happened to 30 days ... is it now 15 days!?!?

G!

 

The answer is that PowerPro laptops have always had a 15 day return policy.

 

Sagers have the 30 day policy.

 

Sure, but they are hella more expensive.

 

just finished moving home, the msi 1651 barebone is great . Comparing to my macbook pro 3.1 (sitting in the closet now). It runs much cooler in idle and in game too. the weight is fine. I can bring it to school everyday without any problems. battery times is expected ~ 2hrs 15mins with wireless and FF on. The only cons that bother me is the low mic sound ( my friend says they can barely hear me unless i yell at the mic very close. Overall, very good buy for the price and performance. Will post some pics and screenshot of the laptops.

Btw, thanks xoticpc really fast shipping and good customer service.

 

My BIOS says that my CPU is overclocked by 20% yet Windows says it's clocked at 2.53 GHz, which is stock speed. What gives?

 

Hit the turbo button. That bios number indicates how much turbo oc's u.

 

Hey guys, I was wondering...what's the gold-coloured port on the right side of this picture? Thanks.

 

The antenna connector. USA models can't use it apparently. If you look further back on this thread, Paladin44 explains it.

 

Thanks. Just so we're clear, does that mean that when the tuner becomes available, this laptop will support it?