Msi Ms-1221

It will be my second computer but my first laptop
My main machine is a 2.4Ghz core2 and I like the speed. I also have a backup system with a 2.53Ghz Pentium4 single core and it has horrible speed.

What are the disadvantages of a barebone? I have built my own systems since 2001 but a laptop seems a lot more complicated and delicate. The advantage would of course be the lower price and being able to get the cooling right with good thermal paste and maybe more silent cooling?
Could somebody elaborate?

 

as far as complexity goes, check out the following images:
go to post #66

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=127191&page=7

the only negative is few selection...I'd love to get a sony sz-imitation barebone which the MSI 1221 barebone damn close to it. But the sz has poor cooling...my msi hardly warms up (take it w/ a grain of salt though, as mine is t5450 v. t8300 on sony).

also, as w/ anything that is a "second", neglect is bound to happen, mine hardly sees any action...shrug....well, I bought it as a novelty and to a lesser extent as a hobby.

w/ this in mind, and w/ gas prices rising, there's no need to overspend on anything that is secondary.

hope I saved you a few greens.

 

If you've built desktops, I'm pretty sure you'll manage. I found it just a bit more tricky than assembling desktops.
Only things I encoutered is that I first didn't remove the fan of the the heatsink, but soon discovered you need to unscrew the fan as well, and I didn't have the small screws to install the Intel turbo memory (I wouldn't bother to buy one....). Rest is pretty straightforward (check the position of the screw on the socket). I still have a T5250 (core 2 duo, 1,5GHZ) lying around here (which lacks buyers here on marktplaats and tweakers).

 

In what kind of shop do you buy the parts for a barebone?(netherlands) I know about the harddrive and memory. The DVD writer is probably easy to find too. The price for the MSI PR200 YA blue is 900 Euro how much would I save with a barebone? Would it be like 800 euro?

It doesn't look too difficult from the pictures. You do get a manual on how to build it? But when you are finished does it look like a normal nice laptop? Can you buy the same uhm 'chasis' as the MSI or some other laptop?

 

The best price is here:

http://www.thenerds.net/MSI.INTEL_C...533667_SODIMM2GB121_INCH101001.122115001.html

ridiculous price at $555.99 (a good thing, $16 cheaper than when I bought mine 3wks ago when they had 27 in stock, now only 10 left...very tempting...I wonder if MSI will release new 12.1" barebone soon?), they're in Oregon, USA.



Too bad they don't ship international....but spending a few second to relearn how to drool is a good thing too.

 

Hm 433 Euro with taxes...

 

See here:
http://tweakers.net/pricewatch/cat/...3&i200=&a200=&scoreMin=0&scoreMax=5&x=17&y=11
I got my T7700 from ebay (germany). Bear in mind if you order outside the EU you're eligable for extra EU-charges and VAT (BTW), which makes ordering outside the EU a bit of a gamble (charges depend on the way it is sent also, try 'present' or 'engineering sample').....

 

New bios 1.41/3.41
Change log:
Fixed T8100 CPU(2.1GHZ) show wrong frequency (2.0GHZ) in BIOS SETUP

So looks like we can drop in the new intel T8*00 and T9*00's

 

Ok, after reading every single post in this thread, I still need a few questions answered.

1) I'm planning to purchase the PR200-Green-54, from MSI's site and several retailer, it says the maximum memory is 2 gb, but the bios for this particular pr200 is the same as all of the other pr200/1221. So, does that mean if I update the bios, the notebook would support 4gb of ram? What type of memory does this note booke support? Also, what brand and model would best fit and work for this note book? I'm planning to purchase these, be alright?

2)By adding turbo memory, does this boost the gpu(gma x3100)'s performance and how much is the performance boost? If yes, with the max amount of turbo memory installed, what mobile gpu does it out performs(please compare with nvidia gpu)? What is the max amount of turbo memory that is currently released in the market at the moment?

3)From the posts in this thread, it seems like the 1221 has two mini pci-e slot, does that mean the PR200-Green-54 has two also? If yes, how come MSI's site says it only has one? What I can I fit in to those slots?

4)I'm planning to upgrade the CPU and I'm not sure where is it, may someone please take a picture of this laptop with it's motherboard expose and draw a circle/square/etc enclosing the cpu area? I'm planning to upgrade with the T9300, would this notebook support this cpu?

5)May someone provide me a reputable place where I can purchase the PR200-green Ya Edition(make sure it's not the PR200-green-54) in USA?

Also, if possible please answer my questions by quoting them first, then provide the answer directly below the quoted questions. Thank you for listening to my selfish request, thank you once again!

 

Im actually considering this notebook and if what you say is true, thats very good news.

Only thing that was holding me back was the 1221 not supporting the new penryn

 

I am wondering to buy pr200 but with weak t5250 or t5450... Is it enough for 720p h.264... It has HDMI port so it is logical to be capable to run hd content- but I am not sure???

 

yes, with the right settings and codec, sure.

 

Ok, I have also HP nx9420 with T5600 and ati x1600 card... I have few .mp4 files h.264 and they go smooth only when CPU runs on 1.83 (max speed). It freezes for example on 1.33 when run on batteries. So that can work with this T5250/5450 only if x3100 card is helping more then x1600 ati...

 

I have a Asus A6g with Pentium M dothan 1,6Ghz (3,5 year old laptop) it plays H264 720p clips 100% smooth.

PS. I'm using VLC player!

 

And one more question- I plan to use it for web and LCD TV HD content support, but also for torrents...
Is it convenient to run this machine 24/7- is cooling system OK...

 

This is excellent notebook in terms of design, rigidity, performance, quietness, thermal, compatibility with Ubuntu/Vista and more....

If only I can change the graphic card it will be perfect (Is it possible to insert new graphic card in its mini PCI?)

I put mine for sale though in pursuit of macpro. I bought it as MSI PR200x, not barebone.

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?p=3577665#post3577665

 

I was wondering, is it possible to install the Intel Core 2 Duo P9500 onto this notebook with the latest bios?

 

No, that cpu is not supported in the 1221

 

I'm guessing that the T9300 or T9400 should be fine?

But I don't get how the P9500 is not supported because it's also socket P.

 

Same socket (P) different cpu design, your model uses 800mHz FSB CPU's.

The T9400 is not supported, there are also two different 1221 models.

Original release supports 800mHz 65nm cpu's

Santa Rosa refresh supports 800mHz 45nm & 65nm cpu's

The original release does not officially support the SRR cpu's but if you update the bios it may work.

If you have the SRR model you are good for all the SRR cpu's. (Part # 122114-058)

 

I think mine's a santa rosa refresh since it uses x3100. Also, mine's not a barebone, it's a pr-200.

I'm guessing it won't support those cpu because the motherboard is only limited to 800fsb? Is it confirmed that my notebook's mobo don't support fsb higher than 800?

but someone installed a p9500 on a T61p before. I think that's also a 800fsb spec notebook. It could be the T61p's mobo support 1066 fsb.

 

Both models used the X3100, look on the bottom of your notebook and get the serial #. that will confirm what model it is. also if you purchased it more than a few months ago it is probably not an SRR model. What cpu is installed now?

 

The T5450.

The thing is, I don't see how it's platform limited and not socket and fsb limited.

 

please test your pr200 with firewire expresscards and winxp!

insert expresscard boot up pc
check devicemanager for yellow mark @ firewire expresscard.
then reboot and recheck.

if you have the yellow mark > please pm me!! thanks

 

There's a new bios 1.46/3.46:
http://global.msi.eu/index.php?func=downloaddetail&type=bios&maincat_no=135&prod_no=1208
I flashed it, but went back to 1.43: I feel that the fan is runner louder with 1.46
Don't know/see what's changed.

 

I get the impression from reading this post that the MS-1221 will handle a Core 2 Duo 5600?

 

I guess so. Mine came with a T5250 (1.50 GHz T5250 2 667 MHz 65 nm).
The FSB is the same as the 1.83 GHz T5600 2 667 MHz 65 nm.
Please post your results.
I'm running a T7700 now (2.40 GHz T7700 2 800 MHz 65 nm). I feel it is running too hot, and I maxed it out on 2.0 GHz.

 

i`m using the pr200 with xpsp2

so every pr200 who uses the pr200 with xp please read carefully! as it seems there is tha same problem also with vista!

what the hell?

it was extremeley difficult to find this out, because its hidden in the devmgr resource tabs and there are no exclamation marks on this devices! (thanks bill :waiting

hauptplatinenressourcen = motherboard resources ;-)


acpi resources conflicting with motherboard resources



sm-bus resources conflict with motherboard resources


reinstalling windows xpsp2 changes nothing!

@ every pr200 user please go into device manager > systemdevices and there select the devices shown above in the screenshots and check if you also have this resource conflict entrys!

and yes i`m also using latest bios 3.48 but las bios versions don`t not make any differences

 

He, funny. I run Vista HP 64bit, and have the first 2 'conflicts' also... They show up in the same way.
The other regarding SMBUS I cannot find, because there seem to be no SMbus in Vista?
Is this a real problem?

 

holy moly!! now this stuff is really going to be very interesting!!

if found this out after testing my pr200 over a half year now because of problems with my pr200 xp sp2 recognizing firewirexpresscards.

other expresscards like esata / usb work fine.

usb expresscards only connect to the usb port inside the expresscard slot
(inside the expresscardslot there is a usb connector which fits expresscards)

additional to that there is a 1x pcie port for real pcie expresscards like esata, firwire... expresscards

the problem is my expresscard is not recognized when i reboot the machine with fw expresscard in the slot and installed video card drivers.

as i was searching for the source of the problem, i`ve found this issues with conflicting i/o ports.


so please everyone check your system for these conflicts.

@ miloman

for shure you have smbus but the machine can`t assign resources because of the conflicts written above!!

so everyone check your devicemanager for the descibed problems!
this problem is not an minor issue its a really heavy issue. because if you have this resource problem too that means the system is not able to provide enough i/o ports to the system making the acpi and the motherboard itself not working correctly!!!.

additional: (this can show you what can happen when the system has resource problems...)
if you have a firewire expresscard (only test with fw card!)
boot up windows > insert the card. and reboot your pc twice with the card in the slot and always check in devicemanager if the card is found and or if it has problems. (eg code 12 in devicemanager after first reboot with the card in the slot.)

the same can happen with sm-bus controller but you won`t recognize it because here the system does not generate an error message ;-)
also the system generates no errormessages regarding the resource problems mentioned in my last post above but the problem ist there!

so in general this means that the assigned resources to the pc are not correct and can result in different problems. with software, with external hardware, even with your, lan, wlan connection, higher cpu load with some devices and so on!

even if you think your pr200 is running fine and you recognize no problem!
no! nothing is working fine!
there are problems ongoing! so everyone check your devicemanager for the i/o port problems posted in my last post! xp or vista doesn`t makes any difference check your device manger!

 

@ ALL

everyone! check your systems for the described resource issues!!!


this is not a minor issue! it`s possible that this is a hardware design failure from msi!

thank you

 

Acidrecords, I feel for you. But could you tell a little bit more about problems we are facing because of this strange issue? BSOD's, documents corrupt? Please enlighten us. I personally do not use a FW-card...

 

hi,

the problem is > your nb is not working as it should if you have the resource conflicts. and as you wrote in your last post you have it too.

the problem: if eg. some software / hardware want to "speak" with the conflicting hardware it can`t because the conflicting devices don`t respond correctyl or don`t not respond in gerneral.

additional to that acpi = The Advanced Configuration and Power Interface
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Advanced_Configuration_and_Power_Interface

so that is not a stuff which is not relevant!!

if you check your pc you will see there is extremely much stuff sharing irq 16.
as the acpi has problems on it`s own noone knows if all the devices should really share irq16 or maybe the devices where shared in another way as it is at the moment beause of the "ed up" acpi controller.
so it`s possible that if it will work correctly some of the devices which are sharing irq16 could also be on eg.13,14,15,17,18 but who knows what the system will do when all will work correctly.

additional to that regarding sm-bus.
if you unistall your x3100 video drivers + reboot the machine twice and then go in devmgr and search for "new hardware" via the drop down menu.
the sm-bus controller should show up and wan`t to install drivers.
thats the only way for me with xp sp2 to get the sm-bus controller in devicemanager!

so you see there is a problem that is not just ....


the sys has a big resource problem which drops out hardware from installing in devmgr! don`t know if you also had this one allready:
you start the pc and sometimes (1x month the wirelesscard is not listed in devicemanager until you reboot the machine. thats when a device is faster as the wlan card and takes the resources of the wlan card... i`ve allready found also that problem from time to time...)

and regarding sm-bus controller:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/System_Management_Bus

so now show me your face.

i think it`s not looking happy ;-)

thats why i posted this really big problem here!

 

so @ all msi pr200 users

here is an update:

the problem is also found with

xp 32/64bit & vista 32/64 bit

additional to that there is a notebook from belinea out there (obook 4)
which has the same hardware as the pr200. (clone) it has also the same problems.


and also another question: whats up with all of you using a pr200?
sorry but if i`ll find such infos about my notebook on the net my brain would be in "alarm state"!

this is no joke here! all pr200 are faulty as you can see above an check on you own pr200.


so this is for every one!!! >>> write an email to your responsible support office and yes i really mean everyone with a pr200! write support mails!

it`s your notebook and your money! remember that! and again if you think your nb is working without problems! you are wrong! read the last pages of this thread!

 

update:

same problem also with pr210 and belinea obook 4 (it has also ms-1221 chassis only other branding)

so everyone > write an email to your responsible support office!!

resellers please contact msi business support! thank you!

 

update: read this!!

http://forum.msi.com.tw/index.php?topic=119513.msg939234#msg939234

 

Unexpected shutdowns?
Had quite a few unexpected shotwdowns lately. Even when running memtest2...
This evening removed the backpanel, and the fan: lots of dust obstructing the airflow... Removed the dust and everything is running stable again. Even less fan noise when idle!

 

hehe sounds good that you cleaned your machine.

btw. i`ve never had unexpected shutdowns with my pr200.

all other stuff regarding acpi io problem + fw expresscard.
check msi tw forum thread... posted above.

update there is comming soon.

 

Yep I'm keeping an eye on the msi tw forum. Thanks for all your effort. I hope I'll understand what it's all about some day...

 

UPDATE:

look @ http://forum-en.msi.com/index.php?topic=119513.80

seems like msi taiwan support does not response to my 25 pages testreport!!
since one month no response from techsupport!

it really looks like they can`t fix the problems! and therefor don`t respond!

so all pr200 users! send me your email adress asap!! so that i can put you on cc in an final email to msi taiwan support! if they don`t respond >> msi pr200 userbase has to contact differnt pcmags + reviewpages and inform them about what msi tries to hide! and how much they think that their customers are idiots!!

WE ARE NOT !!!