Upgrading your Trident 3

lionvandenbrand · Jun 5, 2020

Hi all,

Since there are so many posts about this topic I thought it would be nice to have somewhat of an overview.

Let me start by saying that upgrading your Trident 3 (whatever Gen) is possible. BUT, there is a catch: it depends on what kind of motherboard and power supply you are using.
Trident 3 now comes in 7 versions:

Versions	Chipset	PCB versions	BIOS version(s)	Power	Product page
7th Gen	H110	1.0/2.1	520/A20	230W	https://www.msi.com/Desktop/support/Trident-3
7th Gen Arctic	H110	2.1	A20	230W	https://www.msi.com/Desktop/support/Trident-3-Arctic
8th Gen	H310	1.0/2.1	840	230/330W	https://www.msi.com/Desktop/support/Trident-3-8th
8th Gen Arctic	H310	?	840	230/330W	https://www.msi.com/Desktop/support/Trident-3-Arctic-8th
9th Gen	H310	?	950	230/330W	https://www.msi.com/Desktop/support/Trident-3-9th
9th Gen Arctic	H310	?	950	230/330W	https://www.msi.com/Desktop/support/Trident-3-Arctic-9th
10th Gen	H410	?	800	230/330W	https://www.msi.com/Desktop/support/MPG-Trident-3-10th

Note: This data comes from the datasheets on the specification page within the product page. You can find them in the attachments.

Here is an overview of posts with tested upgrades:

Trident Gen	What's tested?	Working?	Link
7th Gen	I7 7700+GTX1060 3G+230w power supply. Two friends with same model but difference in PCB version (1.0 and 2.1). Version 1.0 tries upgrade 1070 GTX (NOT WORKING with 230W and 330W), version 2.1 tries 1080 GTX (WORKING with 330W)	NO/YES	https://forum-en.msi.com/index.php?threads/316727
7th Gen	1TB M.2 SSD, GTX1070 Aero 8GB OC graphics card	YES	https://forum-en.msi.com/index.php?threads/333227
7th Gen	i7-7700 upgraded with Nvidia RTX 2060-6GB and Samsung 970 Evo NVMe PCIe M.2 250GB with 230W using Throttlestop, later 330W without Throttlestop and with Afterburner. NOTE: PCB version 2.1 and BIOS A20	YES	https://forum-en.msi.com/index.php?threads/313929
8th Gen	Upgraded with ASUS PHOENIX 1660 SUPER (also noted that 1660 Ti works)	YES	https://forum-en.msi.com/index.php?threads/327434
7th Gen	i5-7400 MSI GTX 1070 Aero using Afterburner and Intel Extreme Tuning Utility. NOTE: did not fit very good	YES	https://forum-en.msi.com/index.php?threads/298545
7th Gen	i7-7700 Gigabyte GTX1080 Mini ITX using Afterburner	YES	https://forum-en.msi.com/index.php?threads/298545
7th Gen	i7-7700 Arctic version GTX 1070 upgraded to Gigabyte RTX 2070 ITX version	YES	https://forum-en.msi.com/index.php?threads/298545
8th Gen	GIGABYTE GeForce GTX 1660 Ti	YES	https://forum-en.msi.com/index.php?threads/298545
7th Gen	I7-7700+GTX1060 3G 230w power supply, upgraded to GTX1070 ITX (also tested with 330W)	NO	https://forum-en.msi.com/index.php?threads/298545
9th Gen	i7-9700f, 16gb of ram and nvme ssd and gtx 1660 ti with a 230w PSU upgraded to 2060 mini ITX	NO	https://forum-en.msi.com/index.php?threads/334433

The next question is: which Motherboards and GPU cards work with 230W without additional programs? Which work with 230W using Throttlestop and/or Afterburner? And which work only with 330W?

I have to work now so I'm posting this now, will update this later on.
Feel free to suggest an improvements!

Lion

akaweb · Oct 16, 2021

Thanks for our reply .
The BIOS version is SMBIOS 3.0 .
I don't view the motherboard card into the specification system .
MSI support told me isn't possible because is a VGA card with a 6-pins connector
and the graphic card now has 8-pin .
It's real or not because I have view other model same as a Trident serie 3 with another
graphic card more powerfull .

dsmith7153702de · Oct 16, 2021

You have to open the PC's case to find the motherboard version. I think its at the front right side of the board. As for the 6 pin connector, you can buy a 6 pin to 8 pin converter cable. If you don't have a version 2.1 motherboard then you will be limited to a gtx1660 6gb I think. This it because you cannot use a 330watt psu on the other motherboard.

akaweb · Oct 16, 2021

I have thinking to upgrade with that model
ASUS GeForce RTX 3060 Ti DUAL 8G MINI V2 GAMING
Because the desktop is a 4.3 Litre and our graphic card suggestion is a model
with a dimension not compatible with that desktop model .
The SMBIOS version is 3.0 and the motherboard card is MS-B9061 version 2.0

dsmith7153702de · Oct 16, 2021

you can only fit a single fan card in the trident 3 that is around 17cm long.

akaweb · Oct 16, 2021

I have view the RTX 2060 and I think is too big for that desktop model

dsmith7153702de · Oct 16, 2021

This is what I have recently installed in my trident 3. Its a Gigabyte RTX 2060 6gb mini ITX

akaweb · Oct 16, 2021

The best choice is to try with another model with a same dimension and connector .
Is a mini model but isn't easy to find .

akaweb · Oct 16, 2021

Look at https://lusionfurniture.com/product/gigabyte-geforce-rtx-2060-mini-itx-oc-6g/
if you have the possibility and tell me is It's a model compatible with the Trident serie 3 .
Thanks .

dsmith7153702de · Oct 16, 2021

Yes this is the one I have but you can only use it if you have the 2.1 motherboard with A20 bios and a 330watt PSU. If you have the v1.0 motherboard with 520 bios then it won't work. The RTX2060's TDP is too high for the 220w PSU.

akaweb · Oct 16, 2021

Thanks for our reply .
I have to open the desktop because you told me the bios serie number but I don´t view that specification on the system information .
I have told you the SMBIOS version is 3.0 .
and the PSU is 300 watt but i’m not sure because isn’t written on the PSU material adaptator

akaweb · Oct 19, 2021

I send to you another model .
I think it's also compatible with that desktop model but I don't know if I have to
change the power supply .
The power supply is 650 W for that GPU model and the trident 3 power supply
is less powerfull so I have to change also the power supply but if it's not incompatible
with the other desktop element .

frankvoelke158f02e2 · Nov 11, 2021

Maybe i try to question here.. Can my Trident 3 11th gen with i5-11400F be upgraded to i7-11700K ? (or 11700KF / 11700F) ?
(it has 230W power supply)

also: what about the power limits for this CPUs... the BIOS should have power limit and Overclock-settings but they are not there.... support sais its removed "to make life easier for the customer" but thats complete bullsh**. If i want to put in i7-11700K i need other power limits that the 11400F I guess?

goodknit155b02d9 · Jan 19, 2022

I have a gen 7 Trident 3 with an I7 processor and ver 2.0 PCB. I upgraded my 1060 3gb to a 1070 8gb. The frame is a bit tight but it fits and works fine. When running for long periods of time the power cuts out. I have a 230W brick that heats up something fierce. It's mostly serviceable but I am debating upgraded the power supply brick. Anyone with luck upgraded the power supply?

dsmith7153702de · Jan 19, 2022

Only if your motherboard is a ver.2.1 and you have an A20 bios can you upgrade your psu to a 330watt one. if not then the 330w psu won't make any difference Im afraid.
I would be very worried about running a 1070 on that 230w psu as the TPD on the 1070 is at least 150watts!!!

goodknit155b02d9 · Jan 21, 2022

@dsmith7153702de CPU ID says it's a A10 Bios Ver.2.0 . What are the dangers of running the 150W card on the 230 power supply? Any options to keep this running smoothly?

fauc · Jan 21, 2022

Please install graphic card of 120W for 230W power adapter.
Power adapter is not enough for 150W card.

dsmith7153702de · Jan 21, 2022

goodknit155b02d9 said:
@dsmith7153702de CPU ID says it's a A10 Bios Ver.2.0 . What are the dangers of running the 150W card on the 230 power supply? Any options to keep this running smoothly?

I would be worried about overloading the power supply. out of 230 watts you are only leaving 80 watts for the rest of the components(the cpu requires 65 watts on its own). I would guess that this would eventually overload the power supply. If the power supply is getting extremely hot then that is dangerous and the fact that it is cutting out is not good. your only option with this motherboard version is to downgrade back to a gtx 1060 3gb or gtx 1650 ti.

bdmsk151502d0 · Jan 29, 2022

Hello,

I have a 7th gen 2.1 PCB. I upgraded the BIOS TO A20 and bought the 330W power supply. I could not find any mini 2060s so I bought a GTX 1080 mini. My question is: does anyone have a recommended power setting in Afterburner?

My Trident originally came with GTX 1060 (120 W TDP). GTX 1080 is 180 TDP. But I will have 100 spare new watts from upgraded power supply.

shuny11r2154402d7 · Feb 17, 2022

Hi! I’m new to the PC World.
I recently bought an MSI 8th Gen Trident 3 Artic

came with an i7-8700 and GTX 1070.

it has a 330w power supply.
Now I checked the Model and it’s a H310 ver 1.0.

Can I upgrade the GPU?? I’m to upgrade to a rtx 3060. But I checked the Compatibility in the previous page and there’s nothing on it. Doesn’t say if it can or cant.

just wondering if anyone Can shine some light to this.

lukboy99 · Feb 17, 2022

shuny11r2154402d7 said:
Hi! I’m new to the PC World.
I recently bought an MSI 8th Gen Trident 3 Artic

came with an i7-8700 and GTX 1070.

it has a 330w power supply.
Now I checked the Model and it’s a H310 ver 1.0.

Can I upgrade the GPU?? I’m to upgrade to a rtx 3060. But I checked the Compatibility in the previous page and there’s nothing on it. Doesn’t say if it can or cant.

just wondering if anyone Can shine some light to this.

I have the 7th gen, i7-7700, GTX 1070 and 330W powersupply. Wondering if I can upgrade to a 3060 or even 3060ti, can the 330W PSU handle? Anyone tried?

Upgrading your Trident 3

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