I've had two MSI motherboards -
KT3 Ultra and KT266 Pro. The KT266 Pro after a year of running an AMD Athlon 1.2ghz processor with temps CPU:50C System:45C, the capacitors near the processor openned up because of heat. I found out that MSI has had trouble with the KT266pro's capacitors openning up because of heat from the tech rep I spoke to while getting my RMA # for a replacement.

Now I'm paranoid of a high mb temp with my new KT3 Ultra MSI board. It seems no matter what I do(extra fans, openning the case, isntalling faster cpu fans, etc) I cannot drop the MB temp below 38C(100F) and the MB typically runs at 41C. I know my CPU cooling is fine, because my CPU temp during an avg load reads 43C. Typically I only have a 1-3 degree diff between CPU and MB temp.

I then decided to switch out the MSI motherboard with my Giga-byte GA-7XDE motherboard. Same case, same everything except ram(which really won't effect the results PC2100-PC2700). The giga-byte MB had a very similar CPU temp = 42C, but the MB temp dropped to only 25C!

From these results, either MSI motherboards run hotter than other motherboards OR MSI places their MB heat sensors in a hot spot on the board(right above the AGP slot).

Then I switched back motherboards, left my case cover open and still could not obtain a MB temp below 38C (100F)

So I then went to the MSI web site and under "SUPPORT" found PCALERT 4(http://www.msi.com.tw/program/support/software/swr/spt_swr_list.php), which has a new function called, "XP Cooler". I don't know how it works and can't find any documentation on it, but when you click the "XP Cooler" button, my CPU/MB temps reduce to CPU:33C and MB:28C. I assume this only works with XP processors since it is called XP Cooler. From what I can tell, the system is still blazing fast and I don't think it effects the performance, but I am still skeptical since I don't know how it works.

If anyone knows how this XP cooler cools the CPU, please respond to this post.