You might want to check out this review/article. It details some of the successes and issues involved. GLhow far can you go with a 3700+ and a A8N Deluxe at a minimum.
I know what your talking about with the MSI, I ahve the same board and it is absolutely horrible
It only allowed me to take my athlon 3000 from 1.8 to 2, most people get theirs to about 2.7