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I have two MSI Z270 SLI PLUS motherboards with intent to install matching hardware /software configuration. Unfortunately, they are not identical: one has BIOS E7A59IMS.140 from 12/15/2016, the other - E7A59IZ1.1J1 from 07/06/2017:

v.140 v.1J1

First puzzle: current highest official BIOS version is 7A59v1A from 2018-07-17.
M-Flash recognizes E7A59IMS.1A0 file on the first mobo (14), but not on the second. I attribute that to 1A being less than 1J, but would like to have a confirmation.
Even so, i can't explain dates being out of order.

Googling E7A59IZ1.1J1 results in only two links, https://bios.ethosdistro.com/motherboard-bios/current-bios-list.txt and a related direct file URL. So, this may not be an official BIOS?
Is there a way to re-flash 1J to official one (1A)?

Both sets (mobo + cpu + ram) have passed rigorous (24+ hrs) MemTest86 v7.3.

Next, Windows setup (from the same USB drive) looks normal on 14: v.140

but has dithered color depth on 1J: v.1J1 and lower resolution (dialog fills entire screen): v.1J1 occasionally with color (and in Classic theme!): v.1J1

Since CPU graphics is used on both, is this a result of BIOS mod on 1J, or 2nd CPU is somehow damaged? (I thought about swapping CPUs, but haven't gotten to it yet, will try next)

2019-May-03
Swapped CPUs, the problem remains on 1J.
So it seems to be a result of some BIOS mod (possibly from|by|for ethOS?)..

Would love to re-flash it with official 1A BIOS, but 1J's M-Flash does not recognize the file..

Wiped a 256MB USB 2.0 stick, copied a single 16MB E7A59IMS.1A0 file to it: 7A59v1A 1J refuses to see/recognize the update: 1J while 14 is perfectly happy recognizing it (also added sub-folders with drivers): 14

Is there any other way to force flashing of official 1A BIOS over this suspect 1J?

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  • This could be caused by several things. Switching the CPUs would eliminate that possible cause. If these motherboards are under warranty I would see if you could replace the motherboard with the weird firmware loaded. It's actually not uncommon for a motherboard to have a firmware that isn't published by an OEM. You might also have a slightly different revision of the hardware, even if it's the same motherboard, so a different firmware might make sense. I would either try to roll back to 7A59v19 or contact MSI for any support options that might exist
    – Ramhound
    Commented May 2, 2019 at 19:51

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Posted this same question on MSI forum. Extremely happy to receive help from gurus! Thank you!!
The solution was to force flash proper official BIOS, all details are spelled out and illustrated.

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