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:
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:
but has dithered color depth on 1J:
and lower resolution (dialog fills entire screen):
occasionally with color (and in Classic theme!):
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:
1J refuses to see/recognize the update:
while 14 is perfectly happy recognizing it (also added sub-folders with drivers):
Is there any other way to force flashing of official 1A BIOS over this suspect 1J?