chrous

Test with only the one "new" ram dim and remove the old one and test.

The 7970m should work don't know about the 8970m just make sure you update / upgrade your bios.

I would try this one it will ask to confirm the install as it will have a different video card id but it should work just back up your bios first with gupz and you should be good to go.

MSI Global - Computer, Laptop, Notebook, Desktop, Motherboard, Graphics and more

So you ssd is sata and not esata i suppose what I would do is reset the bios to default change only the sata port to what you want like ahci and test if the bios is not seeing it test it in a different system to test you ssd. If it's only to add as space and only don't see it in windows go to disk manager to partition it and format.

It could be incompatibility with the one ram to the other try just the new one and remove the old one to test go in bios and look if you system see's the ram as it is. I think it's just an incompatibility on the 2 ram stick.

Can you drive / go to the shop as I did with my 3 first msi notebook GS70, GT60 and now GT70 is perfect and all replaced on site as the store it's just faster I find.

Also black lines from your post happens in bios also if you move the screen do the lines "change" if not it could just be a cable problem but in any event call the store and see what they will do.

Are unlocked bios for the GT70 2PE systems possible?