i am not expert on linux systems so i decide the keep going with windows, for the MOBO i didnt update the bios rom, instead i have disable the unneccasry features like wifi, bt, onboard vga, and i have set the pci-e ver. 3.0 to 1.0. 
if you try miningOS (is free), there is thread on this forum you dont' need to do anything just flash os to ssd, it have web interface (then you can check system status everywhere), no linux knowledge required. 8 gpu it is better than 7 just try it
