LinuxQuestions.org - Linux-tested mobo needed for i7 4770 (1150 socket), NVidia 780 Ti ?

Hi

First post from moderate Linux n00b (3 months Kubuntu).

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PROBLEM SUMMARY

I want to replace my MSI z87 motherboard because it's not working with many distros I want to try (some details below).

I'm looking for a recommendation for a good, tried and tested mobo that works with all the other bits I already have.

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THE BITS I HAVE:

MSI Z87 MPOWER MAX AC, Socket-1150 (To be replaced)
Intel Core i7-4770K
Samsung SSD 840 EVO 250GB BK OEM
CORSAIR 16GB DDR3 DOMINATOR PLATINUM 2133MHZ CL9 (2X8GB)
MSI GeForce GTX 780Ti 3GB
1000 W PSU

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DISTROS PROBLEM

Only Ubuntu/Kubuntu installed on this mobo. I also tried (now and back in September) various flavors of: OpenSuse, Mint, Manjaro, Fedora, Debian, CentOS... the list goes on.

They all failed at the install, except the 'buntus.

The failed-to-install distros always complained about various UEFI things, USB things... it was an endless nightmare and it seems that each picked something different.

I have a related rig on an Asus z87 mobo that have fewer problems (e.g. Debian won't install, OpenSuse will, Manjaro with some problems).

Online, the MSI z87 boards sometime seem to have caused others Linux problems too, whilst the other bits I have seem to be widely used without complaints.

On the basis that (enough of) my time is worth more than a replacement mobo, I would like to spend, lets say in the region of $150 to replace mine for something known to work, and hopefully with the other components I already have.

So my question is actually an appeal for recommendations for a motherboard that could replace mine.

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WHAT I WOULD LIKE MY SYSTEM TO DO:

- Be able to run Manjaro, OpenSuse, etc. with as few unexpected hardware problems as possible. (I know what this sounds like, but if motherboard choice can prevent problems, I'd like that motherboard.)

- Support the GPU for G-sync so I can run two 1440p 144 Hz monitors (one to have the KDE desktop, the other a Windows on VirtualBox). Maybe I'm wrong, but I think I read that G-sync works on Linux, whereas Freesync does not. As I have an NVidia already, this seems to be a good reason to stick with it. But please correct me if I'm wrong.

- Handle 6+ Hard Disks + DVD Drive

- Give decent performance out of my GPU for the occassional Linux-based Steam games (e.g. Dying Light)

(Dying Light etc works well enough under Kubuntu, but I want to move away from that distro. Although I love KDE Plasma 5.5)

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WHY DONT I STICK TO (K)UBUNTU?

For me, because:

1. I don't like Canonical's attitude to privacy, given their sending of private, even "local" searches to Amazon on the Unity desktop (I have disabled this + use KDE - but still...).

2. I would like to try all the distros and find the one I like the best, rather than settling for the only one that I can get to work on my hard disk.

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I am a n00b willing to learn, but first I need a mobo that won't make me tear my own head off in sheer exasperation.

Please let me know your suggestions for a motherboard that I could buy within some reasonable price range.

Thanks for your time!