Best CPU for this board?

[CZJZ]

A buddy gave me this board so all i need to do is buy a cpu to strap on it. Which one is the best choice of the three? The system will be used for gaming, but not super-intense gaming. I never have OC'd but might like to give it a try. The mobo is the Gigabyte GA-EP45-UD3R.

CPU choices :

Intel

Q9550 = $ 229

Q9450 = $ 208

Q9400 = $ 210.83

The Q9650 is a bit more than I want to spend at $289. My budget is around 250-260 because i want to get a good heat sink to go w\ the cpu. I already have DDR2 ram,video card,PSU etc, needed to finish off the build. Thx for the help!

 

[Shmee]

Q9550 easily, especially if you can get the E0 stepping. If you can get the Xeon x3360 for cheaper, you should also consider that. It is basically the same thing.

Oh, nvm, the x3360 hasnt price dropped nearly as much. Also, you can get the E0 stepping guaranteed at antaresdigital for 259, but that isn't much less than the Q9650.

 

[BTRY B 529th FA BN]

8.5x500fsb would be 4.25Ghz - For starters, that would need some good cooling. Active fans over the NB area. I have a Q9650 and I am only using the 8 multiplier on my UD3R board (sig)

I can't believe you wouldn't find an E0 by now - Great board. Did you ask if there was anything wrong with it? How did he treat it?

That motherboard has more than a Q9550 can handle and that's a good thing when talking about motherboards. Go for the Q9550!

 

[CZJZ]

Thx guys! I'll go for the 9550. My buddy never even used it the mobo. A friend of his that worked at a Fry's swapped it for a racing wheel my buddy had. My buddy was going to build a Q system but never took the plunge and decided to wait on an i7 system but now is going to wait on an i5.

I ended up w\ the mobo after helping my buddy with a little bathroom tiling project. I posted not long ago about upgrading from my old p4 system and was going to go i7 too but after getting this board for free I can spend around $250 and make huge gains from what im using now.

I'll be happy w\ the 9550 for at least a year I'm sure (i mean look at what im upgrading from a p4 3.0. then if I want to upgrade to an i5 system I'll give my wife the 9550 and go for the upgrade then.

Now the only decision before I order is what heatsink. Over to cooling

 

[BTRY B 529th FA BN]

Talk to Aigo about cooling. He knows his stuff.

That will be a pretty powerful system when you hand it off. I swapped out my e8400 for my Q9650 and I am loving it. Vista 64 is really starting to please me as before it was sluggish.