I am in the middle of putting together a new build based around a B3 stepped Phenom. I am having trouble deciding between the 9550 and the 9750. I realize that the Phenoms aren't OC'ing well but I figured that I could get the 9550 up to the same level as the 9750 without much trouble (it's only 200MHz). I notice however that the 9750 is a 125 W processor whereas the 9550 is only 95 W. I have already checked compatibility with the motherboard I've picked out (MSI K9A2 CF-F V2) and I should be OK. What I want to know is, will the 125W 9750 give me more head room to OC or will it just generate more heat? And, is the 200 extra MHz worth the extra $20 or should I spend that money on a better CPU fan?

I would personally suggest 9750, being a faster, and higher binned processor. One thing to keep in mind that the 125W you referred to is TDP (thermal dissipation power), which is a rating given by the manufacturers for OEMs as a guideline for cooling solution. In reality, 9750 may in no way consume 125W under most circumstances.

Since the price difference between 9750 and 9550 is so little (relatively speaking), it makes more sense to get the 9750.