Q9300, Q9450 or QX9650?

Howdy.

This might be a silly question. I can pick from the three processors above. Cost is the same.

• Q9300 - Intel Core 2 Quad Q9300 Yorkfield 2.5GHz 6MB L2 Cache LGA 775 95W
• Q9450 - Intel Core 2 Quad Q9450 Yorkfield 2.66GHz 12MB L2 Cache LGA 775 95W
• QX9650 - Intel Core 2 Extreme QX9650 Yorkfield 3.0GHz 12MB L2 Cache LGA 775 130W

All three processors will be "bare" - non-retail, new, and unsupported w/ no warranty, but guaranteed genuine tho possibly non-standard. The QX9650 is reported as possibly a problem child - motherboard compatibility is not guaranteed.

I do very occasional gaming, some work-at-home VPN'd into my work machine, and mostly email/internet. My P4 mobo/processor/PSU are fried and I'm looking to re-build, using as much as I can. (See thread here for details on what I've got that I'll be re-using.)

My current (dead) system always seemed to have heat issues. The processor may have been a "problem child" processor or the temp may have been reported wrong. Regardless, I don't want heat issues! Ambient is 82ºF (28ºC) this time of year (Phoenix, AZ). I don't care a whole lot about O'Cing, but might fool around w/ it if it's just a matter of software tweaks. Plan on using a good aftermarket CPU cooler, and if you read the thread I linked to above, you'll see my proposed system(s), my fan setup on the current system, video card, etc.

So... Which one should I get? I'm leaning toward the Q9450 because of concerns about heat issues w/ the QX9650 coupled w/ the fact that it is reported as a non-standard CPU w/ possible problems. I don't need/want problems. I just want a stable, reliable, zippy-fast system I can ignore for years and run 24/7 that will hopefully last through Windoze 7 SP1... 'Til Win7 SP1 is out, I'll likely run XP Home.

What say ye? Oh - and thank you in advance.

Motherboard I will buy new. So if I decide to go w/ the QX9650, I'll buy a motherboard that supports 130W CPU's.

If they all cost the same, get the 9650. Be sure to buy a good aftermarket cooler like the Xigmatech HDT-1283. www.frostytech.com has good heatsink reviews.

The 9650 is a great CPU - I'm not sure why it would have any disclaimers. I'd have gotten the QX.

Yep.

LOL