Thread: Should I build around a Q9400?

Just did a tad of reading about the Phenom II X2 550 BE -- looks like I am going to be buying this chip. Has anyone got any experience with unlocked this bad boy to 4 cores? I found the following post which lists the mobos that have been victorious in unlocking the phenom 550 BE.

The real question is, will you be dreadfully disappointed if it doesn't unlock one additional 2 cores? If so, don't buy it with that in mind.

It's still a very capable gaming cpu however, even with only 2 cores. You might be better served having a look at the X3's....AMD sure have made the midrange interesting tbh and I often marvel which one I'd buy myself.

I am going to obtain the X3 720 or the x2 550. What memory would be finest for overclocking?Just not confident which ddr3 memory is finest for overclocking the processor.

You may already know this, but just to make confident. 4 GB RAM + 1 GB video memory (or even 512Mb) will exceed the 32bit Windows 4Gb restraint. Causing some of your memory to vanish/be unfeasible in Windows. You will need 64bit XP, Vista, or 7. I'd suggest 7 out of the three.