What mobo do I pick??

So when I built my last cop (should be in the sig) nearly 4 years ago. The processor had 1 chipset, and so finding a suitable motherboard was relatively easy.

Now, I think I'm settled on Intel's Quad Core: 9450 processor.

However checking the specs on Intel's site, it shows a whole bunch of chip sets with that processor, which in turn when checking Asus's website for a motherboard compatible with that chipset had like 5 chipsets to choose from...

What should I be picking? What's the difference in 5 chipsets, advantage of picking 1 over the other?

The system will have 4GB of ram, will be playing "power demanding" games, multitasking, downloading, extracting, archiving in the background, lots of stuff...

This Asus motehrboard has treated me well for 4 years, so I'd like to stick with them for my 2nd purchase as well rather than swap to Abit or some shit and get a headache.

Thx for the suggestions!

no love after 4 years? .....

if you want SLI go for the 780i or 790i chipsets. If you don't want sli i would go with the X38 or P35 chipsets from Intel. They are solid and great at overclocking.

Can't get you details regarding the MOBO you should be using ,the reason am not convinced about the one that I would be suggesting.As for the chipset it would be better if you opt for a Asus P5B Plus chipset.The reason being INTEL is now busy refreshing its range of processors Core 2 Duo with : Core 2 Duo E6650 (2,33 GHz), E6750 (2,66 GHz) and E6850 (3 GHz), the motherboard manufacturers start to consider the question of compatibility for their models with new INTEL processors .

Here is the image of the device that I would suggest you to opt for.

I do not believe the cpu I had in mind: Intel's 9450 even supports those 2 SLI-capable chipsets you listed.

Q35
X38
P35
G33
G35

are the 5 supported on the processor according to Intel's "chipset" feature on their site.

p5k-v is the 1 I was looking at...

It's relatively cheap.. ~110 uses the G33 chipset, and has pretty much everything PLUS onboard video that the p35 chipsets dont have,

I think the Gigabyte EP35-DS4 would suit your needs , I would only go with the P35 and get a video card. the DS4 is 197$ on NCIX tough. if you want something cheaper the Gigabyte GA-P35-DS3L is the way to go. its only 99.83$ on NCIX US , great board, P35, Solid caps for good overclocking , and works great , and should work with the Q9450.