Barbell diameters: looking to buy, need advice

You will want the stiffest bar possible for squats and benching and other movements. Lots of people like some "give" in a deadlift bar--I like my dead bar stiff also. Bar diameter is not as important as metal type and heat treatment. I am still using my old Ivanko powerlifting bar I bought in 92. But I have CHEAP Chinese stainless bar that is stiffer than the Ivanko which was a 300 dollar bar in 92. Too bad the knurling SUCKS in the cheap bar. I do still use it for lifts that the knurling doesn't make much difference for or when I do something like chain suspended lifts where I don't want to fuck up my good bar.

I had an early Bufffalo bar from IronMind that was AWESOME. Only problem is it was an early model from 91 before they beefed up the diameter and it was whippy as hell with anything over 405 so I sold it before it got me hurt. There are few things worse than a heavily vibrating bar at the top or bottom of a heavy squat