I don't know that it hugely matters.
SM used to use gcc 4.1 for compiling, likely at the time that was written. We currently use gcc 4.4 on linux and clang on mac.
I personally use gcc 4.4.5 now, and used to use
gcc 3.4.1 with cygwin and crosstool, which I believe still works.
In general, the newer the version of gcc/clang that you use, the more warnings you'll have to fight in the sdk.