What CPU for this motherboard ? Need recommendation

[beefheart]

Greetings

Need a recommendation from you gurus. I am planning to build an HTPC for which I intend to use an ECS G31T-M9 motherboard (below)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...37&Tpk=g31t-m9

This will have 2G of DDR2 RAM and drive a Gigabyte HD 4350 graphics card. I not yet figured out the CPU but have narrowed down to the Intel Core 2 QUAD Q9550 processor solely because I am getting a good deal [I think].

Question is, is this CPU 'overkill' for this Mobo ? I understand that it is mostly the applications that drive utilization of multiple cores in a CPU etc. and given the fact that the MoBo above is mediocre as well I dont intend to use it for high graphic/CPU intensive gaming, just as an HTPC mostly...... should I not be spending for a Q9550 ?

On the flip side what CPU would you recommend that would suit well with the MoBo and not be an 'overkill' ?

Thanks

 

[o1die]

I would rather put the $$ into a 2x2gb memory kit for around $75 after rebate, if you can find a deal. The 9550 is overkill; the e5200 is probably the most common cpu for the g31 board; frys has them with a g31 board for $49.99 after rebate, which ends today.

 

[lopri]

Make sure to check the supported CPU list from ECS. The board's power delivery looks kinda weak for a quad-core CPU.

 

[happy medium]

it says it supports the 9505 which is 95 watts. It should support the 9550.

http://www.ecsusa.com/ECSWebSite/Support/CPU_Support_Model.aspx?detailid=958&MenuID=69&LanID=9

 

[ShreddedWheat]

I would get a e5200, why put a porsche engine in a Ford Pinto. As o1die said get the frys deal or wait for one of the many deals fry's has with mobo and i5 or i7 cpu for around 200 bucks. That is what I would do. I have the e5200 in a g31 mobo oced to 3.4 and it does fine for my gaming

 

[victorm]

get the e5200, you want to run the fans as little as possible as HTPC

 

[ShawnD1]

Media playback is mostly single threaded, so probably an overclocked dual core would work best. The E3200 and E5200 both have very high overclocking potential. If you can get one of those overclocked to 4ghz, it will play any video you can find.