G.Skill RipjawsX Full Specifications

Carefully selecting a memory kit is essential because we won't be overclocking so we ideally need a kit with low, tight CAS timings. G.Skill recently launched a new dual channel DDR3 kit designed specifically for the Sandy Bridge platform. This kit follows on from the previous series "Ripjaw" which was extremely popular amongst hardware enthusiasts and gamers. The new RipjawsX are available in a range of rated frequencies and CAS timings but the kit we have selected is a C7 kit with tight timings, low cost and has been recently reviewed here at Vortez.

This kit is 1600MHz and comes with the stock CAS timings of 7-8-7-24 @ 1.5v and we also have the benefit of lifetime warranty. This kit is fantastic value for money.





Cooler Master Elite 430 (with Elite Power 500W) Full Specifications

Next up, we need an enclosure to house all our components. At the lower end of the market there are cases that come bundled with PSUs (Power Supply Units). Depending on the specifications and price this is sometimes a good route to take. So with this idea in mind, the Cooler Master Elite 430 was chosen. This comes bundled with the passive Cooler Master Elite POWER 500W. The specifications and overall power rating of this PSU will support our system with no problems whatsoever, it will even give us enough headroom for any future upgrades - perhaps if we were to expand to more graphics power via a graphics card for example.

The Cooler Master Elite 430 is a sturdy midi-tower that offers great value for money. It may not have the best cable management options as we will learn a little later, but for the price, size and feature-set its a great choice. We have 4 x 5.25" drive bays, 7 x 3.5" drive bays, support for ATX and mATX motherboards and 1 x 120mm pre-installed LED fan located behind the front bezel that acts as an intake. With there being no rear exhaust or top mounted fan within the Elite 430 its advisable to install one of these to encourage positive airflow within the case. We can mount 2 x 120mm fans to the top, 1 x 120mm to the rear, 1 x 120mm on the side panel and 1 x 120mm at the bottom of the case. So there are plenty of options for creating good airflow.