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  • Cooler Master Elite 430 Case Review
  • Cooler Master Elite 430 Case Review

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    Introduction

    In the world of the system builder there are always boundaries that hold them to certain hardware levels. The primary factor is the budget; this is where hard decisions have to be made to sacrifice components for the sake of the project. Often times the money saved is either in PSU power handling or the computer case.

    Skimping on a PSU is not always a good thing so more often than not the system builder will choose some cheap and thin walled computer case in hopes of saving the budget and delivering some quality gear.  Building custom computers doesn't have to be that way, in fact Cooler Master has an entire line dedicated to budget builds and we are going to look at one right now.
    The CM Elite 430 does not look like a budget case but does show some of the classic pre-mod styling with a big window on the side, sleek black exterior, and fancy mesh front.
    One thing that usually separates the budget builds from a quality computer case is color.  The Elite 430 is completely black from top to bottom, inside and out.  Not only does this help add a little class to the chassis but protects the metal from corrosion as well.
    Specifications
    Motherboard: Micro-ATX/ATX
    Drive Bays: 3 x 5.25" External, 2 x 3.5" External
    Drive Bays: 5 x 3.25" Internal
    Cooling: Front: 1 x 120mm Blue LED Fan, Optional Top: 2 x 120mm Fan, Optional  Rear: 1 x 120mm Fan, Optional Side: 1 x 120mm Fan
    Front I/O Ports: 2 x USB 2.0, 1 x MIC, 1 x Audio Output
    Expansion Slots: 7