CyberPower Infinity i3 Apollo Elite review
A massive overclock makes this a seriously fast machine, which looks the business and has a powerful graphics card
Specifications
4GHz Intel Core i3-540, 4GB RAM, 22in 1,920×1,080 display, Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit
Thankfully, CyberPower has kept enough in the budget to include a high-quality 22in monitor. The 22in LED-backlit LG has a full HD 1,920×1,080 resolution: the only compromise is the solitary VGA output. Brightness was even and contrast was good, but colours were slightly too vivid at the default settings. Using the simple on-screen menu, this was quickly fixed. The bundled Logitech mouse and keyboard were fine for everyday use; the mouse fitted our palm well and the keys were responsive.
There’s no skimping on hard disk space either: 1TB gives you plenty of room to store your files, but there’s no firewire, eSATA or USB3 for connecting fast external disks. Audio connectivity is better, with a choice of 5.1 or optical S/PDIF outputs. There are plenty of extra drive bays for future upgrades, and the two free memory slots mean adding extra RAM won’t require sacrificing the 4GB already installed. There are two PCI-Ex1 slots in addition to the single PCI slot, but one is obstructed by the fan from the dual slot graphics card. The 450w PSU can supply enough power for several extra disks, but as there’s only one free SATA connector its usefulness is limited.
An overclocked processor has enough power for almost any task, and the dedicated graphics card is also good enough for most games. If you can look beyond the striking blue lighting and side panel window, there are few machines that are faster for the money.
Basic Specifications | |
---|---|
Rating | ***** |
Processor | Intel Core i3-540 |
Processor external bus | 174MHz (3.1GHz DMI) |
Processor multiplier | x23 |
Processor clock speed | 4GHz |
Processor socket | LGA1156 |
Memory | 4 |
Memory type | DDR3 |
Maximum memory | 16GB |
Motherboard | ASUS P7H55-M |
Motherboard chipset | Intel H55 |
Ports | |
USB2 ports (front/rear) | 2/6 |
Firewire ports (front/rear) | 0/0 |
eSATA ports (front/rear) | 0/0 |
Wired network ports | 1x 10/100/1000 |
Wireless networking support | none |
Internal Expansion | |
Case | Midi tower |
PCI-E x1 slots (free) | 2 (1) |
PCI-E x16 slots (free) | 1 (0) |
Free Serial ATA ports | 4 |
Free memory slots | 2 |
Free 3.5in drive bays | 6 |
Hard Disk | |
Hard disk model(s) | Samsung HD103SJ |
Interface | SATA II |
Total storage capacity | 1,000GB |
Graphics | |
Graphics card(s) | Nvidia GeForce GT 430 |
Graphics/video ports | VGA, DVI, HDMI |
Sound | |
Sound | Realtek ALC887 |
Sound outputs | 5.1 line out, optical S/PDIF out |
Speakers | none |
Removable Drives | |
Supported memory cards | none |
Optical drive type(s) | DVD+/-RW +/-DL |
Display | |
Viewable size | 22 in |
Screen model | LG Flatron E2240 |
Native resolution | 1,920×1,080 |
Screen inputs | VGA |
Other Hardware | |
Keyboard | Logitech Deluxe 250 Keyboard |
Mouse | Logitech B110 |
Software | |
Software included | none |
Operating system | Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit |
Operating system restore option | burn own restore disc |
Buying Information | |
Warranty | three years RTB (three years labour, one year parts) |
Price | £549 |
Details | www.cyberpowersystem.co.uk |