Cooler Master Storm Scout
Manufacturer: Cooler Master
Price: $80-$100 Find Lowest Price @ PriceGrabber
Author: Cameron (aliencam)
Date: July 21, 2010

The Cooler Master Storm Scout is a midsize-tower LAN/Gaming computer case with all of the associated bells and whistles. The “gaming case” identity seems to be doled out to just about any case with lights and fans nowadays, so let us try to evaluate what makes this case more suitable for these purposes.

Features/Specifications

(From Cooler Master’s website)

• Model SGC-2000-KKN1-GP
• Available Color Black/All-Black Interior
• Material Steel, ABS Plastic, PC, Mesh bezel
• Dimension (D)489 x (W)219 X (H)495.5 mm
• (D)19.2 x (W)8.6 x (H)19.5 inch
• Weight 8.7 kg / 19.23 lbs
• M/B Type Micro-ATX/ATX
• 5.25″ Drive Bay 5 Exposed (without the use of exposed 3.5 inch Drive Bay)
• 3.5″ Drive Bay 5 Hidden
• 1 Exposed (converted from one 5.25 inch Drive Bay)
• 2.5″ Drive Bay 1 Hidden (converted from one 3.5 inch Drive Bay)
• Cooling System Front: 140mm Red LED Fan x 1; 60 CFM; 30,000 hrs life expectancy (included)
• Top: 40mm Fan x 1 (included) or 120mm Fan x 1 (optional) (NOTE: The review case came with a 120mm fan. An 80mm would fit, but I think 40mm is a misprint)
• Rear: 120mm Red LED Fan x 1; 44 CFM; 35,000 hrs life expectancy (included)
• Side: Acrylic window; supports 120mm x 2 (optional)
• Expansion Slots Standard x 7, Special x 1
  Power Supply Standard ATX PS2 (optional)
  Included Accessory 1.8 or 2.5 to 3.5 inch mounting bracket for SSD or HDD

Packaging

The case is packaged in a cardboard box completely covered by glossy photos and product marketing. I was somewhat surprised that the retail box was sturdy enough to survive the mail; I received the package with just a shipping sticker on the box and no extraneous packaging. The box has all expected specifications and photos of the case at different angles, and a large graphic of a soldier in a gas mask. Inside, the case is in a plain plastic bag to prevent scratches and keep it clean in shipping, and some polystyrene foam.

First Impressions

My first impression came before I even opened the box; when retrieving the package from the grossly-uninterested PO-box personnel, I realized that the case weighs quite a bit. The manufacturer says it weighs almost 20 lbs, so if you are planning on ordering online, make sure to double-check shipping rates. The change was even more dramatic for me since my previous case was advertised to be specifically light with it’s all-aluminum construction.
Once I got the case out of the box, it became immediately apparent that this is a very sturdy build. The case is mostly steel with, ABS plastic pieces and a polyacrylic window.

It was very easy to install my motherboard into the case, there was plenty of room around it for hands and cables, and there is a removable hard drive tray. One thing I noticed though, was that since motherboard power connections are generally at the top, my PSU cables were only barely long enough to reach. Make sure to check the length of your PSU’s cables before putting your system together in this case.

Since the case is tool-less, it uses plastic clips instead of screws to hold in expansion cards (PCI, PCIe , etc.). These made it very difficult to fit in my graphics card, and since it can’t clip down with larger cards, I do not feel that it is held in securely. I also had a slight problem with the tool-less 5.25” drive bays. Inserting a drive is extremely tight, leaving scratches on the sides, and ripping off the “warranty void” sticker from my CD-RW (maybe not a concern for something so old and out of warranty, but worth a consideration for those of you hoping to keep your optical drives pristine). Also, it isn’t immediately clear how the locking mechanism works, and once you figure it out it requires quite a bit of force to apply the lock.

The front panel has a large square button in center for power, a very small round button above that for restarting, and a moderately sized round button in the center for the lights. The button for the fan LEDs is just right, but the power button is way too easy to press not only because of its large size and slight protrusion of the bezel, but because it is very sensitive to pressure. I have turned on and off my computer numerous times when I was trying to plug in/remove headphones, USB, or eSATA devices from the front panel. The restart button on the other hand is very small and I have a hard time pressing it with my (small and bony) index finger. The light button activates the red LEDs in the front and rear fans, these LEDs are not excessively bright like some are, but aren’t completely hidden either.

Gaming/LAN features

The most prominent LAN feature on the case is the steel reinforced ABS carrying handle/frame on the top of the case. This is a very sturdy handle, and does a good job making the movement of the case as graceful as lugging a tower around can be. Although it isn’t intended to serve as such, I occasionally find myself sitting on the top of the case and an impromptu chair or stool. While I only weigh about 120 lbs, I am fairly confident that a normal person could safely sit on the handle without risk of damaging it.

It is not only the handle that is thick and well-built, the whole case is very sturdy, including the poly window, adding our second item to the list of “LAN Features.” Even lugging this case around regularly, with all of the associated bumps and accidents, this case should stand up to the abuse. The tight fit of 5.25” drives and vibration dampened screws on the 3.5” slots only add to the security and stability.

When showing off your computer to other enthusiasts, cable management is critical. Thankfully, the Cooler Master Scout gives you ample opportunity for a clean cable arrangement. Holes in the motherboard tray are perfect for routing cables behind, and if you are careful, the back panel’s flare out gives lots of extra room for cable bundles.

This, and the Cooler Master Storm series of cases often include the interesting “Storm Guard” addition. This is a piece of metal with holes and hooks in it, which hangs out in an expansion card opening. It allows you to wind a corded peripheral (such as a gaming mouse or keyboard) through the case, then back out so that it cannot simply be unplugged and stolen. It is definitely a deterrent only, and not absolute security, but it requires opening the case to remove the attached devices. Unfortunately this is not useful for external hard drives or printers since those generally unplug at both ends.

Pros:

• Bottom-mounted PSU
• Good airflow
• Plenty of drive bays
• Lots of big fans (and subsequently good airflow)

Cons:

• jeez this thing is heavy
• did I mention my computer weighs 50 lbs now?
• Dust is very visible on the black case
• Power button easy to accidentally press

Conclusion

The Cooler Master Storm Scout is a great case overall. I absolutely agree that it is better suited for LAN parties than the average case, but that doesn’t detract from the case’s use as a stationary desktop either. The sturdy construction makes it very heavy, especially with my overkill PSU and ridiculous number of installed drives, but the weight is worth a case that will last through the apocalypse. If you are looking for a sturdy new case, the Cooler Master Scout should be near the top of your list.

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Tags: case, chassis, Computer, Cooler, Cooler Master, Cooling, Gaming, LAN, Master, Mid-Size, Scout, Storm, Tower