Cooler Master CM Storm Scout Case Review :: Interior

Case

Right angle view

Left angle view

CM Storm logo

The first thing that stands out about this case is the handles on the top of the case. Cooler Master calls them Steel Reinforced handles designed for easy carrying of the case to LAN Parties. This case is designed to be carried by the handles and the metal is very strong. We were able to load the case with a full system of components and lift the case from area to area with ease.

Handle

Left side door

Right side door

Front view

The front of the case has a mesh covering for every drive bay and the 140mm front fan. You can install a FDD in a 5.25" drive bay if you wish, but I prefer to use the various USB Flash drives or a bootable CD to do everything that a floppy is required to use. There are five exposed 5.25" drive bays that can hold up to five optical drives or floppy disk drives. The front panel is easily removed by just pulling on it.

IO

USB

Power, eSATA

140mm fan

The left side of the case has an inlaid cut out window. This window has a mounting bracket for two 120mm fans on the right hand side of the window. The fans are not included with the package, so you need to be aware that if you want to utilize this feature the fans need to be purchased separately. The right hand side of the case has the same shape but without the window or the 120mm fan mounts. The IO area of the case is well equipped with no less than four USB 2.0 ports, an external SATA port, two jacks for the onboard audio, and the power button for the LEDs on the fans. Here is also where you find the HDD LED and Power LED lights. The top of the case is where the top 140mm fan mount is located on the rear of the handle. The rear of the case has a 120mm fan. The PSU is on the bottom of the case. There are six expansion slots for PCI cards and a 7th slot used for either another slot or for StormGuard.

Rear view

Scout logo

Screw

Side window

StormGuard is Cooler Master's patented system for safeguarding computer peripherals such as USB mice or keyboards. The wires for said peripherals are routed around the wire management harness on the StormGuard preventing or at least hindering theft of such objects. To install the peripheral wire you have to remove the side panel and the bracket for the StormGuard. It is an ingenious way of doing security for a computer for a LAN party, but it takes up a PCI slot on the Scout that might better be used for a PCI device.

2 120mm fan mounts