Cooler Master Storm Scout II Advanced Case Review: Falling Behind the Curve
by Dustin Sklavos on March 19, 2013 12:01 PM EST- Posted in
- Cases/Cooling/PSUs
- Cooler Master
- ATX
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Introducing the Cooler Master Storm Scout II Advanced
Cooler Master has been fairly gung ho on the PR side about their Storm Scout II Advanced. While we missed the opportunity to review its predecessor, the Storm Scout II, we aim to rectify that omission by putting this new semi-portable ATX chassis through its paces. Cooler Master has a long history of strong enthusiast offerings (with their HAF line being particularly well loved), but does the Storm Scout II Advanced inherit that legacy of greatness or are they falling behind the curve?
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Unlike the HAF series, the Storm Scout II Advanced benefits from a cleaner design with rounded angles and smooth lines. There are a trio of handles on the top of the case to make moving it between LAN parties (or really, just moving it in general) easier on the end user, and Cooler Master includes a fairly traditional positive pressure cooling system, with two red LED fans (LEDs can be toggled off) in the front of the chassis and a single exhaust fan in the rear. As has become de rigeur, it features support for a 240mm radiator in the top, but its primary function is to be a sleek, semi-portable gaming case.
| Cooler Master Storm Scout II Advanced Specifications | ||
| Motherboard Form Factor | Mini-ITX, Micro-ATX, ATX | |
| Drive Bays | External | 3x 5.25" |
| Internal | 7x 3.5", 2x 3.5"-to-dual-2.5" trays | |
| Cooling | Front | 2x 120mm red LED intake fan |
| Rear | 1x 120mm exhaust fan | |
| Top | 2x 120mm fan mount | |
| Side | 2x 120mm fan mount | |
| Bottom | 1x 120mm fan mount | |
| Expansion Slots | 7 | |
| I/O Port | 2x USB 2.0, 2x USB 3.0, 1x Headphone, 1x Mic | |
| Power Supply Size | ATX | |
| Clearances | HSF | 162mm |
| PSU | 160mm with bottom fan / 220mm without | |
| GPU | 287mm with drive cage / 399mm without | |
| Dimensions |
9.1" x 20.2" x 20.5" 230mm x 513mm x 517.5mm |
|
| Weight | 18.87 lbs. / 8.56 kg | |
| Special Features |
USB 3.0 via internal header LED toggle Removable drive cage panel Side window Toolless drive installation Handles |
|
| Price | $109 | |
The Storm Scout II Advanced isn't particularly light, but it's well built, using a combination of SECC steel and plastic. This is a case that really is designed to be moved, though components are going to add close to another ten pounds to its weight. Where I think things take a little bit of a turn is in the cooling system design; simply put, we've seen this before. A lot. And the lack of any 140mm support of any kind is crippling to the case's cooling potential at a time when many manufacturers are making the shift to larger fans.
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MrCommunistGen - Tuesday, March 19, 2013 - link
On page 4 in the ATX Test Configuration table in the GTX 580 description you have: "(full fat testing only)" which is actually a little bit amusing but it should probably say: full fan testing based on context.MrCommunistGen - Tuesday, March 19, 2013 - link
well... I guess since you used that terminology again I guess it was intentional.JarredWalton - Tuesday, March 19, 2013 - link
It's a reference to types of milk or cream: you have the "light" options with reduced fat (easier on your body in theory), and then there's the "full fat" milk and cream where you get all the flavor along with all the fat. I suppose it's probably used outside of dairy stuff as well, but you get the point. :-)MrCommunistGen - Tuesday, March 19, 2013 - link
Yeah after I kept reading I realized it was meant to by synonymous with "heavy duty" or the like. The terminology just caught me off guard.pcfxer - Wednesday, March 20, 2013 - link
The power of a hyphen ;)>. Full-Fat Testing!Grok42 - Tuesday, March 19, 2013 - link
I really liked your comment about the bog standard ATX case layout design as "...been done". Couldn't have said it better. Why through yet another ATX case at us, give us something different.bogda - Wednesday, March 20, 2013 - link
Why is gallery at anandtech simplified to stupidity?You can go next by clicking anywhere on picture but you cannot go back by clicking on left side of image as it is usual. If you want to go back you have to click on "film strip" at the bottom. It is not intuitive and requires more time, especially if "film strip" moved to next page.
REALfreaky - Wednesday, March 20, 2013 - link
The best performer for the price (Antec GX700) is ugly as sin. One of the better looking cases (this CM Storm Scout) is a poor performer and overpriced.Why is it so hard to find both? The exterior looks of this CM Storm Scout and the internal configuration and price of the GX700 would impress to no end.
TGressus - Wednesday, March 20, 2013 - link
The case could be a a good performer. It has 5 fan mounts that the reviewer chose to leave unpopulated, instead relying on the manufacturer's bare minimum. It is up to the consumer to design and tune their own system, and it is true the less experienced in the community would benefit from more detailed guidance in this area.alsmith - Saturday, November 22, 2014 - link
Both as in poor performer and ugly? I bet there'd be a few suggestions ......