| CM Storm Trooper Computer Case |  |
| Reviews - Featured Reviews: Cases | |
| Written by David Ramsey | |
| Tuesday, 27 September 2011 | |
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Page 3 of 7
Detailed Exterior FeaturesThe sturdy, rubber-padded handle dominates the top of the Storm Trooper. Behind the handle is a meshed area covering the top of the case and providing exhaust airflow for the included 200mm top fan. The fan can be removed and replaced with a 2x120mm radiator. The front and top of the case are covered in a soft-touch, rubber-like material.
A giant illuminated power button with the Storm logo dominates the I/O panel at the top front of the case; below it are buttons for the built-in fan controller, which can control the lights of three fans and the speed of four fans. By pressing the "-" and "+" buttons, you can choose between six different fan speeds, with LEDs above the switches visually indicating the chosen speed. There are also power and hard drive activity LEDs, microphone and headphone jacks, a reset button and ESATA port, and four widely-spaced USB ports. The wide spacing of the USB ports will minimize the chance of "fat" USB devices interfering with adjacent ports. There is no FireWire (IEEE 1394) port, but this is falling out of use anyway and most users won't miss it. The two SuperSpeed USB 3.0 ports are connected to a cable terminating in a USB 3.0 header, which is only useful if you have a recent motherboard that has one of these headers. Surprisingly, Cooler Master does not provide a USB 3.0->USB 2.0 adapter cable, so if your motherboard doesn't have a USB 3.0 header, you won't be able to use these ports. One odd thing is that Cooler Master doesn't supply a power light header for your motherboard's front panel connector; instead, the power LED gets its electricity from the same 4 pin Molex connector the fan controller does. While this works, it means you don't get a blinking power light when you put your computer to sleep.
The bottom of the case has two pull-out filters. The smaller filter on the right is for the power supply intake, which the larger filter on the left would presumably be for a radiator mouted there. As delivered, there's nothing above the larger filter except a parts drawer.
The parts drawer is behind the Storm badge below the lowest drive bay cover. It's secured by two screws, so to open it, you have to pop the badge off and get a screwdriver...not too convenient. But it's there if you need it, and discreetly hidden should you lug this monster case around to LAN parties.
The Storm Trooper includes a subtle "X Dock" docking slot for a 2.5" device just above the top 5.25" bay. While this is certainly handy, I'd prefer a dock that could handle the much more common 3.5" drives, as Cooler Master includes on some of their other cases like the Cooler Master 690 II Advanced. 
The accessories pack is somewhat Spartan: eight 3.5" drive caddies, an EPS-12V extension cable, a pair of mounts for putting a 3.5" devices in a 5.25" bay, and a large bag of different types of screws, all mixed together. Cooler Master includes eight long fan screws you can use to attach 120mm fans to the side panel.
Now let's take a look at the inside of this case.
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Comments
I also noticed a lot of these reviews focus on the internals of the case but not much on the usability from a users perspective. Its like reviewing a house based on how well an electrician can run wires but not on how someone will live in the house.
What do you want to see more of in terms of usability?
When I say user, I mean use of the computer not the building of it. The use of it for what it is, like plugging in cameras or external drives or web cams, printers, CD's or DVD's or Blu Rays. Etc. Thats the use of the computer. Running wires, installing hard drives, adding memory internally are the building of it but not the use.
If you follow me on the above then I can continue, I personally use a computer more technical than most. I have some bare drives which I put in an external case and then plug into either an e-sata or usb port. For me, for this use, it would be nice just to slide the drive into some bay and bypass the external case. For a webcam, a USB plug in the back would be best as I want the wire to be hidden. For temporary connections like plugging in a camera to transfer pictures - a plug close to the bottom of the case would be best because I will likely place the camera on the desk next to the computer. It would be nice if the USB plugs were flush mounted as opposed to being in some kind of "cave" because then I don't have much trouble making the connection. Lining the USB plugs along a vertical edge of the case might be a good idea.
Its that kind of usability I am referring to.
There are other factors as well, should this case be on the floor or on the desk and if on the desk can we lay it down or stand it up? Then based on that, what is the best placement of power button and USB ports and maybe a headphone jack as my daughter sometimes likes ot listen to music and its a pain to have to plug a temp headphone into the back.
##newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817994062
Ditto for USB connectors in a position other than the top of the case, etc. Of course if you can find a mid-tower case with these characteristics, that might make more sense for you than buying a full tower case like this one.
its like the HAF X CM-Stormed in a cool way!
it seems like the top can fit 2x140mm's too
can the left side panel mount 2x120mm's for exhaust?
if u wont change the hard drive cage orientation, can u put fans in there
for crossflow?
can u put 5.25" bays sideways too ?
Like I mean, by the end of 2012 when most cases will have USB 3.0 as their main standard and cases will be coming with 4 USB 3.0 instead of the 2 3.0 and 2 2.1 ports right now; will Cooler Master supply us with something to upgrade?
Thanks.
A minor gripe admittedly, but still one worth considering.
It also begs the question - get this case; or wait until 2012 when the (inevitable) USB 3.0 revision one comes out?
Otherwise, it's a good case ... hmm.
#i.neoseeker.com/neo_image/193001/article/CoolerMaster_Storm_T rooper/Trooper%2011.jpg
It's noteworthy that other companies (such as Corsair) do sell USB 3.0 upgrade kits for their cases.
It's been almost two years since the introduction of SuperSpeed USB 3.0, and we're only just starting to see motherboards with native USB 3.0 headers. There are very few USB 3.0 devices as yet. I think the two font connectors on the Storm Trooper will suffice for many years to come. After all, how many USB 3.0 devices do you think you'd ever have plugged into the front of the case at once? I've never had more than two USB 2.0 devices!
Although the market for USB 3.0 devices is expected to explode by 2013. Oh well ... I'm looking for a case that will last 3-4 years. This so far has been the most attractive option to suit my needs that I have seen so far.
After reading your fine review and several others, I'm very strongly leaning towards getting this case.
Budget - up to $350
Need:
- Full tower case
- Lots of room to work inside (expected of any full tower)
- USB 3.0 support
- Good cable management
- Excellent thermal performance (and room for more fans)
- Something that I can move around with a lot; I though about aluminum for that reason
I'm aiming to have this case last me 4-5 years. I also have thought in a couple years of upgrading to water cooling.
Build quality of this case seems pretty solid. Of all the cases released so far, this is the one that seems to fit the bill the closest.
can anyone tell me where is the power led wire is located on the cm storm trooper? unable to locate and/or find it. found the reset wire, power wire, and ide wire but not the power led wire. thanks