Did the Scout need fixing? CMStorm
thinks so
The first CM Storm Scout was a dependable,
surprisingly roomy case that didn't take up much space and was still easy on
the eye all for under $160. CM Storm has obviously seen room for improvement
though - hello Scout 2.
Like its forefather, it offers space for
giant graphics cards in a relatively small chassis and remains below the triple
figure price point. But just as we wonder whether CM Storm wouldn't be better
off sticking with plain old 'Cooler Master', since the company's HAF cases are
so legendary, so too we wonder if the Scout was fine just the way it was.
The Scout 2 feels flimsier than the
original, particularly around the power, reset and lighting buttons. There's a
slider cover over the front USB and audio inputs that mimics the HAF design,
but the plasticky feel doesn't instil the greatest faith in the Scout 2's
longevity. Still, credit where it's due front mounted USB 3.0 ports are always
welcome, and with four ports in total (two USB 2.0 and two of the faster
interface) you're unlikely to be left holding a flash drive in exasperation.
And if the power buttons don't feel sturdy,
the top-mounted handle certainly does -another thoughtful addition to the
design that warms you to the Scout 2's 'HAF on a shoestring' aspirations.
Like the pricier Cooler Master cases, the
Scout 2 can accommodate more fans than a Justin Bieber tour schedule. There are
nine potential placings, though out of the box it's fitted with just two 120mm units,
at the front and rear. There are dust filters at the top and bottom to keep a
decent airflow ticking over (those power supplies really suck in the scum), but
really you'd expect a bit more cooling as standard for nearly 90 quid.
And you'll certainly need more if you're
planning to make the most of the Scout 2's capacity. There are seven expansion
slots of acceptable (but not exceptional) quality under the hood to keep your
drives in place. The ace up the Scout 2's sleeve though is its capacity for graphics
cards.
We chucked in two of the biggest GPUs we
could find (AMD's 7 Series behemoths) in a CrossFire setup, and found room to
connect the power without too much drama or hand laceration, but if your
graphics card is huge and fitted with a power connector at the rear rather than
the side, it'll be a very tight squeeze. Check the dimensions of your card
against the chassis to avoid having to unscrew and remove drive bays. Yeah, you
can do that with the Scout 2 now. The top bay at least.
We do like the Scout 2's new features - the
slideable cover over the USB 3.0 ports, the steel handle and the capacity for
monster GPUs but it seems to be a step back in Cooler Master/CMStorm's usual
core tenet: build quality. We don't doubt its integrity, but this is an
enthusiast level product and as such it needs to feel luxurious. That's no
reason to avoid this case, but it's harder to recommend than Corsair's Carbide
Series 500R, which offers a bit extra for the same price. But if you want
multi-GPU setups and many fans, the Scout 2 remains a strong option.
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Vital statistics
§ Price:
$139.2
§ Manufacturer:
CMStorm
§ Web:
www.cmstorm.com
§ Front
ports: USB 3.0 x 2 (int), USB2.0x2,micxl,audiox1 (supports AC97/HD Audio)
§ Motherboard:
compatibility mATX,ATX
§ Expansion: slots 7
§ Dimensions: 230 x 513 x 517.5mm
§ Fans:
2x120mm
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