| CM Storm Stryker Computer Case Review |  |
| Reviews - Featured Reviews: Cases | |
| Written by Hank Tolman | |
| Monday, 27 August 2012 | |
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CM Storm Stryker Computer Case Review
Manufacturer: Cooler Master
Product Name: CM Storm Stryker Model Number: SGC-5000W-KWN1 UPC: 884102017179
Price As Tested: $159.99 (Newegg.com)
Full Disclosure: The product sample used in this article has been provided by Cooler Master. In the fall of 2011, Cooler Master's gaming and enthusiast product branch, CM Storm, released the CM Storm Trooper Computer Case. It was a massive full-tower case with a very unique front I/O style and a big handle on top. The CM Storm Trooper received a lot of high marks by reviewers and owners alike. This time around, Cooler Master is changing things up just a little. The CM Storm Trooper is getting a face-lift and a name change. In this article, Benchmark Reviews is taking a look at the CM Storm Stryker, a white, windowed version of the Trooper. I have to admit that I am big fan of white cases, if they are done right. I am currently housing my system in the Thermaltake Level 10 GT Snow Edition case, and my wife's computer is bundled into a white NZXT Switch 810. Because of that, I was really excited to get my hands on the CM Storm Stryker and check it out. While a lot of the case remains the same as its predecessor, the white paint and the windowed side panel make it stand out a lot more for me.
Full-tower cases are starting to lose their appeal now that so much is being integrated onto the mainboard. Generations ago, in computer time, your system needed a video card, sound card, and a network card at least. You might have also included a modem, a USB controller, an additional IDE or SCSI controller, and any number of other devices in your system. All those peripherals added up and you needed the space to hold them. If you were an enthusiast, a full-tower case was probably a necessity. Things have changed, however. The sound, network adapter, and USB headers, and RAID controllers are all on the motherboard. Enthusiast motherboards might include a WiFi adapter or other peripherals as well. If you aren't going to be gaming or pushing your graphics, that's likely to be built-in as well. The point is, unless you are running Tri- or Quad- SLI or CrossFire configurations, a full-tower case is now too much. That hasn't deterred the manufacturers that cater to enthusiasts, however. CM Storm, among others, still maintains quite a few full-tower cases. So let's get on with it and start taking apart the CM Storm Stryker.
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Comments
Still I believe there are a few cons to both Trooper and Styker, albeit mild ones. While most of those you've mentioned, I believe any case in these range should be totally tool-free. I'm old-school and don't hate screw-drivers, but after using a few Corsair, I do appreciate the tool-less designs. My friend has the Trooper and its thumbscrews need more than just thumb to be properly tightened!
Also the X-Doc, is that SATA2 or SATA3? I mean you'd expect people to use their 6GB/S SSDs much more than say Notebook HDD on such a hot-swap bay!
Finally I would've really wanted CM to include latches on the side panels which is way better than the hinge/slide, They've got it in the HAF-XM - why not in Stryker?
Yet these are just mild cons as the aesthetics and detailed craftsmanship blows me out!
Love it:
Control Panel (The power button is a little big and looks like it would be easy to hit by accident but really adds to the look)
Handle
Lots of fans
Cable Management
2.5" hot swap bay
Removable hard drive cages
Internal 2.5" SSD cage (even if it does look like it was an afterthought)
Filters
Hate it:
Fan controller (always use my own which leaves useless controls on the panel)
Bulging side panels (just yuck, Corsair did this too, yuck)
Only 3 5 1/4" bays (need four for 2 x 5 1/4" reservoirs or a res, fan controller and optical drive)
White (subjective) really prefer black interior
Drive bay covers on the front over the fans in place of a one piece removable mesh (why use drive bay covers if there are no drive bays there?)
Although this is not a case I would chose, I can see how some people would love it though. My biggest beef is the bulging side panels, I really don't like that on cases. The only one I do like it on is the Corsair 600T because it's a gentle convex curve and not a jutting bulge. Some of their other cases have the jutting side panel bulges as well.
Overall this is a pretty sweet case. It has lots of storage space, everything you need for water cooling, lots of fans. I can see why some would pick it.
Thanks for the review.
Help would be greatly appreciated as I dont want to end up with a case and no optical drive!
Thanks!