CM Storm Trooper (SGC-5000-KKN1) PC Chassis Review

1. Introduction
2. Specifications and Packaging
3. External Impressions Part 1
4. External Impressions Part 2
5. Internal Impressions Part 1
6. Internal Impressions Part 2
7. Installation experience and Conclusion

Before I go ahead, I have experience with standoff sockets from both Bitfenix and now with this case. Bitfenix has a little better finish on the circumference of the socket- but both are practically same.

In both case the hole for the brass standoff is little bit smaller that makes it a tight squeeze: this is where it helps it also comes with the problem. If the hole is to tight that the threads doesn’t go through, you end up putting more force and turning the screwdriver. Because of this, the hexagon shaped standoffs gets stuck when one of the angled side hits the flat edge of the hexagon-worse you can also damage the Phillips head on the socket as well. You end up removing it and then using a plier to remove the standoff from the socket. You have to make sure you don’t hold the plier tight enough that it destroys the thread of the standoffs. As it is you’re getting a limited number of standoff with such cases.

Rather than having a socket, having a small wrench is more useful, like how I got with the Lian Li A70F. This is the best way to install the standoffs properly. The small wrench that I got with Lian Li has a close ended hexagon shaped cut and one with an open ended to secure those standoffs on the corners, usually near the PCI slots. What any manufacturer can also implement is that the edge of the wrench can be thin enough to be used as a screw driver since the thumbscrews that are factory installed anywhere in the case is very tight. Its a small tool, but it helps. Either that or come with the standoffs preinstalled by default.

This is just not for Bitfenix and Coolermaster and this isn’t a new idea, but its lot better than having the nut. Moving on…

For those who are not familiar, I test the cable management potential with whatever hardware that I have upto the full with almost all the headers and cables connected- even the front panel header on Asus Xonar DX which also needs a floppy power connector. Unfortunately since I do not have a large enough card and due to certain limitation on my end I can help you with a certain angle. Most of the HDD bays are occupied with hard drives and all the 2.5″ bays are filled with SSD drives. This way you know what kind of mess it leaves on the rear. I use a Corsair TX750 and in my opinion its a pain-in-the-butt to do cable management with. All the more reason such power supplies are great for getting to know how good the cable management potential is, especially if its done by a person who is not well-versed with cable management or is doing it in a hurry. I spent about 35 minutes and the result are as follows in order to get the right side panel to close.

There are 2 Molex cables used for this case- 1 on the PCB inside and one for the fans+ the top PCB LED+ fan LEDs. Since I installed 4 SSD drives and installed 4 SATA cables and the power cable and due to the clutter in the back of the motherboard plate I decided not to route SSD’s sata cables from the rear. The thick 24 pin ATX connector is usually the only obstacle when it comes to securing the right side panel .

To be honest if the SATA and the Molex connectors were flat rather than sleeved then it could have worked out. There were 4 cables that were not used: the PCIE power connector cable and a Molex connector. That’s stashed away inside where the toolbox is usually stored. Gigabyte 890GPA UD3H doesn’t come with a USB 3.0 header, but I dragged the USB 3.0 header cable on the system. To add more, if you use a modular design power supply, most of the clutters will not be there. As you can see there’s ample space through the grommet which has the 24 pin ATX cable through it and the holes for the 8 pin ATX connector.

This is a case specifically tailor-made for those users you will go the water-cooling way for the processor and for the GPU- even at dual/tri setup provided you spend a lot of time with this case with a modular power thin cable. I wish there was bit more space between the back of the motherboard panel and the right side panel for those who don’t bother to cable tie the wiring but its not something cannot manage it. I would have preferred if the toolbox occupied on the 5.25″ bays rather than the space below. Coolermaster Storm Trooper gets a thumbs up for a surprisingly great built quality: the steel and the bezels.

Again, Coolermaster. Play with the colour schemes. That being said: I wouldn’t be surprised if Coolermaster comes with a case called CM Storm The Marine with camouflage paintjob. Hey, you’ll never know! Since motherboard manufacturers are going crazy with military themed boards with bullets (some of it which that looks like crayons) so- why not? Maybe a side panel choice could be provided to have transparent panel in the place of mesh- atleast the ones where you can install the 120mm fans. Speaking of fans, the front 2x 120mm fan does produce an audible sound and maximum speed.

CM’s own HAF-X is trooper’s competitor by the looks of it. It comes with a VGA support bracket too. Sure, it comes with little bit lesser HDD slots and there’s only 1 adapter for SSD card but its a great case and it has some neat stuff. I did not review the HAF-X, mind you! So can’t say anything about it.

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