Assembly

Installing the motherboard is done by traditional means using the included spacers. There is enough room around the CPU cooler to allow for large coolers, but Cooler Master mentions a maximum height of 162 mm without the use of side fans. If you do choose to install such cooling units onto the side panel, the maximum size is reduced to 147 mm. Regardless, this means that most 140 mm and some 120 mm based tower coolers will not fit into the CM Storm Scout 2.


Installing the hard drives is quite easy. For the 3.5" drives, simply use the included rails, which do not require any tools. Placing a 2.5" drive onto the tray, however, does use screws, which means using a screwdriver to secure it properly.


Once ready, simply slide them into the bay of your choice until they snap into place. The connectors of each drive point away from the windowed side, allowing you to keep things clean and hidden in terms of cables.


First, you will need to pry the front panel off the chassis to install an optical drive. Interestingly enough, this part is attached so firmly onto the case that I had to use quite a bit of force to make it come off. Once off, free up the 5.25" bay of your choice and slide in the drive. Make sure to flip the lever back on the locking mechanism, which allows for the pins to hold the drive in place. While the construction quality of this system is quite good, it does not possess enough strength to keep the drive from having a bit of play. You should really use one or two additional screws to eliminate any chance of vibration within the chassis.


Installing the PSU does not bear any surprises. Simply put it in place and use the included black screws to secure it in place.


Once everything is installed, the CM Storm Scout 2 makes a very clean impression. As you can see, when viewed from the backside, the entire cable mess is hidden nicely.

Finished Looks

Thanks to the extruded side panels, placing these back unto the filled case is a breeze. When turned on, a somewhat dim red LED lights up on the front of the chassis. The LED toggle turns the only other lighting element, the LEDs within the rear fan, on or off.


Taking a look at the front, the black elements really help the black optical drive fit right into the overall design. In the rear, all the cables and connectors are where you would expect them to be. Cooler Master has also done a very good job with the window. It is big enough to show all major components, but small enough to hide any cables. The placement of the handle is not random either, as the case stays level when being picked up - an improvement over the CM Storm Trooper/Stryker cases. But filling the Scout 2 to the rim with hard drives will also make it front heavy.