Temperatures and Decision

To ensure accurate thermal results, we installed the aforementioned hardware in each instance in nigh the aforementioned fashion. The exam was performed with the Asrock 890FX Deluxe4 loaded with a Phenom II X6 1100T which was cooled using the Prolimatech Megahalems in passive mode (i.e. no fan actively dispelling heat). We also blimp in the Inno3D GeForce GTX 580 OC, one-half a dozen Western Digital Scorpio Blueish 500GB difficult drives and OCZ'south ZX power supply.

When set to depression, the Storm Trooper is barely audible. While making well-nigh no noise the Trooper provided our everyman hard drive results keeping the WD drive at just xx degrees. The processor results were equally impressive every bit the idle temperature of 25 degrees was improve than Corsair Obsidian 650D.

Unfortunately, the Trooper'due south GPU results were somewhat mediocre equally it kept the GTX 580 effectually 41 degrees at idle. Increasing the fan speed to loftier reduced GPU temperature to 38 degrees, putting Cooler Master's enclosure on par with the Lian-Li Lancool PC-K63.

We used Prime95 and FurMark to generate as much estrus every bit possible and the Cooler Master Tempest Trooper handled itself very well. When gear up to depression, it achieved similar performance to the Chaser MK-one and Obsidian 650D. Over again the only weakness was the Trooper's GPU temperature, merely 81 degrees isn't downright abysmal either.

Cranking the fan speed up to high didn't assist the GPU temperature much, but information technology did take a profound affect on the CPU temperature. The Phenom II X6 1100T load temperature was reduced to merely 53 degrees. Continue in mind, during our testing, the Prolimatech Megahalems heatsink had no agile cooling, and so the amount of air the case directs over this heatsink has a huge impact on functioning.

Concluding Thoughts

Cooler Main's Storm Trooper is possibly the best full tower case we've ever reviewed, at least for gamers and other functioning fiends. At $190, nosotros experience the enclosure is difficult to shell. At that place are at least half a dozen worthy contenders that are more than affordable, but none offer the same overall package.

Some immediate contest include the Silverstone Raven 3 ($148), Antec Twelve Hundred V3 ($150), Antec DF-85 ($150), Thermaltake Chaser MK-I ($160), Lian Li PC-A70F ($170) and of grade the Libation Master HAF 10 ($190).

Prices skyrocket beyond that. The Silverstone Temjin TJ09 costs $260, the Corsair Obsidian 800D retailed for $280, while there are a number of Lian Li cases priced at $300 and over such equally the PC-V2120. Honestly, we feel the Trooper's closest rival is the HAF X and frankly, the quondam is superior in almost every fashion. We wish the Trooper had some hot-swappable SATA trophy and we think its X-Dock would've been more useful if it supported three.5" devices. Besides that, there'southward not much to complain about without existence picky.

The case performed well in our thermal test -- even if the GPU temperatures were simply average. Libation Primary could've improved this with a side mounted fan to help feed cool air to the graphics card(s). Naturally, you lot tin accept matters into your own hands past installing a pair of 120mm fans on the left case door if necessary. The inclusion of an integrated fan controller is much welcomed equally information technology means when gaming the fans tin can exist cranked up and when working in Windows they can be turned down to well-nigh silent levels.

Aesthetically speaking, the power push button is a piffling chunky for our taste but if you enjoyed the style of the HAF 932 and HAF X, y'all will undoubtedly like what the Trooper has to offer. It's similarly aggressive, yet clean and semi-pro looking. From a functional standpoint, the example's handle should make information technology easier to transport if you lot're a frequent LAN-goer, the bulge in the right case door will make it easier for groovy freaks to keep loose cables nether control and the liberal use of mesh should help better the instance's airflow.

The Trooper is an heady new addition to Cooler Master's Storm series and possibly the visitor'south best case yet in terms of features, functionality and in our opinion, aesthetics. Therefore, we've stamped it with our Outstanding award.

Pros: The Storm Trooper is a step up from CM's HAF flagship. Integrated fan controller is a welcome addition, excellent feature set and design.

Cons: 10-Dock doesn't back up three.v" drives, GPU temperatures are average. Competition is actually good at this toll bespeak, so the ST's pricing is merely adequate.