Cooler Master Storm Sniper case review
Testing and conclusion
Installation and ease of use: The assembly of the case went very smoothly and I didn't encounter any problems. The tool-free systems were a bliss to work with and there was enough workspace inside the case. I didn't really take full advantage of the cable management features, but noticed there are lots of possibilities to create a very clean looking case. One thing I didn't really like is the reset button, it's way too small unless you have very tiny fingers.
Weight: The Sniper is not the heaviest case but not exactly a light-weight either, the case handles will come in handy during transport.
Size and appearance: The looks of a case are very subjective, overall I liked the design of the Sniper but I do think the side panel extrusions make this big mid-tower case look a bit too bulky.
Cooling: The cooling features of the CM Sniper are very good, there are lots of air vents, two 200mm LED fans and a 120mm fan to keep your hardware cool. Even more fans can be mounted in the case, including a large 200mm fan to aid with the cooling of hot graphics cards. Too bad Cooler Master didn't include this 200mm fan with the case, it would make the case more complete.
The fan controller was very easy to work with and the capability to turn off the LED lights is a nice touch. The LED on/off function only works with the Force 200 LED fan series from Cooler Master by the way, I don't think there are any third-party fans that support it.
However, one drawback of the rather open design of the Sniper is dust. There are some dust filters in the case but a lot of dust will still build up in your system, making it necessary to clean it every once in a while.
Noise: At the first bootup I noticed the case is very quiet, with the case fans at the lowest speed the Sniper is barely audible. At full speed the fans are pretty loud though, but they do provide a lot of airflow. I'm not going to list the high fan noise as a negative, because users can easily tune down the fans to a less noisy level.
To sum it up, the Sniper is another fine case from Cooler Master that will easily please gamers and tech enthusiasts. The open mesh design and large fans deliver lots of airflow at minimal noise levels, and the integrated fan controller makes it very easy to adjust the speed of all your case fans. The overall build quality is very good and the tool-free features are very easy to use. Perhaps the biggest issue of the Cooler Master Sniper is its relatively high price, this Storm series case costs around $140 in the US and 140EUR in Europe. If you don't mind the price in this recessionary climate I definitely recommend the Sniper, this case won't disappoint.
The Good Stuff
- Easy to use tool-free mechanisms
- Good cooling
- Quiet fans (at low speed)
- Easy to use fan controller
- Fan LEDs can be turned off
- Lots of cable management features
- CPU replacement hole makes it easier to swap CPU coolers
- Overall build quality is very good
- Has handles
- Lots of space
- Supports dual 120mm radiator
- StormGuard will slow down thieves at LAN parties
The Bad Stuff
- Open design may lead to a lot of dust
- Some of the smaller plastic parts are rather flimsy
- Rather expensive
- Side panel fan not included
- Very tiny reset button
I give the Cooler Master Storm Sniper case a 9/10 and our Seal of Approval award.
Previous Page (3/4)Added: March 15th 2009
Product reviewed: Cooler Master Storm Sniper case
Reviewer: Thomas De Maesschalck
Score: 9/10
Page: 4/4
