What is it about computer cases that make them so personal? Is it the fact that you can customize them in any fashion that you wish? Or perhaps the case just happens to speak to that certain individual. Whatever the reason that one chooses one case over another is the reason why there are so many options available.

In continuation with their Storm line, CoolerMaster released the Scout. The Scout shares some features with the Sniper, but will cater to some other users. The Storm line of CoolerMaster cases targets gamers, specifically gamers who need portability and security. CoolerMaster continues the military or industrial look with the Scout, again similar to the Sniper. Once again CoolerMaster teamed up with cyber athletes for design ideas and feature implementation.

Cable management makes a welcome return to the Scout, which I thought was haphazardly included in the Sniper and with the cable management situation taken care of a side window also makes a return. Sometimes there's nothing better than showing up to a LAN party and sitting back watching everyone take notice of the innards of your machine, whether tidy and neat or a jumbled mess of wires and connectors. While tidying up the cables is a nice touch, nothing is more attractive than some type of light source emitting from a side window.

Also with the Scout, CoolerMaster returns to a more "traditional" style of case design, with front ventilation and solid side panels, which should help cooling by directing airflow more efficiently from the front to the rear of the case. Gone is the fan controller from the top I/O panel although a switch still remains to control the case lighting. The design also includes a carrying handle that is more suited to lugging it around using only one hand and the case still makes use of a large fan up top to help exhaust that hot air. Once again silent computing is a major goal by using oversize fans, as larger fan blades spinning at a lower RPM are considerably quieter than small high speed fans. So lets "Lock and Load" and see what all the fuss is about.