Assembly

Installing the mainboard is a standard fare. There is plenty of space around the CPU area for even the largest ones.


The little bay for 2.5 inch drives is simple but functional. Simply use the included screws to secure the device. You may install it in such a way that the connectors aim either towards the mainboard tray or the main side panel.


Installing a 3.5 inch drive is quite simple as well. Just place the drive unto the plastic tray and slide it into the bay until it snaps into place. This entire process is completely tool-less. The connectors face away from the fan or towards the interior of the chassis, depending on the setup of the drive bay.


Inserting 5.25 inch drives is equally simple. Due to the construction of the front, the covers can easily be removed without having to pry off the entire panel. Once free, just slide in the device and screw it down properly. While there are plenty of capable screw-less or tool-less systems on the market today, the use of such traditional means is quite alright. The only thing I would have liked to see would have been thumb screws instead of normal ones.


Last but not least, the PSU installation is just as you would expect. Place it in the proper location, screw it down and call it a day.


Once all the parts are in place, the interior of the chassis looks squeaky clean thanks to the excellent cable management possibilities. As you can see, the mess is hidden nicely behind the mainboard tray.

Finished Looks

Overall, the CM Storm Stryker makes an excellent impression when closed up and turned on. Both fans are equipped with red LEDs, which may be toggled on or off by a button in the top part of the chassis.


The 2.5 inch hot swap bay is quite simple but works as advertised. There is no eject functionality so you just have to pull it out when no longer needed. There is enough of the drive sticking out that you should be able to do so easily.


Even with the optical drive installed, it does not really disturb the overall looks of the chassis, as there are so many other elements that draw your focus. In the rear all areas are free and reachable, while the side shows a bit of the red LEDs from one of the fans shining through.


On top of the chassis, the CM Storm logo acts as a power LED while the multi-stage fan controller utilizes separate LEDs to display the current setting. This entire setup actually works quite well and looks damn spiffy.