Hardware Cooler Master CM 690 II Case Review

http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/cases/2010/02/18/cooler-master-cm-690-ii-case-review/1

This re-imagining of the CM 690 is an excellent case, with a roomy interior, massively upgradable cooling and a nifty roof-mounted hot swap hard disk bay. There's a slight fly in the ointment though, so you'll have to read our review before hopping over to your favourite etailer!

 

Nice review. Hope you're feeling better Harry

Any chance of putting some more fans in??

KIDDING!!!!!!!!!!

 

I was hoping this would make my case choice easier, but it hasn't

Agreed it's got the looks and the features and the scope for more fans, but my other choice is the Lian-Li PC-P50 which is just as good to look at and has superior stock cooling, the question i've got to ask myself, is it worth getting the 690 II and spending the £20 difference on fans, or do i just get the stock Lian-Li!?

 

Nice review and thanks for the pics of it with motherboard etc fitted

 

Great ! - you guyz ROCK!

 

Hmmm Scan have it at £81 but it's awaiting stock. For £81 it appears a very good deal.

 

Looking good, spelling mistake though. I challenge you to find it.

 

Really well featured case, coolermaster have really hit a great price point with this one. The original 690 should have had some of these features, such as the ability to mount a 2x120 radiator. I just had to mod mine in.

I will say though, I do think the original one looks a bit more aggressive. I think because the bottom of the front panel curves up on the new one whereas it went straight down the floor on the older model gives it a more sort of combine train look . Though that may be something to do with the fact the rails on mine are black for a stealthier look.

I am slightly disappointed I have the original as I would like the new one, but can't bring myself to upgrade to what is called the same thing, even though its a far superior case.

Oh and of course, very nice review.

 

Might get this, a Core i5-750 (and the necessary mobo), a GTX260 (dirt cheap now) and two WC loops just for the sake of it.

Then again, I don't have money. Well, one can dream. :X

 

quite a nice case but the plastic puts me off.

 

"or a sharp edge waiting to slash our fingers"

Your telling me, i was left with a deep, 1 inch long cut, spread across 2 fingers last year when building my Coolermaster based PC....

You try building a PC with 2 thick plasters on your fingers......it aint easy, i can tell ya....

 

1 inch deep? You don't need plasters for that, you need a plastic surgeon!

 

Yeah..lolz, edited for accuracy.....

 

Great review, although I would've liked to see how the case performed without that lower 3.5" cage. As soon as I saw those 3.5" bays were across the case I was put off, but it's great that they've given the option to remove them. I reckon with the lower cage off the components would get much more air to them and the temperatures would drop a chunk.

 

There are several, tbh...

Interesting case, but ever having owned a Lian-Li spoils you...

 

Use a Corsair HD50 for the CPU cooler and move the quiet 120mm fan off the back and put it on the side above the gfx card/s. That should deal with a lot of the temp issues and still be quiet as a mouse running around on cottonwool eating candyfloss!

I like it!

 

Sorry H50*

 

* waits for a Fractal Design R2-esque backlash *...

 

Still only has 7 PCI slots :/

Was disappointed to find my 840 only had 7, meaning I cant use a dual-slot card in the bottom PCI-e

If I had the tools to cut a slot, it could fit at the cost of the lower support brace.

 

Hey - no backlash - it's a nice case that of course will perform better with more fans. Would have liked to have seen dust filters on the side panel as that's the obvious initial fan upgrade. Still think these cases (in light of terabyte HDD's) have too many HDD slots, and also too many ODD slots as well - would be nice to see a much smaller case - but that's just my current madness...

Nice review, nice case - Coolermaster can do no case wrongs at mo