Coolermaster CM-690.. yay or nay?

[Bounty_Bam]

Right! I am almost ready for the final part of my new system.. the case to hold everything together!

I've been looking at the

Coolermaster CM690
&
Antec 900

First, I wanted the 900.. but after realizing the large 200mm fan at the top would be a dust trap without filtering, I decided to look at the CM690 in more detail; and I really like it actually. Its black, blue LEDs, several mounts for large fans, cable tidy clips, I like the HDD 'lock in' mechanism, and its withing my price range for a case (aprox: £60)... it's everything I want really

But, before I go ahead and buy, I was just wondering what you guys think of it?
You can see my system spec in my 'STALKER' signature pic.

My main concern, is although I won't be overclocking my Quad for a while (I see no need to!), if I WAS to OC, I'd probably be looking at a CPU cooler such as:

Computer hardware and software at amazing prices, available online from Scan Computers UK

or

Computer hardware and software at amazing prices, available online from Scan Computers UK

Would this case be able to fit one of these in??


Oh and one more thing, this case has its front USB ports etc on the top, now I've seen this case before with them on the front (using a cd drive bay) is this a different version of this case, or a different model altogether? (RM690?)

Anyway, any recommendations/advice would be greatly apprechiated ...and sorry for this post been so long.

Thanks

[spiral out]

I'm using the CM690, it's a great case. You'll be able to use the Thermalright Ultra-120 eXtreme in there I'm sure. I'm using a thermalright ultima 90 with a 120mm fan on it no probs. Not sure about the the other one. You just can't use the top side case fan thats all.

This case does offer great cooling for my overclocked Q6600.

[Ommid]

Why dont people go for the stacker 830 special edition @ ebuyer, for 79.99? Something up with it that i dont know about ? lol

[barker967]

Why dont people go for the stacker 830 special edition @ ebuyer, for 79.99? Something up with it that i dont know about ? lol

Would really like one of those, but they are just very big.

[Bounty_Bam]

yeah the 830 SE is very snazzy indeed, but like ya said, big.

Anyway, just bought the CM690

Chers to all

[SiM]

also those ebuyer ones are not the special edition... they were missing something iirc

[crazyfool]

i have the 690... great case, plenty of room and i have a rather large striker extreme which fitted, although only just, can hold plenty of fans...up to 7 i think, i have 5 in right now... toolless features are pretty good and if you wanna you can use screws as well...i would say go for it

[Andeh13]

Antec is a bit of a dust trap but it is still an awsome case. Quick wipe down is all thats needed. Looks the business aswell!

[Ommid]

the 690 growing on me atm, quite liked the xps 420 case tbh but oh well, shame about the service

[j.o.s.h.1408]

690 is good for the price range

[Ommid]

just dont like the flimsy plastics crap buttons and steelness lol

[Pob255]

Haveing helped a friend put a pc together useing the 690 it's a very nice case for the price.
I think I would rate the antec 900 over it slightly, I doubt that the single 200mm any more of a dust trap than the 690's 2x120mm, remember when it's on it's pumping air out of the top not sucking it in. Although saying that the 900 is slightly more expensive.
Swings and Roundabouts

The tooless stuff on the 690 is exellent, only problem is you cannot use IDE drives in it, not a problem on a new build but if you're looking at keeping hold of an IDE drive forget it.

One tip I would sudgets is get an extra 120mm fan, then remove the rear case fan and the side pannel one and fit both of thoes in the top two slots. (useing the two from the case means they are ballanced air flow wise)
Stick your extra 120mm onto the side pannel (lower area wher the original one was) you could get a nice blue LED one here to match the front one I'd use a side pannel fan here to feed the area beneath the graphics card with cool air for it to suck in.
Now mount your tower cpu cooler pointing upwards instead of backwards, this way the hot air will be pushed into the two waiting top fans for better heat extraction.

If you want a front USB instead of the top (actually as well as) use the drive front converter that came with the case to mount a card reader in it (card readers can use both usb memory sticks and differnt flash memory types directly)
Or If you'd like a fan controller in there to manually adjust fan speeds then there's a nice Akasa one which can controll 3 fans and also has two USB ports on it.
(granted you'll not be able to use a floppy disk dirve, but are you useing one?)

[moogle]

also those ebuyer ones are not the special edition... they were missing something iirc

fan tray

I'm using the CM690, it's a great case. You'll be able to use the Thermalright Ultra-120 eXtreme in there I'm sure. I'm using a thermalright ultima 90 with a 120mm fan on it no probs. Not sure about the the other one. You just can't use the top side case fan thats all.

This case does offer great cooling for my overclocked Q6600.

It can use a side fan if you're using a ultima 90.

[Hicks12]

im guessing this case is very good then? iam looking at getting a new case too, the cm690 for its price caught my eye and from this i think i may have made my decision . Is the cm690 loud? although sound isnt much of a problem i would like to get a more quiet pc for when watching a film..
Sorry for stealing your thread xD.

Now to just get £20 xD

[Mithrandir]

This case is on Scan today only this weekend at £48.
Seems like a fantastic buy for the case.

[Ommid]

Ive decided to nay this steel and plastic aint my thing, gonna pay the extra for an antec case