The CM 690 II Advanced Case Thread

[Wrigleyvillain]

Hey NL Figured this thread is as good as any for my real introduction here. I'm a friend of jimmyz who plans to become more active round here...

On to the show! This case is really nice, evolved upgrade to the original classic with an excellent $99 price to match! Notable features include all steel body, all black interior, room for 2 internal 120.2 radiators, VGA support bracket, top SATA hard drive dock and a cutout in tray allowing installation/removal of back plates without having to remove the motherboard.





Product Page
Newegg Listing

Reviews:

Top spot reserved for jimmyz's upcoming NL review of course
Hardware Canucks
NeoSkeer
Overclocker's Club
Hardware Secrets
Benchmark Reviews
Extreme Overclocking
Pure Overclock

[Wrigleyvillain]

Mine arrived yesterday and in general very pleased with the looks and build quality. Have it up and running with my TRUE; can't finish until I get new rad so can go internal. Some preliminary pics...

Next to my old CM 690:


VR kicking it in top dock:


Board installed:




More to come; please add your own!

[jimmyz]

Good to see you finally made it. I will see if I can contribute to this thread soon. Nice rig so far, I can't wait to see it with all the water gear in it.

We should put my QX in that x-48 and see how far we can get your scores. gonna have to arrange another session.

[Wrigleyvillain]

Yes, we're gonna.

Got MCR220 at Microcenter today...

[wildabeast]

Yeah when we talked to Cooler Master at the CES show they were very excited about this case. With telling us they took a list of things people did to mod the original and a list of what people did not like and out of 10 of those they added to the new case. Very cool of them to listen and try to engineer a better case for about the same amount of money.

[Wrigleyvillain]

Indeed. I am all around impressed with it so far and don't expect that assessment to change for the worse. It's a great case on it's on own and even moreso compared to the original, as it should be as that was their intent. Everything just feels higher quality (the front come rights off easily as well as the top, pretty much the same way as the original but this time I don't feel like I am going to break something). Definitely cool of them to not charge $150-180, they could have. Especially based on the prices of other higher end cases from the usual suspects like Lian Li and Silverstone.

[slngsht]

I'm in love. Is there room on the top for an internally mounted triple rad or just double? If it can take a triple, I may just get this and retire my 690. It's looking a bit beat-up nowadays. And about cable management: is there a bit more room to maneuver around from behind the motherboard tray to the front? I really had to smash my 24 pin connector flat just to get it from around to the back to the front.

[wildabeast]

If I remember right I think they just have the 2 holes pre-drilled for fans or a rad. I do remember them saying they made sure it was on specs with some popular rads out there. I think Wrigleyvillain can give us the most accurate account since he has one. I love Cooler Master cases and use them in all my main rigs. SilverStone though is my second pick with Thermaltake and Lian-Li taking the next two spots.

[Wrigleyvillain]

Well based on the factory drilled holes it looks like it can take a 140.2 as well as 'regular' 120.2s but there isn't enough room for a triple rad "out of the box". You would have to mod it.

Some more pics, close ups of the rad installed in top and first boot with loop installed. Bought a Swiftech MCR220 at Micro Center yesterday, only 34mm thick and fits very nicely as you can see. Gonna have to move my optical drive though (and mosfet sink got in way of orienting rad other way though I think this work better anyway)

[wildabeast]

Awesome setup. Pictures are worth a thousand words.

[Wrigleyvillain]

Wow, thanks. Not even close to done either. I have to move my optical drive as the rad fittings get in the way if it's in the topmost slot. I don't know where to put it now, frankly. The bottom slot has my res in the way and any of the middle slots look stupid IMO. I think I am now leaning towards jury rigging it to attach outside of my case. I only really use for installs or when a game requires the disc. My case will look better too with "unbroken" front panel, I figure. No stealth drive covers from Cooler Master afaik

BTW folks Newegg is now running FREE SHIPPING on this case, promo code is EMCYZNW22.

[SovietKitsch]

Awesome pics, but my God man, your CC's in those pics! Edit!

[wildabeast]

Used rebate cards I have the exact same ones. Also for gods sake man edit out that single button white Mac mouse in the background of the first picture. The nerve of some people.

[wildabeast]

I'm not sure what optical drive you are using, but I know that the Lite-on drives seems to be a little smaller and sit flush with the back of the 5.25 drive area. Then you can get some right angled SATA cables to get that extra squeeze.

[Wrigleyvillain]

Cool. Thanks for the suggestions...