reviews
Author: Jim Manis
CoolerMaster 690 II Advanced vs. CoolerMaster 690
Author: Jim Manis
Published: Thursday, March 11, 2010
CM 690 Base Model.
The original 690 was, and still is, a hugely popular case among self builders and modders alike. Priced reasonably, and offering plenty of room for just about anything makes the case an excellent starting point for mods and painting projects.
In these pictures you can see many of the similarities between this case and the new CoolerMaster CM690II Advanced.
While the layout of the case seems the same, there are quite a few changes.
In place of the punched hole type grills in the top and behind the CPU, CoolerMaster has opened these up to eliminate the airflow restrictions. Also note the lack of cable routing portholes and the fixed HDD cage. Both of these issues were addressed in the 690II advanced.
Another noticeable change is the overall presentation and how all of the interior metal has been painted black to match the exterior. The material used is the high quality SECC steel, which is not only durable but is strong enough to handle having parts of the chassis removed.
In place of the punched hole type grills in the top and behind the CPU, CoolerMaster has opened these up to eliminate the airflow restrictions. Also note the lack of cable routing portholes and the fixed HDD cage. Both of these issues were addressed in the 690II advanced.
Another noticeable change is the overall presentation and how all of the interior metal has been painted black to match the exterior. The material used is the high quality SECC steel, which is not only durable but is strong enough to handle having parts of the chassis removed.
The original 690 has a lot going for it and messing with a popular design is always risky. However the changes that CoolerMaster has made keep the best features intact and simply improve on the rest.
