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There is no doubting that the Cooler Master CM 690 II is a fantastic looking case, the front fascia design and build quality is top class and especially impressive at the modest sub £75 asking price.
Technically the cooling prowess is fantastic, and while the rear mounted 120mm exhaust fan is rather noisy, the airflow is more than enough for even a high powered system build. With dual 120mm radiator support and installation support for up to 10 case fans, this is pretty much as good as it gets in this price range. We would like to see the side panel shipping with two 120mm or 140mm fans, because not only is the cooling performance significantly improved, but the case looks much better with these installed.
The interior is well thought out and the design inside has not skipped any corners. All of the edges are rounded and no sharp surfaces are felt anywhere. There are also plenty of cabling routing options which enhances the appearance and the majority of the chassis is tool-less in design which helps considerably with the build speed. Sadly the case will not accept the 31cm HD5970 which disappointed us a little. Another centimetre in this area would have resolved the fitting issue … it seems such a minor point, but it is a noticeable oversight.
There is a a lot of competition in this price sector and while the CM 690 II doesn't walk away with our highest accolades, it does deserve serious consideration, especially as the price has recently dropped by £20. This saving certainly helps fund a replacement rear mounted 120mm fan and two high quality units for the side panel.
KitGuru says: Cooler Master have certainly got the build quality down to a fine art. We like this case – it combines fantastic looks and styling with solid engineering and good cooling performance.
