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CM690 or Antec 900

N

NICKSTAR

2[H]4U
Joined
Jan 18, 2009
Messages
3,832
Ive had the CM 690 once before and really liked it. Ive always been really curious about the Antec 900 since I still havent seen one in person. Ive also considered the Antec 300 and modding it. Im not considering the Antec 900 TWO. Not worth the extra $50 to me lol.
 
Get the 690. Its better for cable management which works for better airflow. Theres also more room for bigger vid cards and itll be a tight fit on a 900.
 
okay cool.. Ive never bought the same case twice in a row lol, but i really did like the case. Plus the person i sold the last build to is going to give me back my modded side panel for the stock panel
 
I bought the 900 because I like the looks better. It seams more sturdy than the 690 because it doesn't have all that plastic tool less stuff to break.
There is over 12" for a video card and the biggest card(that I know of) is under 11.5"
I think it has better air flow because the way the hard drives are mounted.
 
I would definitely go with the 690. Better layout, tool-less features, air filters, etc.
 
+1 for the 690. I own 2. Great case, plenty of room, sturdy and cools well. No matter how good the 900 is, it will remain butt ugly in my opinion.
 
I've done one build with the CM690, and 4 with the 900. Cable management on the 900 is not bad if you don't mind a little dremmel work. :) I like the CM690 just fine, but prefer the looks of the 900 (personal preference) and I thought the tool-less plastic clips of the 690 felt cheap.

I don't think I could fill the upper drive tray of the 900 with hard drives with my 9800gtx+ installed - doesn't seem like the drives would clear the card
 
yeah and not being able to fit a big video card would be a problem for me since im planning on getting a 9800 GX2 or better.
 
nicknations said:
yeah and not being able to fit a big video card would be a problem for me since im planning on getting a 9800 GX2 or better.
Click to expand...

I dont think there is a single card on the market that wont fit. My GTS (which is pretty big) still has a good 2 or 3 inches of space.
 
not to throw a case that is not listed but

I went from a CM690 to a antec 1200
and I think it was worth it, I hate the side panel, but sooner or later Ill change it, but its kinda growing on me
 
thats a little more than im willing to spend. Although i was close to getting the Antec 900 TWO.. I like the changes
 
I've owned the 900 (2 of them), glad I dumped them for the 690. [other was replaced with TJ07]

 
I just got a 690 and it looks like it will be a great case. I looked at a 900 (both empty and with a rig running in it) at the microcenter where I got the 690. It also seems a great case, a bit more flashy and perhaps a touch over the top, but still fairly tasteful imho. Functionally I think they will be super close. The 690 was less $$ and I wanted to give the tool less stuff a shot so I went that route:)

I actually really liked the Centurian 590 and almost went with it. I probably would have, but the 690 worked to to be cheaper the way the sales were and such. The 590 though had a very clean look.
 
I have a 900 and here's what I think of it:
- It's loud (on medium or high)
- It doesn't dampen sound noise
- It's a dust magnet (not dust filters)
- It's ugly
- It has ugly lights (seriously, I wish there were a button to turn that blue shit off)
- It has useless holes on the side panel
- It's not roomy (very cramped)
- It has no HDD dampening
- The front panel audio out/in has lots of static
- It's heavy
- It's not tool-less
- No cable management (I had to drill my own holes)
- It feels cheap (the front is plastic, the top is plastic, and the metal bends easily).

I don't even want to touch that machine anymore. It's such a PITA to work with. At least it has good air flow. I'd get a P180 or a CM690 if I were you.
 
lucky777 said:
I have a 900 and here's what I think of it:
Click to expand...
- It's loud (on medium or high)
Welcome to the world of 120mm fans.
- It doesn't dampen sound noise.
Agreed
- It's a dust magnet (not dust filters)
Agreed, but every case I have had attracts dust. I just keep a few cans of air handy.
- It's ugly
Personal Pref.
- It has ugly lights (seriously, I wish there were a button to turn that blue shit off)
You had to have known there are leds on it when you bought it. Complaining about this is like buying a yellow car and bitching cuz its yellow.
- It has useless holes on the side panel
Decoration. If you actually take a look at it, they are covered with clear plastic.
- It's not roomy (very cramped)
Great for people who don't want a huge case that rivals 50 gallon fish tanks in volume. I think its just the right size. There isn't a single component in mine that I have had an issue putting in.
- It has no HDD dampening
/agree, but not many cases have it.
- The front panel audio out/in has lots of static
?? From what. Static doesn't generate from nothing. Check your wires.
- It's heavy
And you are suggesting a p180? lol.
- It's not tool-less
WTF are you talking about? There are more thumb screws in a single 900 than the entire coolermaster lineup combined.
- No cable management (I had to drill my own holes).
/VERY Agreed.
- It feels cheap (the front is plastic, the top is plastic, and the metal bends easily).
Feels pretty sturdy to me. I do agree on the plastic, but take another look at the p180 and CM you are suggesting.. they have more plastic than the 900.

I just wanted to add that if you take away the big fan on top and stripped away the plastic exterior, its a pretty generic case. I had to take mine apart to get to the big fan and really, its just a standard case thats dressed up.

I don't even want to touch that machine anymore. It's such a PITA to work with. At least it has good air flow. I'd get a P180 or a CM690 if I were you.
Click to expand...
 
Get a 690, I have dealt with both (I put a PC together for a friend who had a 900).
690 is easier to work with, has built in cable management that works, a whole lot quieter (every fan slot is filled), hard to compare temps as our builds are a little different. But they are both nice cases but I prefer the 690 hands down over the 900.

And if your looking in a cheaper direction the Cooler Master Centurian has the same exact interior as the 690 except for the HD racks.

rpkelly said:
I'm still trying to decide on the P180 v. the 690. Both seem to be good.
Click to expand...

I was looking at a p182 for my last build because of their extra quiet design they usually run a little hotter then average (less hot air moving out), if your air cooling and overclocking I would say just get a 690, but if your not go for the p180.
 
I'd recommend the Antec 300 before the CM 690 personally. Cheaper, better build quality, better cable management, airflow, and I prefer the location of the front panel and power/reset buttons. The power/reset buttons on the 690 are terrible.
 
I formerly owned a 900, but I encountered many issues listed by people here. I even cut some holes in the mobo tray to help with the wiring, changed out the tri cools with some scythes, but still i wasen't satisfied. I eventually dumped this p.o.s. and got a p182. Must more satisfied now. I also worked with the cm690 and found it to be easier to work with. But quality wise, the 900 was better built than the 690, but still was ugly as shiet.

the new 900 and 2 looks even uglier than before, but I do like how it's completely black now, with holes punched out for wiring. Still hate that side window.
 
The biggest worry I have with the 690 is the rattling issue. I prefer silence.
 
Mine doesn't rattle... I am going to replace the fan on the side panel though, it's a little loud for me (I've got the NV 690, so just a single fan there).
 
I currently own a 900 and while it's great, it's a dust magnet and cable management is a bit tricky. I'd go with a Cooler Master 690.
 
I'd go with the Antec 900 and throw in a ton of 120mm fans at low speeds to keep it cool yet quiet
 
I agree with the 300>900 assesment, especially if you are going to replace the antec fans anyway
 
My CM690 rattles too if i leave any of that plastic toolless crap inside while it's not being used.

In fact, those hard drive cages are of such bad quality, that it's quite astonishing they even thought of putting them in.

I'd say Lian-Li PC-B25B > CM690/Antec900 any day
 
Xeanor said:
I'd say Lian-Li PC-B25B > CM690/Antec900 any day
Click to expand...
I de-riveted the HDD cage out of my 690 so in this case CM690 > most others.
Just take out any unused HDD holders, they block some airflow.

I need to fab up a different way of holding my HDD(s) in the 5.25" area, and/or get the 4in3 module. :D :cool:
 
Slyr7.62 said:
I de-riveted the HDD cage out of my 690 so in this case CM690 > most others.
Just take out any unused HDD holders, they block some airflow.

I need to fab up a different way of holding my HDD(s) in the 5.25" area, and/or get the 4in3 module. :D :cool:
Click to expand...

Gee, that leaves so much room for HDD's then.:rolleyes:

And of course i've removed unused HDD holders, aswell as the barely usable slot card holder and the 5.25" bay locking mechanisms. Everything rattles like an african tribe making music.
 
how much is 690 shipped? id go with the antec 900 for the price then if you dont want to get a lian li a77 or antec 1200.. i own two antec 1200's and a lian li a77 along with a few thermaltake armor towers (they just sit in storage for the armors)

the 1200 was so easy to setup and use.. i love how everyone spends 1000$ on gfx card but skimps on case when cases dont even drop in price really..
 
My opinion:

300 ($50) > 900 ($110) > 690 ($90)

The 300 fixes a lot of the problems with the 900 (dust filters, no LEDs, wire management) at half the price.
 
Xeanor said:
My CM690 rattles too if i leave any of that plastic toolless crap inside while it's not being used.

In fact, those hard drive cages are of such bad quality, that it's quite astonishing they even thought of putting them in.

I'd say Lian-Li PC-B25B > CM690/Antec900 any day
Click to expand...

A friend of mine and I both have the 690 and both have not had any rattling, maybe you just got the short end of the star on that one. (both of us have filled every fan slot as well.)
 
I got my 690 at MC for $20 last year. The salesman gave me a reaffirming double thumbs up. It's great to work with but the front panel i/o is really flimsy. My headphones only work if I plug it in a certain way and the tab on the esata port already broke off. Not to mention the power button feels cheap as all that be damn.

I still love it though.
 
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