Cooler Master CM 690 II Plus - Back with More Fans
Successor to the top-selling Cooler Master CM 690 casing, the CM 690 II Plus boasts more fans, new features and additions. We check out if it's a better casing.
A Windy Facelift
When it comes to PC hardware and peripherals, Cooler Master is one of the first names that spring to mind. Established 18 years ago, Cooler Master has become one of the foremost manufacturers of computer chassis, PSUs and coolers. In fact, Cooler Master has one of the widest selection of computer chassis and the Cooler Master CM 690 mid-tower casing was one of the company's most popular computer chassis. Targeted at budget conscious gamers, the CM 690 boasts many features that were more commonly found on costlier 'gaming grade' casings and was a huge hit.
Believing firmly in the old saying that “if it ain't broke, don't fix it”, Cooler Master is improving on its mid-tower offerings with the new Cooler Master CM 690 II Plus. As its name suggests, it is the successor to the , and overall, it shares many of the design philosophies behind the original CM 690 casing and can be said to be more of a facelift rather than an outright redesign.
A facelift of the older CM 690 casing, the new CM 690 II Advanced improves on the old and has some tricks of its own.
Like its predecessor, the unique selling proposition of the CM 690 II Plus remains to be its comprehensive ventilation system. In the case of the CM 690 II Plus, the casing comes with front intake and rear exhaust fans as standard, but users have the option to add on an additional eight fans for a grand total of 10 cooling fans! In comparison, the older CM 690 casing can 'only' handle a maximum of seven fans.
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A Familiar Sight
On the outset, the new Cooler Master CM 690 II Plus is a familiar sight as it strongly resembles the older CM 690 casing. Similar to its predecessor, the CM 690 II Plus is mishmash of steel, plastic and mostly mesh. In fact, the entire front panel is meshed for optimal ventilation. If you are worried about dust, fret not, because behind each mesh panel is a dust filter. Granted, it's not going to be a foolproof solution, but it's a thoughtful addition and it does help, if only a little.
The CM 690 II Plus comes only in black, and overall, it is not a pretty bad looking casing. It looks slightly more upmarket than the budget casings that we've covered in our previous casing roundup, and it feels extremely solid and sturdy. Ours is the RC-692-KWN1 variant and it comes with a side window panel. The window panel makes the casing look classier, but allows users to only install a single fan as opposed to two on the regular "window-less" version.
Moving along, another thing we noticed about the casing was its considerable weight. Weighing a hefty 9.5kg alone without components installed, it is probably not a good idea for one to place the CM 690 II Plus on a desk.
The front panel is made entirely out of mesh to ensure unrestricted air flow.
This is the front IO panel. From left to right: a button to control the LED fan, eSATA port, two USB 2.0 ports flanking the headphones and microphone jacks, reset and power buttons.
Just behind the front IO panel is a special dock for users to place their external hard drives. This is a thoughtful touch.
The top panel can be removed easily to allow users to install an additional exhaust fan at the top.
The large 140mm fan is complemented by soft glowing blue LEDs upfront.
This is the left panel where users have the option to install an additional 80mm fan.
This is the right panel. Our variant of the CM 690 II Plus comes with a side window, which makes the casing look funkier, in our opinion. The downside, however, is that only a single 120/140mm can be installed with the window panel.
This is the back panel, which has everything you'd expect from a decent gaming-class casing.
The CM 690 II Plus has an advertised "7 +1" expansion slot layout. The extra expansion slot allows you to install additional headers if need be.
Overdose of Fans
Peering inside, the design and overall feel is unmistakably Cooler Master. Most of the components utilize a tool-free installation design, so installing components was mostly a hassle-free process.
Despite the casings size, the internals was surprisingly less spacious than we expected. The casing will easily accommodate a large Radeon HD 5870 graphics card, but we wished there were more space, since that that will make cable management easier and free up the internals for optimal air circulation.
And as we've mentioned, the CM 690 II Plus boasts one of the most over the top ventilation systems we've seen. The casing comes with three fans as standard, two exhausts fans at the rear and top and a single intake fan at the front. And for those who need a really cool system, they'll be happy to know that the casing can accommodate a grand total of 10 fans (9 in our case because of the side window). The three fans that came as standard were sufficiently quiet in our experience, but we cannot imagine how 10 fans spinning in unison can match that same kind of tranquillity.
The all-black interior of the CM 690 II Plus means business.
The 5.25-inch drive bays make use of a simple latch system to install components.
Hard disks are easy to use and install with these tool-free installation racks.
Simply attach the rack onto the hard disk like so and slide it into place and you're done. Also, the CM 690 II Plus comes with a handy adapter for smaller 2.5-inch SSD drives.
The PSU bay is located at the bottom and there's handily placed rubber padding to help reduce noise and vibration.
Motherboards have to be installed using traditional spacers and screws. Fortunately, the correct positions on the motherboard tray have been clearly labelled.
It's a tad cramped inside for a casing this big and heavy. Note the left over space after installing a Radeon HD 5870.
The expansion slots make use of thumb screws to secure components.
Solid Offering
The older CM 690 was popular because it combines an entry-level price tag with features more commonly found on costlier casings and the newer CM 690 II Plus we have here sticks with this winning formula.
Generally speaking, we are pleased with what the casing offers. It looks decent; build quality is sturdy and commendable; and installation was a hassle-free process. It also has some nice touches, such as the external hard disk dock, dust filters for mesh parts, and the extra expansion slot for headers.
However, it does have its fair share of shortcomings. Mainly, we were a bit upset at the rather cramped interior. The CM 690 II Plus is as large as mid-tower casings come, yet despite its considerable size, it is only a slight more spacious than its more affordable sibling.
Also, some components of the casing came shipped very tight, such as the panels and thumbscrews, making it very difficult for us to remove when we were first taking it apart. For example, the thumbscrews securing the expansions slots were extremely tight, and we had to use a screw to remove. This is a minor niggle, but it does lend a slight sour taste to our overall experience of the casing that's supposed to be tool-free, and Cooler Master is no stranger in this department.
A capable all-rounder, the Cooler Master CM 690 II Plus should be on every casing shopper's list of candidates.
With its asking price of S$159, the Cooler Master CM 690 II Plus is positioning itself as a 'high-end' entry-level casing. And overall, we think its a decent and solid casing for those who want a little more than what your basic mid-tower casing offers. The USP (unique selling point) of the CM 690 II Plus remains to be its ability to accommodate multiple fans, but we think 10 fans is a little too excessive, even for hardcore users.
That said, the CM 690 II Plus comes in multiple variants and this is the RC-692-KWN1, which distinguishes itself with a side window, and so should cost a tad more than S$159 which the regular CM 690 II Plus commands. There is also the regular CM 690 II (without Plus) version, which makes do without the SSD bay adapter and external hard drive dock, and should be even more affordable. As you can see, there is something for everyone.
All in all, we foresee the CM 690 II Plus to be as popular as its predecessor, and should be one of the hot picks for those seeking a competent and affordable gaming-grade casing.
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