CoolerMaster CM690 II beginner build

GWillow · 16 Jun 2011 at 21:07

Having now received all of my items I am ready to start the build process.

I've built 2 machines over the last 10+ years and they have basically been "chuck the bits together, ignore the mass of wires and use". This one I want to take some time over and try to do a better job.

Sadly I won't be starting the build for a couple of days as my son (12) wants to help and learn (*cough* what, from me?) but then says he's busy until Saturday afternoon.

Anyhow, here's an opening teaser shot.

Don't get too excited though, by some standards it's not the best PC.

GWillow · 16 Jun 2011 at 21:10

That comes next (when the puppy is locked away), probably Saturday.

GWillow · 16 Jun 2011 at 21:14

2 initial thoughts.

Can't believe how heavy the PSU is and how many bits are in the fittings pack of the case.

10 * Stand-off
2 * Stand Off - hole - fix

What is a Stand off - hole - fix when it's at home.

GWillow · 16 Jun 2011 at 21:15

Buchanan0204 said:
aww. I'm sure he wont do any damage. What kind of pup is it?

She's a 4 month old working Cocker Spaniel and will eat anything (but partial to guinea pig droppings)

GWillow · 20 Jun 2011 at 19:26

Right, some further pics.

The boxes unpacked.

The wonderfully packages PSU - can't believe how heavy it is as well.
(in it's box)

(and out)

Think I might have put a little too much on

Now to attach the heatsink

and the fan

Just love how easy hard drives are to fit and the fact they are fitted from the side

Looking a bit like a PC now

It was at this point I realised I'd fitted the heatsink round the wrong way. There wouldn't be much space between the fan and the GFX.

Time to remove it and turn it around. Upon removing it I saw that the thermal paste was probably covering a little less than 50% of the CPU.

This time I applied smaller dollops of paste in each of the corners of the CPU and twisted the heatsink as I put it on. I see if it appears to have done the trick when I take some temperatures later.

That's better, it now pushes are through the heatsink and out of the back of the case.

Just about done although I still need to transplant the Sata HD from the old PC - still, in this case it's easy enough. I also need an extension lead so I can reroute that 1 dodgy looking cable.

Now the scary side.

I've tidied these a little and managed to get the side panel on again.

This is the first time I've built a PC and tried to do something with the cables instead of just having them hanging there in a big mess.

Overall I'm quite please with the results - not perfect compared with most builds I see on here but still fairly pleasing for a first go.

GWillow · 20 Jun 2011 at 19:41

Now some readings

The following are all at stock.

After about 5 mins of Prime95

And now some reading I'm sure will mean more to you than me.

I then had a quick play with the 'OC Genie' button that does the overclocking for you (if, like me, you don't know what you're doing).

Again I'd done about 5 mins of Prime95.

and finally

GWillow · 20 Jun 2011 at 20:07

Shakeel said:
did you just press oc genie then turn on your pc?

Yep. That's about the extent of my overclocking knowledge.

GWillow · 24 Jun 2011 at 07:22

I'll have a look at rerouting the stray 8-pin this weekend, other than that I think it's done. Behind the motherboard isn't pretty but I guess that doesn't count.

GWillow · 28 Jun 2011 at 20:22

Really nice looking build G_Dubs. I was quite pleased with the way mine looked until I saw yours.

I have wondered how people hid the fly wires from the fans, I guess you just tape them around the outside of the fan itself.

I have managed to reroute that stray 8-pin lead around behind the motherboard now which make a big difference.

My biggest gripe is the power leads to the graphics card. Not sure what to do abut these.

Also there's the USB 3 port just above the PSU, that cable looks ugly too,