JEB'S CM690 Mod 2011

jameseboy · 14 Aug 2011 at 23:25

Most Recent Picture

Hello, this is my first proper post on this site. Ive been modding cases for a few months now and decided to post a log on my CM690 which is a current work in progress.
so far I have done a window mod for it.
Here's the side panel masked off.

Cut And primed

Panel Painted and Acrylic fitted

Now I have my my CM690 for 3 years now, and I love the case, however apart from a the side panel, i have never done anything more to the case, so ive decided now its time to make a few changes to my setup.
Plan Of Attack

Move Hardware to new case
Strip Down CM690
Paint Case Internals
Make Side Blower to help exhaust hot air from psu + GTX460
Cut grills
Install Corsair H100/other h20 cooling
Cable Management
Transform Internal to external DVD drive
Install Fan controller

1. Moving The Hardware
First thing to do, was to move the hardware over to another case temporarily so that the system was still useable and safe.:salute:
Yes, that hardware is going into the red case... :thup:

My Temporary Power Switch :thup:

Hardware installed and system up and running, And folding away again.

Currently only running with 1 120mm cpu fan, will be installing a few more tomorrow once ive cleaned them up. 100% load temps are between 42C and 47C @ 2912 MHZ (416*7)

2. Case Stipping
Next move was to strip all the tool-less hardware, IO ports, feet and sound dampening, ect from the cm690 chassis.

Getting the Thumbclips for the pci slots out wasn't the most fun activity i've had to do.

Also whilst i had the case apart, i've decided to cut the plastic out of the top panel seen as its restrictive of airflow and blocks fans. The area marked in red will be cut out.

I am also temped to cut the grills out from the top fan slots however i do not know what benefit this would have, however i have seen a lot of CM690 mods in which this has been done so if anyone could inform me of a reason to do it, it would be much appreciated.

Update 1: 14/08/2011

Today i Have managed to sand down the case, and prep it for priming. Just waiting for it to dry out after rubbing it down with some sugar cleaning solution. Should have it primed tonight.

Also, picked up a tin of grey primmer, some Matt black, and clear Lacquer for the case.

Pics to follow tonight. Also started on the side blower, and new holder for the fan from the hard drive cage.

Evoss · 14 Aug 2011 at 23:35

Looking good so far, keep us posted

jameseboy · 15 Aug 2011 at 18:58

Update 2: 15/08/2011

Today i managed to get the first 2 coats of Matt black paint onto the case.

Grey Primer + 1st coat of black

Second Coats

Going to Hopefully start making the New hard drive fan holder tonight if i have time, and enough metal and foam. Also, The top panel is going to be getting cut up tonight so i have the room to put my fans in the top between the chassis and top mesh

jameseboy · 15 Aug 2011 at 19:49

Oh and i almost forgot. I also cut the plastic out of the top panel this evening.

and ohhhh i do think i spy a 120.2 radiator going in there

Sorry about image quality, my camera battery is dead and i think the charger has been packed up into the loft, so it could be a day or two till i can get it back

jameseboy · 17 Aug 2011 at 21:52

Update 4: 17/08/2011

Okay, so today I done the Final coat of paint on the case, and whilst waiting on that drying, I started on my side blowing fan.

I've used 3 pieces of acrylic, which I have sanded down using 156 grit sand paper to give an ice effect. At the moment i have 3 of the 4 faces completed.

I Still have one of the sides to complete. :rolleyes:

For the front, I am using some modders mesh, which will wrapped in U-Channel and Then held in place with screws, which will go straight through the fan.

Thats all for today folks.

jameseboy · 21 Aug 2011 at 23:32

Paint Job Complete and hardware moved back in today.

Now thats done, time to move onto some more bits and bobs.
More to follow =]

greyfox591 · 23 Aug 2011 at 18:15

so far so good +1

G-Dubs · 23 Aug 2011 at 21:15

I think it looks good, but it's hard to tell. Any chance of some better pictures please.

Looks like your camera phone isn't getting enough light so the images are looking noisy. Try using the flash if you have one or failing that point a table lamp at it.

Pleeeeease. it would be a shame not to be able to appreciate all your time and effort.

jameseboy · 23 Aug 2011 at 23:16

Thanks guys, My good camera is now charging so more pictures will be posted tomorrow hopefully =]

Tokin · 24 Aug 2011 at 23:16

Looks ok so far,Apart from the stickers pealing off

jameseboy · 25 Aug 2011 at 18:15

Tokin said:
Looks ok so far,Apart from the stickers pealing off

Thats on the to do list

jameseboy · 25 Aug 2011 at 21:07

Just before i show the good pictures, i would like to just show a picture of the case originally.

Here's a few Good quality pictures now.

So as I said a few Posts back, that is now the Case Painted, so thats one more thing off of my list that is to be done. =]

Nevakonaza · 25 Aug 2011 at 21:46

Looking good,You done exactly the same as i done to my CM6950 exept i cut a hole to the left of the mobo tray and one right by where the cables come out from the PSU for the 24pin connector to go through that way i could run all the nasty looking PSU cables behinf the mobo tray.

jameseboy · 25 Aug 2011 at 22:08

The cablings needing neatened up a tad, i ran out of cable ties :L that again, is also on the list to be done :L also want to get Blue single braided cables for the whole system And braid all my fan cables too.

Thanks

ZZZAC · 26 Aug 2011 at 13:12

Wow nice power supply, nearly as shiny as mine.... wait..... holy *** someone else is running i icute psu in there gaming rig(pretty sure thats a icute by the cabling and instructions on the back of the actual psu)

So, is that actually icute branded?
how long has it been running for
and have you had any problems with it?

jameseboy · 26 Aug 2011 at 15:17

ZZZAC said:
Wow nice power supply, nearly as shiny as mine.... wait..... holy *** someone else is running i icute psu in there gaming rig(pretty sure thats a icute by the cabling and instructions on the back of the actual psu)

So, is that actually icute branded?
how long has it been running for
and have you had any problems with it?

yip, icute 650watt modular. had it about 5 months. no problems. you had any issues with yours?

ZZZAC · 26 Aug 2011 at 15:26

jameseboy said:
yip, icute 650watt modular. had it about 5 months. no problems. you had any issues with yours?

Nope, ran it for about a month ive got a 850watt, its just everyone's saying its going to bite the dust, But, im not busting out £100 for the same spec psu just because someone said mine may break.
And there is one thing ive noticed, mine runs silently, but really warm, so sometime in the near future ima crack out a soldering iron and put a 140mm noctua wired directly to 5v or 12v just to keep good airflow

jameseboy · 26 Aug 2011 at 15:51

amen to that, I took the grill off of mines and flipped it so the air blows out the base of my case. which case is it you have? bottom or top mounted psu?

ZZZAC · 26 Aug 2011 at 15:59

jameseboy said:
amen to that, I took the grill off of mines and flipped it so the air blows out the base of my case. which case is it you have? bottom or top mounted psu?

Top mounted, that's why my plans were so fluent

I have a stacker 830 nvidia edition,

jameseboy · 26 Aug 2011 at 16:07

ahhh, the bottom mounted I have means i can direct the hot air from inside the psu straight out the base of the case whereas the top mounted ones blast it into the case. good thing is the current fan in it is mounted to the 5v rail =] so you can just switch it out