Need help choosing between the CM690II and HAF 922

roderz88

roderz88

roderz88

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Ok, Im planning to build a new PC in the next few months. Now I know both these cases are very good quality. But I cant decide between the two. Ill give you my thoughts and concerns regarding both the cases. Please note I have NEVER worked with any of these cases, all my thoughts are based on reviews and video footage.

690II - I actually prefer the look of this case, I like the smooth subtle appearance and the good cable management. Also the size will allow for decent sized Graphics card. However, I concerned with the lack of space and width, I say width as it would restrict which CPU coolers I can go with, some coolers such as the CM 212 plus are very tall and would just about fit, and would mean one of the fans on the side would need to be removed. Also, full length cards such as AMD's HD 5970 or any new cards which are the same size, may not fit.

HAF922 - This case also have good airflow, and has more room to work in than the CM690II. It also allows for good cable management and can fit full length graphics cards and tall CPU coolers. However, I just find the case a tad "ugly". It just looks rough around the edges to me, and I worry that if I did choose this case, it would just become an eye sore. But more importantly, the case has slightly better airflow and is also bigger which wouldnt restrict me like the CM690 possibly would.

So yeah, I need your input on this, which do you think is the better case to go with ? and please dont suggest other cases and these are the only ones im considering.

Thanks
 
I built a system and had exactly the same 2 cases in mind.
I will add that I was planning to water-cool.
I went with the CM 690 II Advanced as it will fit 2 x 240mm radiators.
I've said on the forums a few times that I'm not very keen on the CM 690 II case now that I've worked with it. But i've not used the HAF 922, so I don't know that would've been any better.

To me the CM 690 II did feel quite cramped, but maybe that was because of the water cooling hardware I was adding.
Most people seem to disagree with me though and say the CM 690 II is the best case available today for any price (OK, I'm exaggerating a bit there!)

One thing it might be worth considering is that I believe the HAF 922 uses larger fans, that should be quieter than the CM 690 IIs. However they're also probably harder to replace (or at least less variety) unless you drop down to 120mm fans.
I've got 5 x 120mm fans and 3 x 140mm fans all running at full whack. Now they're not rated as being loud (I think the loudest is the Akasa Apache @ 16db, apparently) but with 8 of them, they are.

I also have the HAF 932 with stock fans and it's not any noiser than the 690 II with 7 x 120mm fans bought with noise in mind (plus the stock 140mm intake). Not sure quite how the HAF 922 compares to the 932 in that respect.

Hope there was something useful in that ramble!
 
I personally own the CM-690 II Adv. I find the case excellent for the purpose I chose it for. I have a huge megahalems heatsink and fan setup on my CPU and the side panel goes on fine. The cable management is great too and its almost too easy to get the cables neat.

Full length cards such as the 5970 do fit in the case, but this depends on the motherboard and if you take out the lower HDD racks. Unless you are planning on getting a dual GPU card, it would not be an issue.

The poster above me discusses the watercooling with twin 240 rads. Yes, this is possible but there are limitations. You can only really use "thin" rads (although I am working against this right now to get two thick rads in). Personally, if I wanted a case for extreme watercooling, I wouldnt purchase the CM-690 II Adv.

To conclude, the case is well advertised and its doesnt lie. It isnt small, but its no where near the biggest on the market. Its very easy to cable manage and having a neat, good airflow system is no hard work at all. It fits 95% of graphics cards and I am yet to find an issue with heatsink sizes not working. The stock cooling isnt great, but I have changed all my fans for Fractal Design Fans (3 x 140mm, 1 x 120mm) and they are very quiet. You must remember though, just because a fan rated at 9db is quiet, having 10 of them doesnt equal 9db. For every fan added you can roughly add an extra 2-3db on top of the noise. So 2 9db fans would work out to be about 11-12db loud. Get me?

I am well impressed with the case and I will be using it for years to come. Any questions just ask.
 
smeaney said:
I personally own the CM-690 II Adv. I find the case excellent for the purpose I chose it for. I have a huge megahalems heatsink and fan setup on my CPU and the side panel goes on fine.
Click to expand...

I believe the OP was more concerned about having to remove the side fan that fits near the cpu cooler rather than the side of the case. I think he's probably right. Didn't try putting the side on with a fan attached while using my Titan Fenrir though.

smeaney said:
The stock cooling isnt great, but I have changed all my fans for Fractal Design Fans (3 x 140mm, 1 x 120mm) and they are very quiet. You must remember though, just because a fan rated at 9db is quiet, having 10 of them doesnt equal 9db. For every fan added you can roughly add an extra 2-3db on top of the noise. So 2 9db fans would work out to be about 11-12db loud. Get me?
Click to expand...

Can agree with this. As I said I've got 8 fans on the case, all rated by the manufacturers at under 20db. Yet if I test the volume while the PC is running my decibel meter tells me it's about 70db. To be fair it is an app on the iPhone so may not be totally accurate, surely not out but 30-40db though? (I tried 2 different apps too)
 
GoogalyMoogaly said:
I believe the OP was more concerned about having to remove the side fan that fits near the cpu cooler rather than the side of the case. I think he's probably right. Didn't try putting the side on with a fan attached while using my Titan Fenrir though.
Click to expand...

Ah I see. Well, in fairness you would still be able to use the fan thats adjacent to the GPU, just not the CPU. I personally dont have any fans on the side panel at all.

GoogalyMoogaly said:
Can agree with this. As I said I've got 8 fans on the case, all rated by the manufacturers at under 20db. Yet if I test the volume while the PC is running my decibel meter tells me it's about 70db. To be fair it is an app on the iPhone so may not be totally accurate, surely not out but 30-40db though? (I tried 2 different apps too)
Click to expand...

You would be suprised, and you probably just get used to it. I know the apps you mean on the iphone too, I personally have tried them and I got readings I didnt agree with. Think about it though, you have a PSU fan, GPU fan, 1-2 CPU fans and multiple case fans...that is a lot of moving air and quite a bit of noise. I have mine at a level where I can hear it but it doesnt annoy me.
 
smeaney said:
You would be suprised, and you probably just get used to it. I know the apps you mean on the iphone too, I personally have tried them and I got readings I didnt agree with. Think about it though, you have a PSU fan, GPU fan, 1-2 CPU fans and multiple case fans...that is a lot of moving air and quite a bit of noise. I have mine at a level where I can hear it but it doesnt annoy me.
Click to expand...

Well technically my CPU and GPU are water-cooled, so there's no fan noise there (obviously the fans on the rads, but I was including those in the 8).
I'm hoping that while idling my PSU (Corsair TX750) wasn't contributing much either.
I think I need to invest in a fan controller...
 
I have noticed something. Through the various CM-690 II Adv. threads, people who bought the case to watercool into straight away have sounded disappointed. Those who dont plan to, or did not plan to initially have a watercooled system seem not be so disappointed, if at all.
 
smeaney said:
I have noticed something. Through the various CM-690 II Adv. threads, people who bought the case to watercool into straight away have sounded disappointed. Those who dont plan to, or did not plan to initially have a watercooled system seem not be so disappointed, if at all.
Click to expand...

Are you sure the complaining water-coolers aren't all the same person? i.e me! :)
 
Thanks for the replies people, really appreciate them :)
Just to note, I wont be using watercooling.

One more question, am I right in saying the HAF922 is better interms of airflow and cooling ? Also since these two cases are pretty much equal, I guess im better off with getting which ever one is cheaper right ?

Thanks
 
roderz88 said:
One more question, am I right in saying the HAF922 is better interms of airflow and cooling ? Also since these two cases are pretty much equal, I guess im better off with getting which ever one is cheaper right ?
Click to expand...

As far as I am aware, they are equal in airflow. The HAF has better stock fans, but the CM-690 can be made great. It really depends what you want to spend. I would say that getting the cheaper is the best option, but also facter in looks. I personally dont like the HAF look so I would choose the CM-690 in your situation.
 
I own a CM690II.

Fits my Thermolab Baram fine and keeps everything running cool. My only gripe, now that I have had it a while are the stock fans. They are a little too noisy for me (and I am not really fussy) so will be replacing them all with some Fractals soon.

The case looks the nuts as well.
 
Lol, im still somewhat stumped on which to go with. I think it will probably go down to which is cheaper when i come to ordering the parts. Hopefully my grant from student finance will arrive somepoint soon
 
I have the HAF922. Its a pretty big and spacious case: very easy to work with. But its pretty deep case so if your lacking space it may be a problem.

Cooling will be better than the CM690II but its more aggressively styled.
 
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