Would you buy cooler master 690 from microcenter?

[steve1616]

I have been looking for a good price on the Cooler master 690. I really wanted to buy this case from Newegg or Clubit because they have great vendor ratings. I really like the price of this case on Microcenter, but when I reviewed their store ratings I couldn't find anyone that was a satisfied customer. Has anyone purchased anything from the microcenter that is an the internet. Are they really that bad. I want to buy this case at this cheap price, but I don't want to get ripped of by a bad vendor.

Thanks,

Steve

 

[Zepper]

Well, you could always buy mine... . I only have experience with going to one of their stores in Atlanta. The rebate is thru Cooler Master. I have done 4 C-M rebates in the last quarter of '07. Received a small one and have 3 others pending - sent them all in Nov and here we are... Mine is like new and has some issues I found, fixed.

.bh.

 

[Tullphan]

ResellerRatings

Your other options would to buy Zepper's w/the 3 stock fans included or mine w/the three stock fans, four 140mm fans & one 80x15mm fan. I'll even throw in a Sunbeam rheostat!
Of course, neither of our prices will be close to the ~$20AR from Microcenter.
PM me or Zepper if you have questions about prices.
You can also find Zepper's thread here.

*Edit* It looks like Zepper beat me to the reply...I didn't figure he'd be up this late! :laugh:

 

[steve1616]

Do you have any pictures of this case? What issues did you have? I am very interested. Also, it sounds like cooler master rebates might be as much of a gamble as buying from microcenter themselves. I have heard of build quality issues with this case, supposably the pros outweigh the cons. The Antec P182 has great reviews, and is on a major sale at newegg right now, but it is over 21 inches tall, and my cabinet only has a 21 (20.9 inch) inch tall opening.

 

[Tullphan]

Here is a link to Zepper's thread on the issue w/the grounding on the top USB panel.

Here's a link to several pictures.

Here's a link to the P182 deal @ Newegg.

I'm not going to try to steer you in any direction. I know from experience that if ones doesn't buy the case one really likes, one won't be happy until one does. I've always wanted the LL V1000B, but the wife & the budget prevented me from buying it. That left me in search of something that's going to keep my system running nice & cool. I saw the 690 & the ability to cool & I got it. I added all the extra fans & I had a cool yet fairly loud system. I then caught the Sonata III on sale & after reading all the reviews about how it kept systems quiet I got it. Yes, it's quiet, but it doesn't keep an overclocked system that cool. I then caught the deal on the P180B @ Frys. I got it & so far (notice I said "so far", Zepper) i'm pleased with it. I'm back to similar temps I had w/the 690 & it's quiet.
The 690 is great for cable management & ease of installation...more so than the 180/2, but like I said, you get the case you like. You'll get an overload of suggestions that'll just add to you dilemma otherwise.

Hope this helps.

 

[MarcVenice]

Steve, the p182 is 21 inches tall, with the top shroud ON, we've been over this before, and with the shroud removed, which actually makes no difference whatsoever, you will be able to fit it just fine under your cabinet I measured my own p182 not long ago, my measurement led me to believe my case was 51.5cm high without the shroud, which would be 20,275590551181102362204724409449 inches. So do yourself a favor, and buy the p182

 

[steve1616]

Do you think the P182 is definitely a better case than the cooler master 690?

 

[MarcVenice]

Definately, hmmm, depends. The CM 690 is simply quite a good case, and for 20$ it's DIRTcheap. It provides decent qaulity, more then adeqaute cooling, but it looks a bit 'simple' to me. The p182 is more geared towards, or was in fact build with pure quietness in mind. It still provides ample cooling though. I think, but don't know for sure coz I never owned a CM 690, that the p182 is a 'sturdier' case. The p182 also has few more neat options the CM 690 doesn't have. I also like the looks of the P182 better. Bear in mind, I've got one myself, and that makes me biased. In the end, I think we can all agree that both cases are pretty solid, but you do get what you pay for, a little at least. That's why the CM 690 is a lot cheaper. In the very very end, it also depends on budget, how much do you want to pay for a case ? I cheaped out during my first build, but not a year later I bought the p182, and this one is going to last me several years and probably 2 more builds. It's more of an investment then on other hardware.

 

[Tullphan]

I agree w/MarcVenice somewhat.
For the money (if you're going to mess w/the rebates), it's a great case.
I think the P18x seems sturdier because of the "insulated" side panels. I think that's what you're hearing as far as the "flimsy" side panels on the 690.
They both offer excellent cable management. I think ease of installation goes to the 690, personally...Lord knows i've screwed with enough cases in the past 3 months trying to get the "perfect" balance of noise (or should I say "quietness"?) & cooling.
MarcVenice is also right as far as budget...if you plan on loading up the 690 w/all the fans, then you'll be spending about the same as the P18x...maybe a few dollars less assuming you add a 4th fan to the P18x in the seconday hdd cage. You're case will most likely be around longer that your other components (unless you're like me or Zepper...hehehe).
Like I said earlier, get the case you like & the one that will make you happy!

 

[steve1616]

I might drive an hour away to the nearest microcenter because they have the 8800gt by EVGA for $219, they have the cooler master for 19.99 59.99-40 mail in rebate, and they have the E8400 for $189. I am getting so impatient and just want to build my computer. I have researched products for probably over 120 hours in the last month. I need to sleep, so I might just get it over with. I really wish microcenter also had the P5K-Deluxe so I could just get it all over with. I just hope I can figure out what in the heck I am doing, and I will be a happy camper. I have been doing tests on my existing computer so that it won't be new to me when I am putting this new one together.

 

[gingerstewart55]

I've bought from Microcenter both over the internet and from their B&M stores. Either way, they're a good store, no better and no worse than anyone else, including Newegg (waiting a week now for a refund on an incorrect video card that Newegg sent by mistake.....so, they've had my RMA since last Monday, auth. a refund on Tuesday, and today's Saturday with no money returned.....Newegg's slipping)...........

That's why I do like going into Microcenter's B&M store.....refunds are done on the spot, never had a problem exchanging or returning anything with NEVER a restocking fee, and they'll match any price you find on their website at the store, unlike Fry's who maintains that their website is a completely different store than their B&M store.......

I wouldn't worry about buying from Microcenter........they're quite reputable and in the years I've bought from them, have never had a single problem.....they've always been more than gracious and accommodating when talking with them, either in the store or on the phone.

 

[steve1616]

I went to microcenter and bought the cm690, E8400, 8800GT, windows vista 64 bit home premium, and samsung SH s203. I almost bought the standard P5K motherboard so I could put it together tonight, but I opted to wait and get the P5K deluxe that I have been wanting instead. I will order this board from Newegg tonight. I am getting very anxious. By the way, the CM 690 is freeking awesome. I am use to my stock case, and this case is so awesome compared to that.

 

[Midnight Rambler]

That's why I do like going into Microcenter's B&M store.....refunds are done on the spot, never had a problem exchanging or returning anything with NEVER a restocking fee, and they'll match any price you find on their website at the store, unlike Fry's who maintains that their website is a completely different store than their B&M store.......

I wouldn't worry about buying from Microcenter........they're quite reputable and in the years I've bought from them, have never had a single problem.....they've always been more than gracious and accommodating when talking with them, either in the store or on the phone.

PRECISELY !!!

I am sick of people bad-mouthing Micro Center here. Granted, their on-line service needs some work but it's fairly new and store-based, which makes things more complicated and also constrains their supply a bit.

But ... they are an excellent B&M chain and have been in the business as long as anybody. I bought my IBM 8088 (repl. 8088 with an NEC V30) and 80286 machines from them back when there was no other place to buy them (besides IBM). Their stores are "complete" in that they carry anything you could possibly want or need. Prices are normally MSRP but their frequent sales make up for that, like this month's 20% off BYOPC parts.