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Help me choose... Antec 300 vs. Coolermaster 590

Forum CPU & Components : Power Supplies, PC Cases & Case Mods - Help me choose... Antec 300 vs. Coolermaster 590

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Antec 300 vs. Coolermaster 590


 
20.0 %
      3 votes
Antec 300 $55.00
 
40.0 %
      6 votes
Coolermaster 590 $65.00
 
40.0 %
      6 votes
Other - Comment in the thread pls.

All : 21 votes (6 blank votes)

This poll is closed, you cannot vote

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Need help choosing.

Best reasons for the coolermaster I can think of are the 2 to 120 mm fan holes which look perfect for watercooling (very long term, probably never), no hard to find 140 mm fan like the antec, and a front 1384 port.

Best reasons for the antec, it's an antec, price, appearance, hinged front panel and fan mounts.

I want to use this with an earthwatts 500 that I already have, so the ATX main 24 pin power cable length may be an issue.

http://www.coolermaster.com/produc [...] il&id=3927

http://www.antec.com/us/productDet [...] odID=15300

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The Cooler Master RC690 is an outstanding case at a very inexpensive price although a little higher than the ones your looking at.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6811119137

If I had to choose between the two you listed I would go with the Cooler Master but you should really look at the 690.

------------------------------
It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it.
-Aristotle
Reply to ausch30

<also agrees with ausch30

Reply to runswindows95

I've built with the Coolermaster Centurion and more recently with the Antec 300. Both have excellent cooling capabilities with the mesh front panels. I got the Antec 300 for $49 about 10 days ago. Great price, great case. The 300 has the PSU mounted in the bottom of the case, so make sure you have a PSU with a long 24 pin and 4/8 pin 12v leads. The Antec 300 takes it. I also looked at the Coolermaster 690 at Fry's. It's a very nice nice case I would like to buy soon. Can't go wrong there.

Reply to badge

<also agrees with ausch30 and runswindows95
I have this case. It can hold alot of fans,a lot of space for all components. EXCELLENT AIR FLOW!
Very easy for wire mgmt.

Reply to dratsabizan

Other than Front Port Placement and Cosmetic Differences what is the difference between the 590 and 690? ( I like the look & port placement of the 590 better)


Message edited by cyborg28 on 05-15-2008 at 03:49:29 PM
------------------------------ Black Hackint0sh Pro
Antec EarthWatts 500, Coolermaster 690, Intel Q6600 @ 3.0 GHz, Xigmatek S1283 HSF, Asus P5K-VM Mobo, nVidia 7600GT 256MB, 250 GB Seagate 7200.10 SATA HDD, IDE DVD-RW
http://valid.x86-secret.com/cache/banner/393560.png
Reply to cyborg28

ausch30 wrote :

...but you should really look at the 690.



+1

You may also want to look at the Thermaltake M9 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6811133059 or http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6811133058

Message quoted 1 times
Message edited by halcyon on 05-15-2008 at 04:15:00 PM
------------------------------ 17" MacBook Pro: 2.66Ghz, 4GB DDR3-1066, 256GB Corsair P256 SSD
Reply to halcyon

coolermaster, because you get the firewire port too. DAMN, I woulda bought one of those instead of my 532 if they had em at newegg !

------------------------------ E8500,GA-EP45-UD3R, 8 GIG MUSHKIN, XFX 4890 , ASUS 22", WD 640 X 2, CM 532, CM 650TX
Reply to royalcrown



-1..Thermaltake = FUGLY !

------------------------------ E8500,GA-EP45-UD3R, 8 GIG MUSHKIN, XFX 4890 , ASUS 22", WD 640 X 2, CM 532, CM 650TX
Reply to royalcrown

Not a fan of Thermaltake Cases.

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A 590 & A 690?!?!?!?

Please.... Somebody... Anybody?

...It's my thread and I'll shout if I want to, shout if I want too....

Reply to cyborg28

The 690 is bigger and comes with an extra fan.

Reply to runswindows95

As far as the main cable length don't worry...you can safely use an extension.

example:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6812162006

------------------------------ E8500,GA-EP45-UD3R, 8 GIG MUSHKIN, XFX 4890 , ASUS 22", WD 640 X 2, CM 532, CM 650TX
Reply to royalcrown

royalcrown wrote :

As far as the main cable length don't worry...you can safely use an extension.



Aaargh! Will I need to? Will the smaller 590 reduce the chances of this? I WILL NEVER run CF or SLI & I have a server for storage.

Why the heck to these cases not come with these if it is a regular issue?

Reply to cyborg28

runswindows95 wrote :

The 690 is bigger and comes with an extra fan.

I think they use the same sidepanels (so I'm not sure about the size difference).
The 590 has a 4 drive cage while the 690 has 5 trays for HDDs.
The 590 also lacks cable management (stock) but you can always do it yourself.
The rest is details like foam padding for PSU on the 690 and the plastic trim on top of the 690.


Message edited by Andrius on 05-15-2008 at 07:53:47 PM
Reply to Andrius

If you are planning on getting the 300 at newegg for $70, you might consider spending an extra $10 to get the Antec 900 for $80 after $40.00 in rebates. For $10 more you are getting another $50 of case - and it is considered an excellent case. You might not need the extra size now, but you might grow into it. The nice thing about cases is that they can last a little longer than a cpu - and take you through several generations.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6811129021

Reply to rockyjohn

That's why I wish the Lian-Li A70 I got ~month ago was less expensive. I wish more people could get to experience that kind of quality. Anywho, I'd pick the Antec 300 over the 900 even if the 900 was cheaper than the 300, but I know the 900 is a popular "gamers" case.


Message edited by halcyon on 05-15-2008 at 08:43:01 PM
------------------------------ 17" MacBook Pro: 2.66Ghz, 4GB DDR3-1066, 256GB Corsair P256 SSD
Reply to halcyon

i strongly recommend the cooler master cm 690 case.

Reply to godless

rockyjohn wrote :

If you are planning on getting the 300 at newegg for $70, you might consider spending an extra $10 to get the Antec 900 for $80 after $40.00 in rebates. For $10 more you are getting another $50 of case - and it is considered an excellent case. You might not need the extra size now, but you might grow into it. The nice thing about cases is that they can last a little longer than a cpu - and take you through several generations.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6811129021



I would say the Coolermaster. But if the Antec is on sale--GRAB IT! Aim for the top, and then have no regrets!!!

------------------------------ e8400 at 3.85 GHz with Xigmatek 120mm Rifle | MSI P35 Neo2 FR | HIS HD3870 ICEQ3 | 4 GB OCZ Reaper DDR2 800| 250 GB WD Caviar | 600 Watt OCZ StealthExtreme | Antec 900 | XP SP3
Reply to husky mctarflash

I'm in Canada so No NewEgg for me.

 

CM 690 will be $75, Antec 900 $100, CM 590 $70, Antec 300 $55.

 

I don't need the space, this rig was in an Ultra MiroFly SFF

 

I'm looking for Cooling, efficient use of space, front (not top) ports & conservative good looks.
The only thing the 690 has going for it for me is Cable Management. Something the 300 & 590 lack.

 

I find the thought of water cooling intriguing but will probably never do it. I take my rig apart way too often.

 

This won't have anything over an *600 (1600/2600/7600/8600/9600) series video card in it. Midrange price/performance in 3D is fine for me.

 

*EDIT*

 

Vote People! Over 200 views and under 10 votes. For Shame! Come on and exercise your democratic right (to slightly influence my highly biased decision).

Message quoted 1 times
Message edited by cyborg28 on 05-15-2008 at 09:04:52 PM
Reply to cyborg28

CM 690 is a classic. I actually bought it on sale over the Antec 900--but Microcenter stiffed me a week later and canceled my order saying they were out of product6. I see it as a functional equivalent to the 900--slightly different, with different strengths and weaknesses, but excellent either way.

I got the '900 and am happy. But my brother DID manage to get the 690 and he is happy with it. I think the 690 looks a bit better, and I suspect it is built a bit better.

I know you have to draw the line somewhere, but the 590 is a no-brainer over the 300, and for $5, the 690 is DEFINITELY a no-brainer over the 590. Get the 690 and don't look back!!!

------------------------------ e8400 at 3.85 GHz with Xigmatek 120mm Rifle | MSI P35 Neo2 FR | HIS HD3870 ICEQ3 | 4 GB OCZ Reaper DDR2 800| 250 GB WD Caviar | 600 Watt OCZ StealthExtreme | Antec 900 | XP SP3
Reply to husky mctarflash

The cooler masters have PLENTY of space ...you're worryin bout nothin'

http://img156.imageshack.us/img156 [...] 047qb1.jpg

look, here is my full size atx board in my cooler master 532.

------------------------------ E8500,GA-EP45-UD3R, 8 GIG MUSHKIN, XFX 4890 , ASUS 22", WD 640 X 2, CM 532, CM 650TX
Reply to royalcrown

cyborg28 wrote :


I'm looking for Cooling, efficient use of space, front (not top) ports & conservative good looks.

 

In my mind you've just described this: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6811112068 or this http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6811112099

 

All aluminum, so you have the entire case acting as a heatsink, light, and with "conservative good looks".

Message quoted 1 times
Message edited by halcyon on 05-15-2008 at 09:08:38 PM
------------------------------ 17" MacBook Pro: 2.66Ghz, 4GB DDR3-1066, 256GB Corsair P256 SSD
Reply to halcyon

Antec 300 all the way. I do also like Coolermaster too but that Antec 300 is very nice. I have 5 - 120mm fans (inc CPU) in mine with the 140mm in the top.

------------------------------ Intel DX48BT2 bone trail 2 || Q9650 with Xigmatek S1283 || 4GB Gskill DDR3 1600 || 1 - 300GB 15k SAS boot , 3 - 750GB SATA Raid 5 || Adaptec 5805 SAS RAID controller || ATI 3870 || Antec 300 Chassis with Nspire 600 watt PS
Reply to rozar

Rozar has a good point, but probably not what he intended: by the time you add the extra fans, you are at the same point as the Antec 900 (which already comes with 3 x 120mm, and 1 x 200mm fan.) 590 has 2 x 120mm, 690 has 3.

------------------------------ e8400 at 3.85 GHz with Xigmatek 120mm Rifle | MSI P35 Neo2 FR | HIS HD3870 ICEQ3 | 4 GB OCZ Reaper DDR2 800| 250 GB WD Caviar | 600 Watt OCZ StealthExtreme | Antec 900 | XP SP3
Reply to husky mctarflash

halcyon wrote :

In my mind you've just described this: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6811112068 or this http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6811112099

 

All aluminum, so you have the entire case acting as a heatsink, light, and with "conservative good looks".

 

Not a fan of aluminum after the MicroFly, I found it light to the point of flimsy, the expensive material and focus on weight pushes manufacturers to skimp. Also the LianLi is a little too plain (read boxy) and has a top mount PSU.

 

It is down to the two CMs and the 300. I am not concerned about space. Just the length of my 24pin power cable.

Message quoted 2 times
Message edited by cyborg28 on 05-15-2008 at 09:32:33 PM
Reply to cyborg28

It's not gonna get that damn hot w 2 fans even.

------------------------------ E8500,GA-EP45-UD3R, 8 GIG MUSHKIN, XFX 4890 , ASUS 22", WD 640 X 2, CM 532, CM 650TX
Reply to royalcrown

cyborg28 wrote :

Not a fan of aluminum after the MicroFly, I found it light to the point of flimsy, the expensive material and focus on weight pushes manufacturers to skimp. Also the LianLi is a little too plain (read boxy) and has a top mount PSU.

It is down to the two CMs and the 300. I am not concerned about space. Just the length of my 24pin power cable.



Then I'd go with the 690, but since you don't like the front inputs of that one, I'd hit the 300 next.

------------------------------ 17" MacBook Pro: 2.66Ghz, 4GB DDR3-1066, 256GB Corsair P256 SSD
Reply to halcyon

I actually replace my Antec 120mm fan and got all 4 wire 120mm fans even for the processor. They slow down to a nice and quiet speed and can speed up if needed.

One thing that kinda sucks about the cooler master 590 is that you need to buy an extra Hard Drive caddy if you want to mount more than 4 drives. I doubt that most here care about that but I for sure do.

Im not ragging on CM though my Server is in an old school 100% aluminum CM chassis and I like it a lot.


Message edited by rozar on 05-15-2008 at 09:47:14 PM
------------------------------ Intel DX48BT2 bone trail 2 || Q9650 with Xigmatek S1283 || 4GB Gskill DDR3 1600 || 1 - 300GB 15k SAS boot , 3 - 750GB SATA Raid 5 || Adaptec 5805 SAS RAID controller || ATI 3870 || Antec 300 Chassis with Nspire 600 watt PS
Reply to rozar

What power supply are you using? I have the Thermaltake 500watt and it is plenty long to reach the board. That is using the wire mgmt. harness. And going around an 8800GTX! It really isn't far from the motherboard mounting. I guess it really depends on what motherboard you have(placement of the 24 pin) and the power supply.

Reply to dratsabizan

dratsabizan wrote :

What power supply are you using? I have the Thermaltake 500watt and it is plenty long to reach the board. That is using the wire mgmt. harness. And going around an 8800GTX! It really isn't far from the motherboard mounting. I guess it really depends on what motherboard you have(placement of the 24 pin) and the power supply.



See OP, an Antec EA (earthwatts) 500.


Message edited by cyborg28 on 05-15-2008 at 10:24:44 PM
------------------------------ Black Hackint0sh Pro
Antec EarthWatts 500, Coolermaster 690, Intel Q6600 @ 3.0 GHz, Xigmatek S1283 HSF, Asus P5K-VM Mobo, nVidia 7600GT 256MB, 250 GB Seagate 7200.10 SATA HDD, IDE DVD-RW
http://valid.x86-secret.com/cache/banner/393560.png
Reply to cyborg28

dratsabizan wrote :

what motherboard?



Asus P5K-VM mATX, may change to Mid Range Asus/Gigabyte P45 when they roll.

------------------------------ Black Hackint0sh Pro
Antec EarthWatts 500, Coolermaster 690, Intel Q6600 @ 3.0 GHz, Xigmatek S1283 HSF, Asus P5K-VM Mobo, nVidia 7600GT 256MB, 250 GB Seagate 7200.10 SATA HDD, IDE DVD-RW
http://valid.x86-secret.com/cache/banner/393560.png
Reply to cyborg28

You shouldn't have any problems then. The placement is perfect. It is more at the bottom of the board. Shouldn't be any problem at all.

Reply to dratsabizan

One added advantage of the 690 is eSata on the front I/O panel - which I consider an important feature that I don't think any of the others have, Will sure make it easier to simple backups to an eSATA backup drive, - or even use an additional external drive .

Reply to rockyjohn

cyborg28 wrote :

Not a fan of aluminum after the MicroFly, I found it light to the point of flimsy, the expensive material and focus on weight pushes manufacturers to skimp



This is very true, but we are talking about Lian-Li, they do NOT skimp on anything. I bought an aluminum case from Bestbuy for a friend and it was TERRIBLE. I then bought him a Silverstone TJ09 for his birthday, which is an expensive aluminum case and is NOT flimsy. After a few disappointments with cooling I sent it back and bought a Lian-Li PC-60B Plus II and the difference between this $120 case and the $280 Silverstone case in quality was amazing,(he pocketed the difference, I have cheap friends). Everything felt solid, the welds looked actually professional, I have experience in this department, and the sheer design was so articulate and painfully well done down to the last detail, it made me a believer. At the time of my purchase of the Lian-Li PC-60B Plus II, the PC-7 Plus II was priced higher than the PC-60B Plus II so I would expect the same if not better quality of it.
Honestly the Coolermaster 690 is the only sub $100 case I would ever buy, and I am an owner of it and the Antec 900. The difference between the 690 and the 590 is that the 690 is slightly bigger, can fit a better amount of hard drives, has a much needed fan, for the design, that the 590 lacks, and the 690 looks much better than it does in the pictures, very clean yet aggressive. For the extra $5 the 690 is a no brainer. I believe you should DEFINATELY take a good long look at Lian-Li and if nothing excites you, well that's what the CM 690 is for.

Hope this helps, message me with any further questions.

Reply to The_Blood_Raven

I just Bought The 590 over the 300. I was at frys with the Wife and although the look similar in pics. The 590 looks better built in person less plasticy looking as compared to the 300. I aslo like the 690 but the top mount ports would be blocked for me on my desk so I like the top/front mount of the 590. I love the case so far.

Reply to Rip181

The_Blood_Raven wrote :

This is very true, but we are talking about Lian-Li, they do NOT skimp on anything. I bought an aluminum case from Bestbuy for a friend and it was TERRIBLE. I then bought him a Silverstone TJ09 for his birthday, which is an expensive aluminum case and is NOT flimsy. After a few disappointments with cooling I sent it back and bought a Lian-Li PC-60B Plus II and the difference between this $120 case and the $280 Silverstone case in quality was amazing,(he pocketed the difference, I have cheap friends). Everything felt solid, the welds looked actually professional, I have experience in this department, and the sheer design was so articulate and painfully well done down to the last detail, it made me a believer. At the time of my purchase of the Lian-Li PC-60B Plus II, the PC-7 Plus II was priced higher than the PC-60B Plus II so I would expect the same if not better quality of it.
Honestly the Coolermaster 690 is the only sub $100 case I would ever buy, and I am an owner of it and the Antec 900. The difference between the 690 and the 590 is that the 690 is slightly bigger, can fit a better amount of hard drives, has a much needed fan, for the design, that the 590 lacks, and the 690 looks much better than it does in the pictures, very clean yet aggressive. For the extra $5 the 690 is a no brainer. I believe you should DEFINATELY take a good long look at Lian-Li and if nothing excites you, well that's what the CM 690 is for.

Hope this helps, message me with any further questions.



I love my Lian-Li, its exceptional and without a doubt one of the two nicest cases I've had (the other is the very unpopular Thermaltake Mozart TX...but I liked it). The Lian-Li is like putting your components in a BMW or Benz. ...but if it looks plain to the OP, he has a right to feel that way.

------------------------------ 17" MacBook Pro: 2.66Ghz, 4GB DDR3-1066, 256GB Corsair P256 SSD
Reply to halcyon

Heh.. I ended up buying a 590 (65 bucks) not long ago, to rebuild my FC8 linux box. So now I got my E4400 running on another MSI P6N Plat.

Lots of places to mount fans. Only thing now for me, I have ta by another icage to mount another front fan. :cry:. o O (dem... cool-bastards :lol:)

Reply to Grimmy

Yeah, I understand a lot of people don't like the looks of most Lian-Li cases, I was merely trying to give him the option to try and find one that looks good to him. Anyway, there is no reason, in my mind, not to pay the extra $5 for a 690. The 690 is a great case and will serve the OP well for years to come.

Reply to The_Blood_Raven

Only thing I don't like about the 690, is that the HD's are mounted sideways:

http://c1.neweggimages.com/NeweggImage/productimage/11-119-137-13.jpg

To me, it would hinder airflow, but thats just my opinion. I guess I'm just too old fashion. :lol:

Reply to Grimmy

Na, my lian-li A70 has HD's mounted sideways too. 2 fans in front and to fan's behind...the breeze flows fine.

------------------------------ 17" MacBook Pro: 2.66Ghz, 4GB DDR3-1066, 256GB Corsair P256 SSD
Reply to halcyon

690 it is then. Birthday is coming up, just have to convince someone to get it for me.

Reply to cyborg28

Heh... Happy B-day then.. Err, and Good Luck! :lol:

Reply to Grimmy

I've read of a few people that got an extra fan with their Antec. That's the one I'm going with, $50 at microcenter.

------------------------------ Opinions are like asses,everybody has one.
Reply to chuckm

cyborg28 wrote :

690 it is then. Birthday is coming up, just have to convince someone to get it for me.


Happy B-Day, mine is 5/27. Enjoy the case and, if your old enough, celebrate with some frosty malt beverages :bounce:

------------------------------
It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it.
-Aristotle
Reply to ausch30

I'm torn between the 300 and the 690.

The 300 has no perforated wholes beneath the PSU mount.

I've just bought a Corsair HX 620w Modular PSU which has a 120mm intake fan on its bottom. I don't see it intaking much of anything if its pressed up against the floor of the case in the 300.

Is it acceptable to mount the PSU upside, essentially drawing air from elsewhere inside the case? That doesn't sound to attractive of an option though.

I'd snap the 690 up in a second if it didn't have the I/O panel on the top of the case. That's just plain ugly.

Reply to sniffsniff

sniffsniff wrote :

I'm torn between the 300 and the 690.

The 300 has no perforated wholes beneath the PSU mount.

I've just bought a Corsair HX 620w Modular PSU which has a 120mm intake fan on its bottom. I don't see it intaking much of anything if its pressed up against the floor of the case in the 300.

Is it acceptable to mount the PSU upside, essentially drawing air from elsewhere inside the case? That doesn't sound to attractive of an option though.

I'd snap the 690 up in a second if it didn't have the I/O panel on the top of the case. That's just plain ugly.



The 300 is the much nicer (more "grown-up" looking, and therefore, perhaps longer-lasting appeal) of the two when compared with the Antec 900...but given the choice of the 300 and CM-690 (if the few extra $$ is not an issue) I'd take the 690. E-Sata on the front panel. That's a nice feature to have and I've not seen too many add-in drive-bays that provide it on the cheap (and by the time you find and get one you've likely neared the 690's price anyways). I have a gut feeling the 690 might be a tad quieter too but I could be way wrong about that.

------------------------------ 17" MacBook Pro: 2.66Ghz, 4GB DDR3-1066, 256GB Corsair P256 SSD
Reply to halcyon

My friend's 690 is quieter than my 900 and he uses Antec tricool fans, all his are on high and all mine are on low, so yes it is definately quieter. Also you are wrong the PSU will go in upside down so that it intakes air from inside the case with the fan point upwards.

Diagram:
lcl air
lal\/ \/ \/
lsl---------------
< lel PSU l
air< l_l_________l

Yup, I was bored.

Reply to The_Blood_Raven

I got my PSU on my 590 to where the bottom fan is actually on the bottom. The bottom of the case has a vent, so it draws cool air at the very bottom. Now if that case was on carpet... heh, well that wouldn't be a good idea. :lol:

It looks like the 690 is built the same way.

I got bad hearing, but I can hear the fans on my 590 when I crack up all the fans I have installed, although it doesn't bother me much.

Reply to Grimmy
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