be quiet! Pure Base 500DX Case Review

In this review we looked at the Pure Base 500DX from be quiet!.  This is a down market chassis designed for enthusiast builders looking for a cost effective chassis that fits the “gaming” profile.  Cost effective means different things in the computer world and to understand the context you need to look at the company as a whole.  be quiet is a premium hardware maker from Germany who focuses on products that make systems silent.  While silent computers have never been a priority in the US that is a deciding factor in Europe and other parts of the world and companies will go to great lengths to achieve that goal.  Needless to say a company like that is not about to release a shoddy product, even if it is designed to be inexpensive.

The Pure Base 500DX is a case designed to fill the basic needs of a system builder while addressing the current demands of the modern PC market.  As a result there are ample SSD mounting locations allowing the builder to decide if they want their drives hidden or exposed.  Tempered glass side panels are hot right now and the Pure Base 500DX comes with one with painted edge dressing.

Airflow is always a concern with cases and while the Pure Base 500 comes with sound absorption material it is also fully open for direct airflow.  The front bezel features a metal mesh to help feed the intake fans.  Speaking of fans the 500DX comes with three 140mm Silent Wings 3 case fans with the option to install two more if you so desire.  The Silent Wings 3 fans are pretty quiet to begin with so adding more won’t break the audio bank.

The final gamer feature is the inclusion of a ARGB (Addressable RGB) light strip in the front bezel which can be hooked into any ARGB controller of your choosing.  The added lighting is a nice touch especially for users looking to integrated more lighting options into their builds.

As a casemodder I always look at how a case is constructed.  I am happy to say that the construction quality of the Pure Base 500DX is extremely good with tight joints, minimal gaps in the panel fitment and none of the components ever bound up.  For those of you looking to watercool I would recommend sticking with AIO coolers with this case unless you are using a smaller pump res combo due to limited space inside the chassis.

The only item I took issue with is with the expansion slots and how they secured outside of the case instead of being placed inside.  This is a typical cost saving feature that many people overlook but I am not a fan.  Not only does it making system assembly a little more difficult but make me feel like a company is cutting corners just to cut corners.  Considering the overall build quality that just seems odd.

Tempered Glass Option
Great Paint Finish
Plenty of Cooling Options
Full Radiator Support
Vented Basement Panel
White Looks Amazing

Expansion slot screws outside the case
Not big enough for a full DIY loop