Final Thoughts
When it comes to a compact ATX mid tower there are definitely a few things you want. A case that is easy to install in, good airflow, a sleek design, plenty of room for storage, and a clean build once you’ve installed everything. Well the be quiet! Pure Base 500 checks most of those boxes.
First up we have ease of installation. Installing your hardware in this case is a breeze and almost everything is thought out so you won’t run into any issues. However, like most compact mid towers the motherboard does sit flush with the PSU cover, making it a little difficult to connect cables to the headers on the bottom of the board, especially the USB 3.0 header. Be quiet! did cut holes to make routing easier, but the center one could have been a bit larger. Besides that we had not problem getting our hardware inside and the removable hard drive, SSD, and PSU mounts really speed up installation.
Like most cases with a plain front bezel airflow is a bit limited, you do have a small bit of ventilation on each side of the front panel, which should be adequate for most people. The case comes with two pre-installed 140 mm Pure Wings 2 fans, which is good for a case in this price range. You could add a third fan at the top for better aiflow and you have to remember you can fit a 360 mm radiator at the front of the case.
I really do like the design and color of this case. Making the front of the case look like brushed aluminum (even though it isn’t) is a nice touch and the be quiet! logos on the front and inside of the case are quite stylish. Another thing that might get over-looked on this case are the sound-dampening properties. You have sound dampening material on the front, top, and back side panel of the case.
Inside the case you have room for up to six hard drives, which again is quite a lot for a case of this size. With everything installed you have a very clean build too. I like that be quiet! has built dedicated cable routing channels into the case and has included four velcro cable ties. It would be really hard to have a messy build with this case.
All in all if you are looking for a compact mid-tower the Pure Base 500 should be at the top of your list. Right now you can pick this case up at our favorite online retailer for $89.90, which we feel is a fair price for what you are getting. Overall ThinkComputers gives the be quiet! Pure Base 500 case a 9 out of 10 score and our Recommended Award.
Pros:
– Sleek design
– Easy installation
– Great cable routing
– Two included 140 mm fans
– Sound dampening properties
– Price
Cons:
– Motherboard sits flush with the PSU cover, which makes it hard to connect cables to bottom headers
