The Pure Base 501 packs a punch and hits hard, way above its chassis-class! It has enough space for all your necessary components, and yet, it is compact and understated. You want a vertical GPU? Pre-installed fans? Magnetic dust filters everywhere? Support for a total of seven storage drives? Keep reeding to find out how the 501 can provide all of the above and more!
The Pure Base 501 is another classic be quiet! product. It combines functionality with the be quiet! design language we have all grown accustomed to. It is the evolution of the older 500 model, which as of today, comes in nine variants: the 501 in black, without a side window and a solid front panel for an understated appearance; the 501 Airflow in black and white; and the 501 Airflow Window again in black in white, the latter of which will be reviewing, as well as the new additions to the 501 lineup, the LX and DX variant released today, the first of which we also include in the review.
Unboxing and First Impressions
The 501 comes in the classic brown box with foam inserts and a plastic bag around it. Upon unboxing, the Pure Base 501 Airflow presents a minimalist and modern aesthetic. The mesh front panel immediately stands out, focusing on optimized airflow. The case comes with pre-installed PWM fans, ensuring efficient cooling right from the start. Additionally, the inclusion of vertical GPU mounting hardware showcases be quiet!’s attention to versatile build options.
Inside the chassis is a small cardboard box with all the accessories. A user manual is also included.
Design and Build Quality
The build quality is robust, with a well-constructed frame that ensures stability. The side panels are designed for easy removal, facilitating straightforward component installation and maintenance.
The front mesh panel can be easily removed from the bottom and is held in place with traditional plastic clips. Behind it, you will find the front mesh filter, which is also held in place with magnets.
Two more filters are located on the top and bottom. The top one is also held with magnets, while the bottom slots in and out from the front, ensuring easy maintenance. The side panel of our review unit is glass, but you can also find versions without it. The backside has sound-deadening material on the inside for reduced noise output.
The 501’s I/O is on top of the front panel. It includes an illuminated power button, two USB Type-A ports, one Type-C, a combo audio jack, a reset button, and an extra button that controls the light on models with ARGB. You will also be pleased to find that the front I/O connector is fused.
Inside the back panel, you will find sound-deadening material.
Compatibility and Space Utilization
Despite its compact dimensions (463mm x 450mm x 231mm), the Pure Base 501 Airflow efficiently utilizes space to accommodate high-end components. It supports up to ATX motherboards and can house graphics cards up to 368mm in length. The case also provides ample room for CPU coolers up to 178mm in height and power supplies up to 180mm in length officially but even longer in practice. This thoughtful design ensures compatibility with a wide range of hardware configurations.
Inside the main compartment, you will find a removable panel that sits close to the front of the device and serves multiple functions. It hides the cables that connect to the right side of the motherboard, like the ATX connector, and it serves as a bracket for two 2.5″ drives, with provisions for cable passthrough. As you might have noticed, this panel has holes on one of its facets to allow airflow, which is great attention to detail.
The lower enclosure houses the PSU and another removable storage bay but for 3.5″ drives. The enclosure is not perforated, so you can only place the PSU with the air intake on the bottom. On top of the enclosure, below the motherboard, be quiet! has integrated some cutouts for cables with generous dimensions.
Cooling and Airflow
Optimized for cooling, the mesh front panel allows unrestricted air intake, while pre-installed fans deliver adequate, quiet airflow. The case supports additional cooling options, including installing up to three 120mm or two 140mm fans at the front, two 120mm or 140mm fans on the top, and a 120mm or 140mm fan at the rear. The LX variant has three 120mm LX fans at the front, while the non-LX has one 140mm fan.
Both variants have a 140mm fan at the rear, bigger than what you find in most cases. Here, you see the one in the LX chassis.
For liquid cooling builds, it accommodates radiators up to 360mm at the front and up to 240mm at the top, providing flexibility for various cooling setups. Keep in mind that the HDD storage bay has to be moved to allow a radiator to sit at the front, but it is not necessary to entirely remove it. Sitting too close to the radiator may reduce its effectiveness.
The LX variant also includes a fan hub, replacing a 2.5″ drive slot.
Storage Options
The Pure Base 501 Airflow offers versatile storage solutions, supporting up to five 2.5″ SSDs or two 3.5″ HDDs. The drive bays are positioned at the front bottom part of the chassis to ensure easy installation and optimal airflow, contributing to both performance and convenience. The storage bay can hold two 3.5″ drives and a single 2.5″ drive.
Behind the motherboard, you will find another removable tray, which can hold two 2.5″ drives. In the LX variant. However, one of the two spaces is occupied by the fan hub, so the maximum number of 2.5″ drives is limited to four, which is still plenty.
Build Experience
The system build experience is painful in this FSP chassis. Removing the glass gives you excellent access to everything inside. Above the motherboard, there is ample space for radiators and plugging in the EPS cables. Behind the motherboard tray, there is enough room for cable management, too. Installing a storage drive will be a bit more limited, but there is still plenty for most builds.
The final build looks very good, with the white card providing a strong contrast point for the otherwise mostly dark build.
Trying out the vertical GPU adapter didn’t leave the best impression. Don’t get us wrong; it’s nice to see such a solution included in the box instead of selling additional replacement parts that cost as much as buying a second chassis. It’s just that it was a bit hard to maneuver the parts in place, and we had to exert excessive force to get the parts to slide into each other. Also, keep in mind that the PCIe riser is sold separately.
ARGB Lighting and Aesthetics
While the case does not come with pre-installed ARGB lighting for the non-LX models, its clean and understated design provides a neutral canvas for users to customize their lighting preferences. The absence of built-in lighting aligns with be quiet!’s focus on minimalism and silence, appealing to users who prefer a more subdued aesthetic or wish to implement their personalized lighting solutions.
If you choose the LX variant, you will get four LX fans, which you can control through the button on the front I/O panel or through software.
- Model Name: Pure Base 501 Airflow Window
- Case Type: Midi-ATX
- Materials: Tempered glass, Steel, Plastic, Sound deadening
- Available Colors: Black, White
- Motherboard compatibility: ATX (back-connect), mATX, ITX
- Included fans: 2 x 140mm / 3 x 120mm & 1 x 140mm (LX variant)
- Fan support (Side): –
- Fan support (Top): 2x 120mm / 2x 140mm
- Fan support (Bottom): –
- Fan support (Front): 3x 120mm / 2x 140mm
- Fan support (Rear): 1x 120mm / 1x 140mm
- Radiator support (Side): –
- Radiator support (Top): 120 / 240mm
- Radiator support (Bottom): –
- Radiator support (Front): 120 / 140 / 240 / 280 / 360mm
- Radiator support (Rear): 120 / 140mm
- PSU form factor: ATX
- Max PSU length (mm): 180 (official) / longer PSUs will also fit
- Max GPU length (mm): 368
- Max cooler height (mm): 178
- Drive Bays: 5 x 2.5″ and 2 x 3.5″
- Dimensions (L x W x H), (mm): 450 x 231 x 463
- Fan PWM/RGB Controller: Yes (LX variant only)
- I/O Panel: 1x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C, 2x USB 3.2 Type-A, 1x combo Audio Jack, 1x Power Button, 1x LED Button
- Removable dust filters: 3x (Top, Bottom, Front)
- Expansion slots: 7x
- Weight (kg): 7.2kg
- Price: about 109.90€ (Pure Base 501 Airflow Window) / 139.90€ (Pure Base 501 LX White)
- Warranty: 3 years
