Assembly Procedure
The assembly experience inside the Dark Power Pro 901 chassis is exceptional, standing out as one of the best encounters in PC building. This case’s versatility and thoughtful design make it a standout choice for users seeking a seamless assembly process and great customization.
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One of the key strengths lies in the abundance of space available for accommodating significant components, air or water coolers, and long graphics cards. Including numerous additional panels in the box provides many customization options, offering various mounting options to tailor the setup according to individual preferences. The removable and reversible motherboard tray is a noteworthy feature, allowing components to face either side of the case, showcasing a commitment to user-friendly design.
The attention to detail extends to cable management, with channels on the motherboard tray that can be easily removed. This feature ensures a clean and organized interior and simplifies the assembly process. As you can see in the photo above, I used an external PWM/RGB controller not only for the case fans but also for the fans of the AIO.
The 901 chassis can be configured for either silent operation or maximum cooling. The interchangeable front and top panels, provided in the box, enable users to fine-tune the case according to their specific needs. The integrated fan speed and color profile controller on the front I/O panel add a touch of convenience, offering control over the case’s LED lights and fans. The touch buttons exhibit a premium feel, offering responsive and satisfying control.
The integrated wireless charger is a standout feature, shared with its predecessor, the 900 chassis. This goes beyond the conventional and proves to be not only useful for smartphones but also for Bluetooth earbuds that support wireless charging, with a maximum supported power of 15W.
Attention to detail extends to the bottom of the case, which elevates the PC above the surface and features a removable dust filter.
Notably, the 5.25-inch drive bay, a rarity in modern cases, is present in the Dark Power Pro 901. However, utilizing this bay requires the removal of HDD cages. Also, opening the cover and revealing this drive is a daunting task. They should make it far more accessible.
With two HDDs installed in the respective bays. If you want more HDDs, you have to buy optional drive cages.
The Dark Power Pro 901 boasts several additional features contributing to its appeal behind the removable HDD cages, including a well-ventilated PSU enclosure with removable filters and the option for vertical GPU placement facilitated by a rotatable PCIe panel. The PCIe riser is sold separately.
Including three Silent Wings 4 PWM fans. A standout feature shared with its predecessor, the 900 chassis, is the integrated wireless charger, which adds further value to the chassis.
You can install the GPU vertically, but the riser cable required is expensive (costing more than 90 dollars on Amazon!) and is not included in the bundle.
The support bracket plays a dual role: it supports the weight of heavy cards and hides the PCIe cable(s). It is attached magnetically to the top side of the PSU’s compartment. Its arms are adjustable to fit your graphics card.
Finished System
The system in our hemi-anechoic chamber is ready for noise measurements.
Thorough, spot on review, as usual. Every review I’ve seen on this site so far is superb, even preferable to most found on some of the more ubiquitous sites.
This flagship Dark Base chassis from beQuiet!, even if a tad pricey, is likely their best, & one of the best on the market. The only disappointment (for me), is unlike their Silent Base & Pure Base series chasses, the Dark Base has no choice for a solid, non tempered glass solid side panel. While said choice is important to some, for most its a non-issue.
It would be good to have a section on memory cooling as well. Heavy memory OC is greatly affected when temps get too high.
While it will add more time to the review process, I think it would be great if you could add a section for noise normalized and fan normalized measurements. I imagine a 1 front intake and 1 exhaust 120mm fan would be suitable for 90% of cases while providing good data for those who plan to use aftermarket fans.
Thank you for your suggestions! Noise normalized, I do already, using the fans of the chassis. Fan normalized is a huge pain for me. Only if I find someone here to completely handle chassis since they are killing me.