Performance Analysis

A CPU delta T of 48°C is an excellent result and comfortably beats the likes of the MSI MPG Sekira 500G, Deepcool Gamer Storm Macube 550 and Thermaltake Level 20 HT in their default configurations. 

Switching to the GPU and our GTX 980 was also keep well-cooled, with a delta T of 50°C just a couple of degrees off the best result and noticeably cooler than all but two of the other cases we've tested recently. The fans were pleasant to sit next to, but ultimately there's a lot of open mesh with the 500DX and therefore some sound leakage too. The pair of exhausts and one single intake do mean one slight issue, though, which is negative air pressure, which might lead to dust ingress so we'd add a fourth fan to the front of the case to balance things out.

Conclusion

Apart from a couple of niggles such as longer Velcro being needed for the cable anchors and few slightly cramped areas inside the chassis, Be Quiet! has nailed it with the Pure Base 500DX. We love the design, it's different, the lighting is funky and easily controlled, it has great cooling and our white sample just popped in the flesh and is a corker for just £90.

Closed front-end fans will likely prefer something from Phanteks, Antec or Fractal design, or indeed from Be Quiet!'s other cases too, but for a reasonably quiet, high-airflow case, Be Quiet!'s first foray into combining this and RGB lighting is a resounding success and we'd honestly struggle to find reasons to choose anything over it for less than £100 if we were given the cash. Well done, Be Quiet!.