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For thermal and acoustic testing, we are using the following software and settings:
| CPU Clock | i9 9900k: 4.6 GHz (46x 100MHz) @ 1.1v |
|---|---|
| GPU Clock | RTX 2070 Super: Stock |
| GPU Driver | Nvidia GeForce 445.87 |
| Case & CPU Fan Speeds | 100% |
| GPU Fan Speeds | 75% |
Test Results
The 900 RPM fans are able to push a significant amount of air through the system, thanks to the open mesh front. This is great for temperatures, but doesn’t do noise levels any favors.
Acoustic Results
For our acoustic tests, we run three scenarios: CPU full load, CPU and GPU full load, and an optimized idle. The CPU Full Load test runs the CPU and case fans at their maximum speed. For the CPU and GPU full load acoustic test we add the RTX 2070 Super FE at 75% fan speed, because in practice the fans never run at 100 percent under load, and they're far too loud at 100% for any reasonable acoustic considerations.
For the optimized idle, we run the GPU fan speed at 40 percent (the 2070 Super FE GPU does not have a Zero-RPM mode), and run the CPU and case fans at the lowest speed they will spin at.
The three included 140 mm Pure Wings 2 Fans have a minimum operable speed of between 300 and 350 RPM, and although we can complain about the lack of PWM support, these are very good minimum figures for only using voltage control. They make the chassis very quiet in the optimized idle scenario. However, once we ramp up the CPU fan, and especially the GPU fan speeds, noise levels quickly become annoyingly intrusive.
Thermal Results
For the thermal tests, all case and CPU fan speeds are set to 100 percent. The i9-9900K is pegged at a 4.6GHz clock at 1.1v on all cores to ensure consistent power consumption across test scenarios, and letting the GPU run at 75% fan speed enables it to maintain its power target while maintaining one set reasonable fan speed, so that the temperature is the only variable.
Removing the front air filter yielded no improvements in temperatures, and moving the top fan to the front intake made no difference to the temperatures. This is a sign of great airflow.
Conclusion
Although we don’t have another case at this test location to compare it to at this time, it’s clear that the be quiet! Pure Base 500DX sets an excellent benchmark for thermal performance. Its three included Pure Wings 2 900 RPM fans are unobtrusive even at full speed, offering heaps of airflow through the meshed front. The RGB lighting is very well executed and seeing not only two strips on the outside, but also a third LED strip inside the case is a great inclusion at this price.
The be quiet! Pure Base 500DX is also superbly easy to work in and an excellent choice for beginners looking to get into building their first PC, as well as seasoned enthusiasts who don’t want to spend too much time on assembly. Thanks to excellent materials and manufacturing, whoever you are, the Pure Base 500DX will deliver an end result that looks stunning and approaches a premium feel.
All that said, the price you pay for all of the case’s good qualities is noise. As soon as the Nvidia Founders Edition GPU comes into play it becomes clear why noise-conscious builders would want a more silent chassis. However, most of the time your system will likely be close to idle temperature as you’re browsing the web doing light work. And if you’re willing to spend some time optimizing your fan curves the Pure Base 900DX can be set up to run quietly when it doesn’t have to work hard. Just be aware that if you want this case to run with acceptable noise levels under load, you’ll want to invest in a quiet CPU cooler and a quiet graphics card.
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