be quiet!
be quiet! Pure Base 500 FX · Matte Black
Mid-tower
86
/ 100
From $129
VS
Fractal Design North wins by 6
Fractal Design
Fractal Design North
Walnut wood front · Mesh side · ATX
92
/ 100
From $139
Specdex verdict
Fractal Design North takes it — here’s why.
In our weighted Specdex score, be quiet! Pure Base 500 FX · Matte Black lands at 86 and Fractal Design North at 92. That puts Fractal Design North ahead by 6 points — a decisive margin driven mostly by its strengths in the categories below.
Pick be quiet! Pure Base 500 FX · Matte Black if…
- ✓Tool-less panels on most
- ✓Cable-management channels
- ✓Dust filters
Pick Fractal Design North if…
- ✓Real walnut wood front panel
- ✓Excellent airflow
- ✓Great cable management
be quiet! Pure Base 500 FX · Matte Black 86
vs 92 Fractal Design North
Score breakdown
be quiet! Pure Base 500 FX · Matte Black
86 airflow 86
build 84
features 84
value 86
ease 0
design 0
Fractal Design North
92 airflow 92
build 95
features 0
value 92
ease 92
design 96
Specs side-by-side
| Spec | be quiet! Pure Base 500 FX · Matte Black | Fractal Design North |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Mid-tower | — |
| Form | — | Mid-tower ATX |
| Dimensions | — | 447×215×469 mm |
| Front panel | — | Walnut + mesh side |
| GPU clearance | — | 355 mm |
| CPU clearance | — | 170 mm |
| Fan support | — | 7× 120 mm |
| Color | — | Charcoal Black, Chalk White |
be quiet! Pure Base 500 FX · Matte Black
Pros
- +Tool-less panels on most
- +Cable-management channels
- +Dust filters
Cons
- −Fan inclusion varies
- −GPU clearance limits for triple-slot cards
- −Weight on glass panels
Fractal Design North
Pros
- +Real walnut wood front panel
- +Excellent airflow
- +Great cable management
Cons
- −Glass version pricier
- −No vertical GPU mount included
- −Front fans not RGB
FAQ: be quiet! Pure Base 500 FX · Matte Black vs Fractal Design North
Which is better, be quiet! Pure Base 500 FX · Matte Black or Fractal Design North? +
Fractal Design North scores 92 on our weighted rubric — ahead by 6. Your best pick depends on the sub-scores above.
Is be quiet! Pure Base 500 FX · Matte Black worth the price? +
At $129, be quiet! Pure Base 500 FX · Matte Black delivers a Specdex score of 86 — strongest in airflow.
Is Fractal Design North worth the price? +
At $139, Fractal Design North delivers a Specdex score of 92 — strongest in design.
Does be quiet! Pure Base 500 FX · Matte Black or Fractal Design North last longer? +
Based on our long-term update and support ratings, both ship with multi-year support. Battery and reliability scores are visible in the breakdown above.