be quiet!
be quiet! Pure Base 500 FX
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 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 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 86
vs 92 Fractal Design North
Score breakdown
be quiet! Pure Base 500 FX
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 | 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
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 vs Fractal Design North
Which is better, be quiet! Pure Base 500 FX 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 worth the price? +
At $129, be quiet! Pure Base 500 FX 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 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.