be quiet!
be quiet! Pure Base 500 FX
Mid-tower
86
/ 100
From $129
VS
Fractal North XL wins by 5
Fractal
Fractal North XL
Full-tower · Walnut accents · E-ATX
91
/ 100
From $189
Specdex verdict
Fractal North XL takes it — here’s why.
In our weighted Specdex score, be quiet! Pure Base 500 FX lands at 86 and Fractal North XL at 91. That puts Fractal North XL ahead by 5 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 North XL if…
- ✓Gorgeous walnut front
- ✓E-ATX and 420 mm rad support
- ✓Quiet mesh airflow
be quiet! Pure Base 500 FX 86
vs 91 Fractal North XL
Score breakdown
be quiet! Pure Base 500 FX
86 airflow 86
build 84
features 84
value 86
Fractal North XL
91 airflow 92
build 94
features 88
value 90
Specs side-by-side
| Spec | be quiet! Pure Base 500 FX | Fractal North XL |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Mid-tower | Full-tower |
| MB support | — | E-ATX, ATX, mATX, ITX |
| Fans | — | 2× included |
| Max GPU | — | 413 mm |
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 North XL
Pros
- +Gorgeous walnut front
- +E-ATX and 420 mm rad support
- +Quiet mesh airflow
Cons
- −Large footprint
- −No vertical GPU mount included
- −No included fan hub
FAQ: be quiet! Pure Base 500 FX vs Fractal North XL
Which is better, be quiet! Pure Base 500 FX or Fractal North XL? +
Fractal North XL scores 91 on our weighted rubric — ahead by 5. 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 North XL worth the price? +
At $189, Fractal North XL delivers a Specdex score of 91 — strongest in build.
Does be quiet! Pure Base 500 FX or Fractal North XL 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.