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be quiet! Pure Base 501 Airflow vs Jonsbo D31 MESH Black

Researched, not hands-on tested.How we review ›

all judged against PC cases at a similar price

The be quiet! Pure Base 501 Airflow scores 6.8/10 overall, ahead of the Jonsbo D31 MESH Black at 6.4/10.

The be quiet! Pure Base 501 Airflow leads on build and ease of building, noise and value.

The Jonsbo D31 MESH Black leads on space and compatibility.

They score the same on airflow and cooling.

be quiet! Pure Base 501 Airflow

6.8/10verdict: good, not the best

The Pure Base 501 Airflow is for builders who want a quiet, mesh-fronted ATX case with sound build quality. It suits mainstream desktops, workstations and homelab boxes that need a few drives and good front-to-back airflow. It is less suited to buyers who need long-GPU clearance confirmed or tall air coolers.

Typically about £118.49 in the UK when we researched itSearch Amazon UK (opens in a new tab, affiliate link)

Affiliate link. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Details

Jonsbo D31 MESH Black

Jonsbo D31 MESH Black

6.4/10verdict: good, not the best

The Jonsbo D31 MESH Black suits builders putting an ITX, DTX or M-ATX board in a case that takes a large graphics card. It also suits anyone planning a 240, 280 or 360 mm radiator. Buyers must supply their own fans, so it works best for people happy to choose and fit them.

Typically about £59.99 in the UK when we researched itSearch Amazon UK (opens in a new tab, affiliate link)

Affiliate link. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Details

Scores, criterion by criterion

CriterionWeightbe quiet! Pure Base 501 AirflowJonsbo D31 MESH Black
Airflow and cooling30%7/107/10
Build and ease of building20%7/106/10
Space and compatibility20%6/108/10
Noise15%7/105/10
Value15%7/105/10
Overall6.8/106.4/10

Specifications

Specbe quiet! Pure Base 501 AirflowJonsbo D31 MESH Black
Case type (mid tower, Micro-ATX, small form factor…)ATX mid-tower-sized case, 450 x 231 x 449 mm excluding stands, 39.2 L volume, 6.8 kg net weightnot listed
Motherboard sizes supported (E-ATX, ATX, Micro-ATX, Mini-ITX)ATX / M-ATX / Mini-ITXITX / DTX / M-ATX
Maximum graphics card length (mm)not listed330–400 mm
Maximum CPU cooler height (mm)178 mm maximum CPU cooler height168 mm
Power supply type supported (ATX or SFX) and maximum PSU length (mm)ATX PS/2 form factor, maximum PSU dimension 180 mm (length not specified)ATX; maximum PSU length 100–220 mm; four mounting positions
Radiator support (e.g. 360mm top, 280mm front)Front 120/140/240/280/360 mm; Top 120/240 mm; Rear 120/140 mmTop 240/280/360 mm; rear 120 mm; bottom 240/360 mm
Fans included and fan mountsTwo Pure Wings 3 140 mm PWM fans included (front and rear); maximum six (top 2x140 or 2x120; front 2x140 or 3x120; rear 1x140 or 1x120)None included; mounts: top 120 mm x3 or 140 mm x2; rear 120 mm x1; bottom 120 mm x3 or 140 mm x2; front 120 mm x1
Drive bays (3.5 and 2.5 inch)3.5-inch: 2; 2.5-inch: 5; no 5.25-inch bays3.5-inch x1; 2.5-inch x2

Strengths and weaknesses

be quiet! Pure Base 501 Airflow

  • + Quiet operation praised by reviewers
  • + Rigid chassis and solid build quality
  • + Mesh front with 360 mm radiator support
  • − 178 mm CPU cooler height limit
  • − No 5.25-inch bays
  • − One review found CPU cooling unimpressive

Skip it if:

  • Buyers who need a confirmed maximum GPU length before purchasing.
  • Builders who want 5.25-inch bays for optical or bay-mounted devices.
  • Anyone planning a tall air cooler above 178 mm.
Read the full be quiet! Pure Base 501 Airflow review ›

Jonsbo D31 MESH Black

  • + Takes 330–400 mm GPUs, depending on PSU placement
  • + Radiator support up to 360 mm at top and bottom
  • + Owners praise easy builds and good temperatures
  • − No fans included
  • − Owners complain about cable routing
  • − No front dust filter for the front fan mount

Skip it if:

  • Buyers who want fans included in the box
  • Anyone building with a full ATX motherboard
  • Builders who need lots of drive bays for bulk storage
Read the full Jonsbo D31 MESH Black review ›

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