Skip to content
sudopicks
esc

be quiet! Pure Base 501 Airflow vs Montech XR Wood

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 Montech XR Wood at 6.5/10.

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

The Montech XR Wood leads on space and compatibility and value.

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

Montech XR Wood

6.5/10verdict: good, not the best

The Montech XR Wood is for budget builders who want a mesh-fronted ATX case with fans already fitted. It suits people planning an air-cooled or liquid-cooled gaming PC with a long graphics card and a small number of drives. It is a weaker fit for storage-heavy builds or back-connect motherboards.

Typically about £55.02 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 AirflowMontech XR Wood
Airflow and cooling30%7/107/10
Build and ease of building20%7/105/10
Space and compatibility20%6/107/10
Noise15%7/105/10
Value15%7/108/10
Overall6.8/106.5/10

Specifications

Specbe quiet! Pure Base 501 AirflowMontech XR Wood
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 weightATX Mid-Tower
Motherboard sizes supported (E-ATX, ATX, Micro-ATX, Mini-ITX)ATX / M-ATX / Mini-ITXATX, Micro-ATX, Mini-ITX
Maximum graphics card length (mm)not listed420mm
Maximum CPU cooler height (mm)178 mm maximum CPU cooler height175mm
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 230mm max length (conflicting sources: Vividrepairs gives ATX up to 200mm)
Radiator support (e.g. 360mm top, 280mm front)Front 120/140/240/280/360 mm; Top 120/240 mm; Rear 120/140 mmFront 280mm, Top 360mm (Tom's Hardware); conflicting figures from other sources
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)4 x 120mm GF120 ARGB PWM pre-installed; accommodates up to 12 fans
Drive bays (3.5 and 2.5 inch)3.5-inch: 2; 2.5-inch: 5; no 5.25-inch bays3.5-inch: 2; 2.5-inch: 2

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 ›

Montech XR Wood

  • + Four 120mm ARGB PWM fans pre-installed
  • + Radiator and fan support praised by owners
  • + Takes graphics cards up to 420mm
  • − Front dust filter restricts airflow and adds noise
  • − Only two 3.5-inch and two 2.5-inch drive spots

Skip it if:

  • Buyers with a back-connect motherboard
  • Builders who need many 3.5-inch or 2.5-inch drive bays
  • Anyone wanting a near-silent build with a solid front panel
Read the full Montech XR Wood review ›

More comparisons

Compare all PC cases · Best PC cases