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be quiet! Pure Base 501 Airflow vs MSI MAG FORGE 120A AIRFLOW

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

all judged against PC cases at a similar price

The MSI MAG FORGE 120A AIRFLOW scores 7.1/10 overall, ahead of the be quiet! Pure Base 501 Airflow at 6.8/10.

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

The MSI MAG FORGE 120A AIRFLOW leads on airflow and cooling, space and compatibility and value.

be quiet! Pure Base 501 Airflow

6.8/10verdict: buy

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 itCheck price at Amazon UK (opens in a new tab, affiliate link)

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

MSI MAG FORGE 120A AIRFLOW

MSI MAG FORGE 120A AIRFLOW

7.1/10verdict: buy

The MSI MAG FORGE 120A AIRFLOW is for builders who want a mesh-fronted ATX mid tower with plenty of fans already fitted. It suits gaming and general-purpose desktops where cooling matters more than silence. It also fits anyone who wants a glass side panel without buying extra fans.

Typically about £54.99 in the UK when we researched itCheck price at 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 AirflowMSI MAG FORGE 120A AIRFLOW
Airflow and cooling30%7/108/10
Build and ease of building20%7/106/10
Space and compatibility20%6/107/10
Noise15%7/105/10
Value15%7/109/10
Overall6.8/107.1/10

Specifications

Specbe quiet! Pure Base 501 AirflowMSI MAG FORGE 120A AIRFLOW
Case typeATX mid-tower-sized case, 450 x 231 x 449 mm excluding stands, 39.2 L volume, 6.8 kg net weightMid Tower
Board sizesATX / M-ATX / Mini-ITXATX / Micro-ATX / Mini-ITX
Max GPU lengthnot listed330 mm (12.99 in)
Max cooler height178 mm maximum CPU cooler height160 mm (6.29 in), listed by MSI as maximum CPU cooler length; not verified as a height measurement
PSU supportATX PS/2 form factor, maximum PSU dimension 180 mm (length not specified)ATX, maximum PSU length 200 mm (7.87 in) without 2.5"/3.5" HDD tray installation
RadiatorsFront 120/140/240/280/360 mm; Top 120/240 mm; Rear 120/140 mmFront 120/140/240 mm; Top 120/240 mm; Rear 120 mm
FansTwo 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)Six auto-RGB 120 mm fans pre-installed (front 3, top 2, rear 1). Support: front 3x120 or 2x140, top 2x120 or 2x140, rear 1x120, plus 2x120 on PSU shroud
Drive bays3.5-inch: 2; 2.5-inch: 5; no 5.25-inch bays3 x 2.5 inch and 2 x 2.5/3.5 inch

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 ›

MSI MAG FORGE 120A AIRFLOW

  • + Six 120 mm fans included
  • + Mesh front panel with praised airflow
  • + Radiator support at front, top and rear
  • − Owners complain about fan RGB control
  • − PSU length limit of 200 mm is tied to HDD tray
  • − Front I/O is two USB-A ports only

Skip it if:

  • Buyers who want a quiet case with a solid front panel
  • Builders planning a 280 mm or 360 mm radiator
  • Anyone who needs many 3.5 inch bays or lots of front USB ports
Read the full MSI MAG FORGE 120A AIRFLOW review ›

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