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be quiet! Pure Base 501 Airflow vs NZXT H6 Flow

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

all judged against PC cases at a similar price

The NZXT H6 Flow scores 7.2/10 overall, ahead of the be quiet! Pure Base 501 Airflow at 6.8/10.

The be quiet! Pure Base 501 Airflow leads on noise.

The NZXT H6 Flow leads on airflow and cooling, build and ease of building and space and compatibility.

They score the same on value.

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

NZXT H6 Flow

NZXT H6 Flow

7.2/10verdict: good, not the best

The NZXT H6 Flow is for builders who want a mid-tower with strong cooling and an easy build. It suits gaming and general desktop systems with a graphics card, an air cooler or a top-mounted radiator, and only a few drives. It is less suited to storage-heavy builds or anyone who wants a quiet system at full fan speed.

Typically about £84.98 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 AirflowNZXT H6 Flow
Airflow and cooling30%7/108/10
Build and ease of building20%7/108/10
Space and compatibility20%6/107/10
Noise15%7/105/10
Value15%7/107/10
Overall6.8/107.2/10

Specifications

Specbe quiet! Pure Base 501 AirflowNZXT H6 Flow
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 weightMid-tower, dual-chamber
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 listedUp to 365 mm (14.4 in)
Maximum CPU cooler height (mm)178 mm maximum CPU cooler heightUp to 163 mm (6.4 in)
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 power supply type, up to 200 mm PSU clearance
Radiator support (e.g. 360mm top, 280mm front)Front 120/140/240/280/360 mm; Top 120/240 mm; Rear 120/140 mmTop up to 360 mm; rear up to 120 mm; top radiators up to 30 mm thick
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)Three pre-installed F120Q 120 mm fans in the front-right position, 1,200 ± 240 RPM, 62.18 CFM, 25.1 dBA; top takes three 120 mm or two 140 mm; rear 120 mm included; bottom takes two 140 mm intake
Drive bays (3.5 and 2.5 inch)3.5-inch: 2; 2.5-inch: 5; no 5.25-inch baysnot listed

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 ›

NZXT H6 Flow

  • + Four fans included, with room for a 360 mm top radiator
  • + Owners praise thermal performance and easy cable management
  • + Fits GPUs up to 365 mm and coolers up to 163 mm
  • − Owners report limited drive storage support
  • − Owners report fan noise at high speed
  • − GPU temperatures rise when lower fan mounts are filled

Skip it if:

  • Builders who need space for several storage drives
  • Buyers who want a quiet system with the fans at full speed
  • Anyone who wants a fan or RGB controller included in the box
Read the full NZXT H6 Flow review ›

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