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be quiet! Dark Base 901 vs Phanteks P400A: Comparison
be quiet! Dark Base 901 vs Phanteks P400A cpu cooler clearance compared
Cpu cooler clearance is where these two genuinely part company, be quiet! Dark Base 901 195 mm against Phanteks P400A 160 mm, a 18% lead for be quiet! Dark Base 901. be quiet! Dark Base 901 also leads on gpu clearance, 470 mm on the be quiet! Dark Base 901 versus 420 mm on the Phanteks P400A. There is a split on case type as well, Full-Tower on the be quiet! Dark Base 901 versus Mid-Tower on the Phanteks P400A. They differ on panel type too, Tempered glass, tool-free removable on the be quiet! Dark Base 901 versus Mesh front panel, tempered glass side on the Phanteks P400A. They differ on front usb-c too, Yes on the be quiet! Dark Base 901 versus No on the Phanteks P400A.
Who each one is for
Buy the be quiet! Dark Base 901 for Quiet high-end builds and E-ATX motherboards, though it is not the pick for budget builds and small desks. The Phanteks P400A suits budget builds where front USB-C isn't a requirement and large GPU builds needing 420mm of clearance, though it is not built for anyone who needs front-panel USB-C and large air coolers over 160mm tall. Our rating of the be quiet! Dark Base 901 (8.5/10): nearly all of the Dark Base Pro 901 experience for less money, with genuinely quiet stock fans. Our rating of the Phanteks P400A (7/10): A dated but still capable budget mesh case; worth buying only if it's discounted below current-generation alternatives like the XT Pro.
Frequently asked questions
Do the be quiet! Dark Base 901 and Phanteks P400A differ on radiator support?
Yes. Radiator Support reads Front up to 420mm, top up to 420mm on the be quiet! Dark Base 901 versus Front 360mm, Top 240mm on the Phanteks P400A.
Is the Included Fans the same on the be quiet! Dark Base 901 and Phanteks P400A?
It is. Both are listed at 3, so it is not a reason to pick one over the other.
Specs and benchmarks
Motherboard Support
- be quiet! Dark Base 901
- E-ATX, ATX, mATX, ITX
- Phanteks P400A
- E-ATX, ATX, Micro-ATX, Mini-ITX
Case Type
- be quiet! Dark Base 901
- Full-Tower
- Phanteks P400A
- Mid-Tower
Panel Type
- be quiet! Dark Base 901
- Tempered glass, tool-free removable
- Phanteks P400A
- Mesh front panel, tempered glass side
GPU Clearance
- be quiet! Dark Base 901
- 470 mmBest
- Phanteks P400A
- 420 mm-11%
CPU Cooler Clearance
- be quiet! Dark Base 901
- 195 mmBest
- Phanteks P400A
- 160 mm-18%
Included Fans
- be quiet! Dark Base 901
- 3
- Phanteks P400A
- 3
Radiator Support
- be quiet! Dark Base 901
- Front up to 420mm, top up to 420mm
- Phanteks P400A
- Front 360mm, Top 240mm
Front USB-C
- be quiet! Dark Base 901
- Yes
- Phanteks P400A
- No
Which one should you pick?
Choose be quiet! Dark Base 901 if you want the higher GPU clearance (470 mm vs 420 mm), the higher CPU cooler clearance (195 mm vs 160 mm) and the higher included fans (3 vs 3).
Choose Phanteks P400A if you already have it on hand or find it at a lower price.
Price comparison
| Retailer | be quiet! Dark Base 901 | Phanteks P400A |
|---|---|---|
| be quiet! Store | $210.00 View on be quiet! Store | |
| Phanteks | View on Phanteks |
Disclaimer: The price and specification of the given product may differ from the actual product. Please confirm on the retailer's website before buying.
Verdict
be quiet! Dark Base 901
8.5 / 10 Expert Rating
Nearly all of the Dark Base Pro 901 experience for less money, with genuinely quiet stock fans.
Phanteks P400A
7 / 10 Expert Rating
A dated but still capable budget mesh case; worth buying only if it's discounted below current-generation alternatives like the XT Pro.