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be quiet! Pure Base 501 vs Corsair 3000D Airflow: Comparison
What is the difference between be quiet! Pure Base 501 and Corsair 3000D Airflow?
Expect a near tie. The closest thing to a difference is gpu clearance, be quiet! Pure Base 501 368 mm against Corsair 3000D Airflow 350 mm. There is a split on typical price as well, 90 USD on the be quiet! Pure Base 501 versus 95 USD on the Corsair 3000D Airflow. There is a split on dimensions as well, 450 x 231 x 449mm on the be quiet! Pure Base 501 versus 453 x 230 x 466mm on the Corsair 3000D Airflow.
be quiet! Pure Base 501 vs Corsair 3000D Airflow: which one fits your build
The be quiet! Pure Base 501 is the one to take for noise-sensitive builds and home office or shared-room PCs, though it is not the pick for high-wattage GPU airflow builds and showcase RGB aesthetics. Buy the Corsair 3000D Airflow for budget mesh airflow builds and smaller desks, though it is not built for E-ATX motherboards and large triple-slot flagship GPUs over 350mm. Our rating of the be quiet! Pure Base 501 (7.5/10): A solid, unfussy silent case for people who want lower noise more than they want RGB or max airflow. Our rating of the Corsair 3000D Airflow (7.5/10): A smart downgrade path from the 4000D Airflow when budget or desk space is tight, without losing the mesh-front airflow design.
be quiet! Pure Base 501 vs Corsair 3000D Airflow price
Cost splits them too. be quiet! Pure Base 501 sits at $90.00, Corsair 3000D Airflow at $95.00, 6% more.
Frequently asked questions
Do the be quiet! Pure Base 501 and Corsair 3000D Airflow differ on cpu cooler clearance?
Yes. CPU Cooler Clearance reads 178 mm on the be quiet! Pure Base 501 versus 170 mm on the Corsair 3000D Airflow.
Is the Included Fans the same on the be quiet! Pure Base 501 and Corsair 3000D Airflow?
It is. Both are listed at 2, so it is not a reason to pick one over the other.
Specs and benchmarks
Brand
- be quiet! Pure Base 501
- be quiet!
- Corsair 3000D Airflow
- Corsair
Motherboard Support
- be quiet! Pure Base 501
- ATX, Micro-ATX, Mini-ITX
- Corsair 3000D Airflow
- ATX, mATX, ITX
Case Type
- be quiet! Pure Base 501
- Mid-Tower
- Corsair 3000D Airflow
- Mid-Tower
Model
- be quiet! Pure Base 501
- Pure Base 501
- Corsair 3000D Airflow
- 3000D Airflow
Panel Type
- be quiet! Pure Base 501
- Steel side panel, solid front with sound-dampening mats
- Corsair 3000D Airflow
- Mesh front, tempered glass side
GPU Clearance
- be quiet! Pure Base 501
- 368 mmBest
- Corsair 3000D Airflow
- 350 mm-5%
Typical Price
- be quiet! Pure Base 501
- 90 USD
- Corsair 3000D Airflow
- 95 USD
CPU Cooler Clearance
- be quiet! Pure Base 501
- 178 mmBest
- Corsair 3000D Airflow
- 170 mm-4%
Included Fans
- be quiet! Pure Base 501
- 2
- Corsair 3000D Airflow
- 2
Radiator Support
- be quiet! Pure Base 501
- Front 360mm, top 240mm, rear 140mm
- Corsair 3000D Airflow
- Front up to 360mm, top up to 280mm
Front USB-C
- be quiet! Pure Base 501
- Yes
- Corsair 3000D Airflow
- Yes
Dimensions
- be quiet! Pure Base 501
- 450 x 231 x 449mm (L x W x H, excl. stands)
- Corsair 3000D Airflow
- 453 x 230 x 466mm
Which one should you pick?
Choose be quiet! Pure Base 501 if you want the higher GPU clearance (368 mm vs 350 mm), the higher CPU cooler clearance (178 mm vs 170 mm) and the higher included fans (2 vs 2).
Choose Corsair 3000D Airflow if you already have it on hand or find it at a lower price.
Price comparison
| Retailer | be quiet! Pure Base 501 | Corsair 3000D Airflow |
|---|---|---|
| be quiet! Store | $90.00 View on be quiet! Store | |
| Corsair Store | $95.00 View on Corsair Store |
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! Pure Base 501
7.5 / 10 Expert Rating
A solid, unfussy silent case for people who want lower noise more than they want RGB or max airflow.
Corsair 3000D Airflow
7.5 / 10 Expert Rating
A smart downgrade path from the 4000D Airflow when budget or desk space is tight, without losing the mesh-front airflow design.




