Page 2 - Physical Look - Outside
The be quiet! Dark Base Pro 901 and this latest white version share the same structural and design elements, with the main difference being the color of said elements. Both versions feature a slightly curved body with gentle bends on the front panel. The dimensions of the case are substantial, measuring 604mm in length, 275mm in width, and 569mm in height, making it a large case. One notable difference between the two versions is the weight. The Dark Base Pro 901 White is slightly heavier at 18.0kg compared to the original, although I am not entirely sure why. The build materials for both versions include a steel frame with aluminum panels on the top and front. Additionally, both feature a large flat tempered glass panel on one side, adding to the premium feel and showcasing the internal components. The overall design of the Dark Base Pro 901 is considered conservative, with its size being one of the most noticeable aspects.
At the front, there is a solid panel with metal grilles down both sides. This panel is designed to be interchangeable, allowing users to swap the solid portion with a mesh one for improved airflow. At the bottom, we have a shiny be quiet! logo over another solid portion. This area is divided from the top with an addressable RGB LED light strip. An interesting feature of the front panel is the bottom flap, which can be popped open to reveal a large opening. This supports a 5.25" optical drive, which is somewhat rare in modern PC cases. Unfortunately, it was not easy to open up this front panel, but this can be attributed to possible impact damage during transit. This issue was resolved by loosening the socket, making the panel easier to open and close. Around the side, we have a tempered glass panel to provide better sight lines into the system.
All of the front I/O on the be quiet! Dark Base Pro 901 White is located on the slanted top edge. The top row features two 3.5mm audio jacks for microphone and headphone, respectively, four USB 3.1 Type-A ports, and one USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C port. This means you will need two USB 3.0 headers if you want all of the USB Type-A connections to operate. Below this, there are three primary sections. On the left, there are touch-sensitive buttons to control the fans connected to an internal fan controller. The button marked "Sync" enables or disables motherboard control, while the two buttons beside it are used to decrease or increase the fan speeds. Five bars between the buttons show the current fan speed. In the middle of the second row, there is a trapezoid power button. Finally, the right side controls the addressable RGB LED lighting. You can synchronize this with the rest of your system if you have connected the controller to the motherboard via a standard 5V addressable header. The buttons here cycle through different lighting effects and colors. Otherwise, this panel is white with translucent black legends. A white LED illuminates all of these areas, adding a premium look.
Next, we have an integrated Qi wireless charger on the top, allowing you to charge your mobile devices or other peripherals without any cables. This supports 15W of charging. Moving to the back, there is a mesh panel to help with airflow, assuming you choose to use it this way. You can also block this area under the mesh panel if you prefer a noise-reduced build.
On the flip side, there is a solid steel panel with another mesh area to allow for airflow, as users can mount fans here. Otherwise, the backside has a few interesting features. At the top, there is the motherboard I/O cutout with an exhaust area next to it. It has mounting holes for 140mm and 120mm fans, although a single 140mm fan comes pre-installed. Underneath, there are eight expansion slots secured with screws. The slots have perforations to allow air to pass through. Additionally, the expansion slots are mounted on a rotatable square, enabling users to turn it 90 degrees for vertical mounting of graphics cards. Moving on, there is a power supply opening at the bottom of the case, with a bracket around it to mount an ATX PSU. This bracket is secured with captive thumbscrews, just like the two side panels. The bracket is also lined with a foam border to reduce vibrations and resulting noise between the power supply and the case.
On the bottom, the be quiet! Dark Base Pro 901 White looks as you might expect. The base holds a large plastic mesh filter used to prevent dust from entering the case from the bottom. This filter is easily accessed from the front for quick cleaning. The left and right sides hold two large metal legs, each with a foot in the corner. Each foot is lined with a rubber pad to prevent the case from sliding on hard surfaces while also reducing any vibrations or scratches that may occur. The feet lift the Dark Base Pro 901 approximately 3.3cm above the surface, allowing for air to flow in and out. If you do not want these feet, the legs are attached with screws and can be removed.
Page Index
1. Introduction, Packaging, Specifications
2. Physical Look - Outside
3. Physical Look - Inside
4. Installation and Conclusion
