CONCLUSION

   With many manufacturers today shipping midi towers with tempered glass as their weapon of choice for all panels the Dark Base 700 may not be as unique looking but for many people that’s not a bad thing. Sure if you’re a gamer chances are that you’re looking for a PC case which will attract attention with its looks but there are many people out there who prefer something more elegant and subtle. In terms of features the ability to change the orientation of the mainboard tray can be very useful if you have to place the tower on the left side of your desk while the ability to add up to 24 drives (2.5/3.5”) by using extra drive cages is quite impressive (of course some people may not like the extra part). Having room for a total of 7 fans (120/140mm – although with our calculations it’s actually 8) and/or 2 radiators (240/280/360mm – not including the rear 120/140mm one since that applies for most cases out there) is also nothing new but always good to have in case you’re into water cooling. Finally with enough space for even the largest hardware components including up to 180mm tall CPU coolers, 430mm long graphics cards (286mm with drive cages installed) and 285mm long power supply units you shouldn’t worry about room.

   The Dark Base 700 Midi Tower by be quiet! already counts several months in the market so it costs just a tad less than when it got launched. To be more specific you can currently find the Dark Base 700 for USD179.99 inside the US (Amazon) and for 149.99Euros inside the EU (Amazon DE). Granted this is still not what many people will call affordable but after taking into account all the things be quiet! offers with the Dark Base 700 (including its build quality) it’s actually not that bad and since it delivers as advertised and then some it gets our Golden Award.

PROS

- Build Quality
- Modular Design (Inverted Mainboard Installation)
- Tempered Glass Side Panel
- Noise Dampening Coating (Right/Top/Front)
- Room For Up To 24 Drives (7x3.5” / 17x2.5”)
- Radiator Space (Top & Front 240/280/360mm)
- Removable Drive Cages
- Space For 180mm Tall CPU Coolers, 285mm Long PSUs and 430mm Long Graphics Cards
- 3 Step Fan Controller (Supports Up To 6 Fans)
- Two RGB LED Strips

CONS

- Price (For Some)
- Extra Drive Cages Required For More Drives