be quiet! has announced that the Dark Base 701 will be available from November 14 at an SRP of $229.90/€229.00/£229.99, while optional HDD Cage 2 drive cages and a Riser Cable for vertical GPU installation are already available on the market for €9.90/$9.90/£9.99 and €59.90/$54.90/£59.99 respectively. Serving as a successor to the older Dark Base 700, the Dark Base 701 is a new PC case from the company that was designed for high airflow and performance, featuring a full mesh top and front, three pre-installed Silent Wings 4 140 mm PWM high-speed fans, ARGB effects, and a motherboard tray that allows for assembly outside the case and support for inverted builds. A white version of the Dark Base 701 (er, White Base?) will be available in 2024, according to the press release that be quiet! shared today.
be quiet! Dark Base 701 Features
- Open mesh design for highest airflow and performance
- 3 pre-installed Silent Wings 4 140mm PWM high-speed fans offer maximum performance
- Fan controller with PWM motherboard sync option
- PWM and ARGB Hub for up to 8 PWM fans and 2 ARGB components
- ARGB lighting with integrated ARGB controller for a stunning look
- Exceptional usability with easily accessible features such as removable fan- and radiator brackets in the top and front
- Versatile motherboard tray for an inverted layout option
- Simple and tool-less installation of HDDs and SSDs
- Cable routing channels for professional cable management and a neat interior
- Tempered glass side window allowing a superb view of the PC components
- 3-year manufacturer’s warranty
- Product conception, design and quality control in Germany
While Dark Base 701 succeeds the popular Dark Base 700, it is taking a slightly different approach. Dark Base 700 was designed for nearly inaudible operation, while Dark Base 701 is built for high airflow and performance, thanks to fully perforated mesh panels that are ideal for case fans or water cooling. Thanks to three pre-installed Silent Wings 4 140mm PWM high-speed fans (maximum 1900 rpm) and room for an additional five 120mm or 140mm fans, this case can fulfill cooling requirements of modern high-end systems with ease.
Easy usability for users of all experience levels is shown when it comes to the installation of drives, fans, and radiators. HDD and SSD installation is completely tool-less. Fans and radiators (up to 360mm) are installed on a front frame that can be taken out of the case, or a top frame that slides out to the side from underneath the fixed mesh top. The whole motherboard tray can be taken out for assembly outside the case, the tray can be inverted with a few simple steps, and three additional vertical slots are available for vertical GPU installation with an optional riser cable. Dark Base 701 is compatible with HDD Cage 2 for additional HDD and SSD support.
Great performance obviously goes hand-in-hand with great aesthetics. The sleek, all-black design of Dark Base 701 is elevated by two ARGB LED strips, which run down the front panel and are connected to a combined ARGB and fan hub for up to 8 PWM fans and 2 additional ARGB devices. The front I/O includes dedicated buttons for the ARGB and fan controller, one USB type C port and two type A ports, as well as audio input and output. Cable routing channels keep the inside of the case neat and tidy, while a tempered glass side window allows for a superb view of the PC components. As usual, be quiet! offers a full 3-year manufacturer’s warranty.
