be quiet! Dark Base Pro 900 rev.2
ATX, E-ATX, mATX, Mini-ITX, XL-ATX
Product rating for be quiet! Dark Base Pro 900 rev.2
Flexible enclosure construction kit for advanced users with high requirements
A very good enclosure, but definitely not easy to handle. In some respects almost more of a "do-it-yourself enclosure construction kit" than an enclosure
Where e.g. in "normal" cases the installation of the PSU is a matter of 4 screws and 2 minutes, here you first have to 1) unscrew the PSU cover, then 2) remove one HDD cage, then 3) unscrew the PSU bracket to 4) mount the PSU to the PSU bracket. Don't forget to connect any modular power cables to the PSU at this point, because the PSU is practically inaccessible after installation. 5) Connect the power cable from the enclosure to the PSU 6) Screw the PSU bracket to the enclosure 7) Refit the HDD cage 8) Refit the PSU cover. Refit the power supply unit cover.
You can do practically anything with the case, but it's not IKEA-simple and unfortunately be quiet! has skimped on the manual (minimum number of illustrations). When removing the top cover, for example, it would have been helpful to start by lifting the front panel, but the manual more or less says: Take off the cover.
I find it very cool that the HDD cages are open "to the rear", so that the whole SATA cable tangle disappears behind the mainboard. At the same time, I find it less understandable that the space behind the mainboard is very limited. The enclosure is so spacious and just 5mm more would have made a big difference.
Pro
- Very flexible
- HDD cages do not collide with graphics card (rear connections)
- LEDs not permanently installed
- Space for heat exchanger (water cooling)
- Very high quality
Contra
- Not very intuitive (detailed manual study a must!)
- Saving on the manual
- Only 3 of 5 HDD cages supplied
- Little space behind mainboard
Actually you did not have to unscrew the HDD cage, it is not in the way of the power supply cover. I would totally agree with the rest within your comment.
