Startup Central
7 Reasons Why You Need to Get The Dark Base Pro 900
We chose the Dark Base Pro 900 as our case for our ultimate Entrepreneur’s Custom Gaming/Work PC. Most entrepreneurs nowadays aren’t buying computers anymore due to the high cost of buying a laptop/work station every 2-3 years. Technology is fast moving and entrepreneurs are seeking to build their own Work/Play Rig. When building your own PC, one of the most important components is the Case. A poorly made case can make your space look unsightly, reduce the life and performance of your internal components, and also be loud and annoying to operate. And that’s why the Dark Base Pro 900 caught our attention. The company behind the Dark base 900 Pro is be quiet!…take a guess what they focus on. Be quiet! is a premium brand manufacturer of power supplies and cooling solutions based in Germany. This case is part of complete build that we will be finishing up within the next couple of months. We’re building the ultimate Work/Gaming PC for entrepreneurs and startup founders. And after months of research, we’d like to present you the 7 reasons why we chose the Dark Base Pro 900 .
1. Beautiful Design
First and foremost, we chose the case because it has a timeless look. It’s not too flashy, too edgy, or too over-the-top with all the curves and lines you’d find in other cases. The beauty is subtle and controlled. Our first impression of the case is one of awe and admiration. We reviewed it in our conference room and our staff constantly peaked in to see what we’re reviewing. You can choose between Orange, Silver, or Black trim. We chose the orange trim. It’s a full tower case featuring brushed aluminum & ABS casing all around, and 4mm thick tempered glass side panel. Coming in at 14.39kg without parts inside and measuring at 577mm deep, 243mm wide and 585mm tall, it’s definitely not a case you can easily move around. But then again it wasn’t designed to be portable.
We also appreciated the subtle and tastefully branding placed on the metal side of the case and in front. The orange outline is a solid color and doesn’t glow, which we don’t mind. The case does come with RGB lighting kit and it’s relatively easy to install.
When placed on a desk presents a timeless beauty that doesn’t beg to be noticed.
2. Functionality
We needed a case that was going functioned as well as it looks. Below are some attractive features of this case that sold us.
Good ventilation: It’s a highly breathable design with ventilation mesh surrounding the entire casing on both sides ensuring abundant airflow.
Motherboards Compatibility: The Dark Base Pro 900 (and even non-pro version) is compatible with a wide range of motherboards. You’ll be able to fit XL-ATX, E-ATX, ATX, Mini-ITX, and even Micro-ATX motherboards. We like to keep our options open when it comes to motherboards.
Front Ports: On top you have the I/O button with 2 USB 2.0 ports, 2 USB 3.0 ports, and HD audio jacks. Your Audio and Microphone ports are in front and easily accessible instead of having to plug from the rear. We wish it included a USB-C port, but it’s not a deal breaker.
QI Charger: On the top Panel there’s a QI charger for you to place a compatible device there to charge. This is the first time we’ve ever seen this feature on a case.
Fan controller and RGB LED color switch: You can adjust the fan speed directly from the front panel and cycle through multiple color scheme of the RGB lighting. All these can be controlled without turning the computer on and going into some sort of interface.
One small aesthetic thing we didn’t like was the misalignment of the orange line (pictured below). It’s not a turn off, however would’ve been nice if it was perfectly aligned.
3. Cooling
No high-end machine can function for long if it wasn’t built with cooling in mind. The fans alone in this case make it worth the extra money. Instead of having to shell out money for decent fans, be quiet! includes 3 SilentWings 3 fans installed out of the box. The fans are 140mm PWM fans with a unique blade design which be quiet! claims to improve air circulation. There’s a fan in the rear and 2 fans pre-installed on the front panel. You can install an additional fan on the top deck (most likely for CPU cooler) and you can also install a single 120mm fan on the bottom. We also liked how accessible both air filters are on this case. Both can be accessed from the front panel with ease.
4. Build Quality
As noted above the entire construction is made from brushed aluminum, ABS, steel for internal frame, and 4mm thick tempered glass. The Dark Base Pro 900 Pro’s entire case is also lined with a fairly thick (about 4-5mm) high density sound absorbing foam that serves to reduce noise level. The front panel door is held shut by a magnet. Our complaint about this is that the magnet is awfully weak and doesn’t hold the door in securely. However the door does open and close properly.
When carrying the case around you won’t get a wobbly contorted feel of a cheaper case. It’s solidly built and stays in shape even when being manhandled a bit. Looking at the 4mm thick tempered glass gives you an idea of the attention to detail that goes into the build. A this point it probably sounds like be quiet! paid us a lot of money to toot their horn, however that is not the case. We really do enjoy reviewing and showcasing the craftsmanship that goes into building this product. The 4mm thick tempered glass is precisely beveled to ensure it doesn’t scratch or damage the case or your furniture when disassembling.
Tempered glass thickness
5. Attention to detail
We’ve reviewed hundreds of products and we can tell when the people who made it actually loves the product or not. And it all shows in the attention to detail that they put into designing and building it. The Dark Base Pro 900 ‘s easily removable thumbscrews for tempered glass panel, the rear, and most of the internal components are a nice touch. This makes adding/removing parts and disassembling a breeze.
The glass panel also doesn’t just sit on a metal screw. We’ve seen this in a lot of cases and it hurts our souls each time we remove and put the glass back on, knowing we’re scratching the inside ring each time. Be quiet! didn’t just put a rubber seal on top of the screw, no that’s not enough. They have the rubber seal secured in place by a plastic housing which lodges itself snuggly inside the case. From a manufacturing standpoint, they could’ve easily gotten away with a much cheaper solution. But gladly they didn’t.
And do you see the orange rubber washer protecting the case from the screw? It’s the little things that could’ve gone unnoticed, but didn’t, that truly makes a this case a product of love and care.
6. Carpet and Wood Friendly
Why is this even a selling point you may ask? It’s a small touch thats often overlooked and not appreciated until you see damages on your carpet, desk, or expensive wooden floor. You won’t find small pointy feet here. Nor will you find cheap plastic caps that could damage wooden table or floor. The foam inserts are glued tightly into a specifically carved cavity. This makes the feet extra secure when sliding or moving around. And the large dimension feet serves a dual purpose of protecting your flooring and providing enough clearance between the floor and the case.
7. Highly modular and customizable
This was one of the best selling features that sold us. The Dark Base Pro 900 was built to be highly configurable to your specifications. You can have the glass panel on either the left or the right. Inside there’s two 5.25″ drives, seven 3.5″ drives. If you’re not using 3.5 drives and instead uses 2.5 SSD, you can fit 15 SSD here. Not entirely sure why you’d ever need that much space, but it’s there. You can also remove the cages to improve circulation and fit larger 1080 GPU’s. The entire case is highly configurable and can be customized for whatever configuration you want to put inside.
Final Thoughts
The Dark Base Pro 900 Pro isn’t just a case. It’s a beautiful piece of art, an engineering beauty, and a product made to withstand the test of time. They didn’t skimp on any parts to save money. The engineering team at be quiet! did quite a lot to the case, but the one thing they didn’t do is compromise it’s quality. A few pictures can’t tell the whole story. Once you start working with the case and installing components, you start to see all the little things they did and all the details they didn’t skimp on. We’re glad we chose the Dark Base Pro 900 as our case for the build. Please stay tune for our complete build coming soon.
5 Best Gaming Mouse for Work and Play
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TLDR: Penji is the best graphic design service for startups because you get unlimited designs, 24-48 hour turnarounds, and flexible pricing that won’t drain your budget. Unlike premium agencies or inconsistent freelancers, Penji scales with your startup.
The best graphic design service for startups is Penji. For $499/month, get unlimited design requests delivered in 24-48 hours with a dedicated team that understands startup urgency. No contracts, no per-project fees, just reliable design support.
Startups burn through design work fast. One week, you need social posts. Next week, you’re updating your pitch deck. Then suddenly, you need a one-pager for investors. Freelancers cost too much per project, and full-time designers? Not in the budget yet. Here’s the graphic design service for startups that comes in, giving you unlimited work for predictable monthly costs.
Top Design Services Startups Actually Use
1. Penji
When you’re hunting for the best graphic design service for startups, you need speed, variety, and affordability all at once. Penji nails all three. Their design as a service platform gives you unlimited designs for $499/month with 24-48 hour turnarounds.
Why Penji works so well for startups:
They handle everything. Logos, pitch decks, social campaigns, you name it. No per-project charges. Your monthly rate stays flat whether you submit two requests or twenty.
Your dedicated team at Penji learns your brand fast. They remember your preferences for future projects instead of treating every request like the first time.
The creative support scales from simple graphics to complete brand guides. You don’t get forced into higher pricing tiers when your needs grow.
No contracts. You can pause when cash is tight and restart when you’re ready. Perfect for unpredictable startup budgets.
Startups choose Penji when they need graphic design services that match their pace without the agency price tag.
2. Superside
Superside brings agency-quality work through a subscription model. They’re great if you’ve raised significant funding and need premium creative for major campaigns. But plans start around $3,000-$5,000 monthly. Too steep for most early-stage startups.
3. Kimp
Kimp offers subscription design with multiple tiers starting around $500/month. They’re decent for basic needs. The catch? Turnaround times can stretch to 48-72 hours, and their design variety feels more limited than what Penji offers.
Conclusion
The best graphic design service for startups matches your speed and budget without compromise. Penji’s graphic design services handle everything from quick social posts to complex branding work. All for one flat monthly rate that makes financial planning actually possible.
Get Design Support That Moves at Startup Speed
Try Penji today and see why thousands of startups trust them for unlimited design work. Get your first project delivered in 48 hours.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Penji better than hiring a freelancer?
Freelancers charge per project and often have slow turnarounds. Penji gives you unlimited designs for one flat monthly rate with 24-48 hour delivery. No chasing invoices or waiting for availability.
How much does Penji cost compared to other services?
Penji starts at $499/month for unlimited designs. Superside costs $3,000-$5,000 monthly. Quality freelancers charge $100-$200 per project, which adds up fast when you’re launching.
Can I get revisions with Penji?
Yes. Unlimited revisions are included in your monthly subscription. Keep requesting changes until the design is exactly what you need.
In 2025, unlimited graphic design has become a crucial part of the day-to-day operations of businesses that can’t afford to hire an in-house designer. And with more unlimited graphic design companies now backed by AI capabilities, scalability and efficiency have increased exponentially.
Let’s unpack all there is to know about unlimited graphic design providers, including features, money-back guarantees, and factors to consider when choosing.
Which Provider Should You Choose?
We’ve done the homework and curated a list of Unlimited Graphic Design providers for you and also negotiated special deals on your behalf. You can see them all below and decide which one fits your business based on your needs.
Unlimited Graphic Design Providers
What Does Unlimited Graphic Design Mean?
These unlimited graphic design services have a monthly subscription business model. That means you can sign up and cancel whenever you like. What sets them apart from your typical freelancer, agency, or in-house designer is you gain access to a workflow that is designed to be quick and to the point.
You’ll communicate with their team through Trello, email, or an online platform. The option given is dependent on the company you choose. For example, only a small selection of services provide a custom built online platform for their customers.
Once you’re connected to their workflow, you can begin submitting as many design requests as you want. Although they all claim “unlimited”, it generally means you can “create” unlimited design requests. It doesn’t necessarily mean they’ll work on them all at once. Usually, they just work on one design at a time. When one completes, they start the next design.
The usual turnaround time is between 1 – 2 days, and that’s just for the first draft. It doesn’t mean your entire request is complete. If you don’t like it, you can request as many revisions as you want, and that will take more time. So it can take up to a week to actually get the design complete if you have a lot of revisions.
Another thing to keep in mind is content. You need to be able to have everything ready and provide all the content needed in order for their designers to get started.
How Does On-Demand Graphic Design Work?
Most graphic design services listed above offer clients a bespoke design platform. For instance, Penji’s design tool is an all-in-one platform where designers, account managers, customers, and their team members can communicate and collaborate.
Although the steps in working with a graphic design company are similar, we’ll use Penji’s design software to share the step-by-step graphic design process.
1. Log in
Once you’ve selected the subscription plan, log in to your design tool and access your dashboard. Most of these tools are user-friendly with a minimal learning curve and prioritize user experience.
This example of Penji’s dashboard shows a list and thumbnails of ongoing design projects. The menu at the top shows the Active, Completed, Drafted, and On-hold projects.
Submitting a design brief is the first step in the on-demand graphic design process. To submit, click the +New Project button at the upper right side of the dashboard.
2. Fill in the title
Think of a relevant project title that will describe the design accurately. Writing an accurate title will make browsing through ongoing projects easier once you have a long list.
For instance, if you’re creating a company logo, you can write “Logo design” and specify the company or industry beside it if you’re handling multiple brands.
3. Choose from design categories
The next step is to choose from the many design categories. Most unlimited graphic design services have around 100+ design categories. Penji has 120+ design categories. Choose one that fits your project.
4. Write a design brief
This step is crucial when working with on-demand graphic designers, as this will make or break your project outcome. Writing a thorough, clear, and well-thought-out design brief makes it easier for designers to understand exactly what you want.
Penji’s design platform has a few reminders on the left side when writing design briefs. Ensure you follow the tips for a better design outcome.
5. Attach files and images for inspiration
Some customers can’t express themselves clearly through written instructions. You can attach files and images to support your written descriptions with visuals. Attaching sample logos also helps lead designers in the right direction. Attaching your competitors’ logos is also a way to make yours better.
You’ll also need to choose the source file type in this step or let designers pick for you.
6. Choose a brand style guide
Subscribing to unlimited graphic design services means you can request any visuals for multiple brands. Penji’s design tool lets you save and categorize your brand style guides in folders. This way, you only have to choose a branding guideline for designers to follow.
Once you’ve chosen the associated brand, click the Create project button to start the process.
7. Wait 24 to 48 hours
Although most on-demand graphic design services’ turnaround is 24 to 48 hours, some companies may take more than two days. This is due to complex projects like illustrations or web pages.
Wait for the first draft and ask for revisions until you’re 100 percent happy with the design. Download the source file, and you’re good to go!
Why Should You Sign Up for Unlimited Graphic Design Services
Subscribing to unlimited graphic design services is more convenient than hiring freelance designers.
Here are factors why many users choose to outsource their design needs to unlimited graphic design services:
- Work with vetted designers and choose from various skill sets. There is no need to search for another designer fit for a particular project. The company will assign you the most suitable designer.
- AI integration. The best unlimited graphic design providers make sure that their vetted designers have updated training and are able to take advantage of the latest tech, including AI.
- No need to worry about additional fees as you only have to pay fixed monthly rates and get unlimited designs. Revisions also come at no extra cost.
- You don’t have to worry about graphic designers going MIA and abandoning crucial projects. Each design project is managed by an account manager who will check if deadlines are met on time.
- Signing up and canceling subscriptions with on-demand graphic design services is easy. You can sign up if you need a stream of designs while setting up shop and cancel anytime without incurring cancellation fees.
- Fast 24 to 48-hour turnaround, which prevents any bottlenecks in your marketing campaigns.
- Request to change assigned designers if you’re unhappy with their work at no additional cost.
- Organize your projects and brand style guides if you request multiple brand designs. The custom design platforms make managing projects efficient and convenient.
Are they worth it?
If you have a lot of design needs, they’re definitely worth it. Being that it’s a monthly recurring investment, you’ll need to make sure that you have the need for an ongoing graphic design service. This graphic design service model is comparable to outsourcing a designer yourself, except much of all the management work is done by the company. The quality of designs and turnaround time also tends to be significantly better when outsourcing a designer yourself.
Facing severe challenges as a startup is almost inevitable, and you can’t always power through them alone. That’s why a startup advisory board is one of the smartest assets you can build when launching your business.
Many new entrepreneurs spend sleepless nights searching for solutions but still come up short. That’s why having a trusted advisory board is crucial—it fills the gaps in knowledge and experience, helping you navigate the toughest parts of your entrepreneurial journey.
Here’s why a startup advisory board is vital and how to choose the right people.
But first, a common question –
What is an advisory board?
A startup advisory board is a group of experienced professionals who provide strategic guidance to help entrepreneurs grow their businesses. If you’ve ever wondered, what does an advisory board do? — they offer mostly offer the following without being directly involved in daily operations:
- Valuable insights
- Industry connections
- Mentorship
So, what is the role of a startup advisor? These advisors help founders make smarter decisions in areas like attracting investors, scaling operations, building company culture, and navigating challenges. They can also guide startups through critical stages like product development or planning an exit strategy.
With the advisory board responsibilities being met, you will have guidance in the following aspects:
- Inviting more investors
- Creating a compelling company culture
- Establishing growth techniques
- Attracting the right talent
- Retaining the right employees
- Planning and executing your exit strategy when all else fails
An entrepreneur’s relationship with the advisory board representatives is often informal and personal. This means communication is done via video chat, email, or text.
Why an Advisory Board is Vital
Some startup advisory board examples include boards composed of people with deep industry experience and can open doors that founders might not reach on their own, such as:
- Former CEOs
- Investors
- Legal experts
- Marketing leaders
Some entrepreneurs forgo the aspect or take it lightly due to the costs of startup advisory board compensation. Is it worth paying these individuals? Here are the benefits of having an advisory board:
- They can fill knowledge gaps that will enhance your performance as the CEO of your startup
- They will add credibility to your startup and boost trust among customers and investors
- They give you business advice that you might never think of due to a lack of experience
- You’ll become trustworthy in the eyes of external and internal stakeholders
How to Choose the Right Members for your Advisory Board
Selecting the right members for your advisory board is crucial, as you need people to add value to your business. Here’s how:
1. Assess your Knowledge and Needs
It’s crucial to determine why you’re choosing an advisory board in the first place. For instance, data reveals that 65% of respondents sought accounting or finance competencies for advisory boards while 51% sought expertise in sales and marketing. That said, look within yourself to find the right people. What do you need help for? Is it to hit the ground running or perhaps to recession-proof your business? Assess your experience, knowledge, and needs. For instance, if you need someone knowledgeable about finding funding, choose someone with connections to investors.
2. Take Advantage of Personal Relationships
The purpose of a business mentor is to have someone you can turn to when you need them the most. They act as your confidant and trusted ally. If you already have someone in your circle whom you think can add value to your business, see if you can leverage that relationship.
3. Do Your Due Diligence
As responsible entrepreneurs, it’s your job to screen candidates thoroughly. Do your due diligence and perform background checks on each candidate. Do they have a proven track record? Have they garnered some positive testimonials from previous clients? What are their strengths and weaknesses? Do they have advocacies or different principles that might cloud their judgment? By aligning your values and beliefs, ensure that the candidate is the right fit.
4. Attend Entrepreneurial Events
Another way to find like-minded individuals is to attend business events and conferences. These are some occasions when business-minded people come together to share ideas and experiences. It’s also an excellent way to meet others who can potentially be your business mentor.
Conclusion
Building a startup advisory board can be one of the most valuable steps you take as a founder. It’s more than just gathering experts; it’s about surrounding yourself with people who can offer wisdom, challenge your ideas, and guide you through tough decisions.
The right advisors can help you grow faster, avoid costly mistakes, and open doors you might not reach on your own. By carefully selecting and nurturing these relationships, you can strengthen your business, sharpen your leadership, and create a company that’s built to last.
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