According to be quiet!, the Shadow Base 800 series addresses users that are looking for an airflow optimized case that offers enough room for extensive component combinations. This includes high-end graphics cards that require good airflow, water cooling with radiators up to 420mm and E-ATX mainboards.
With this review, I initiate the case/chassis category, which is of vast importance since this PC part is among the few you won’t change frequently, along with the power supply. I was not eager to do my first chassis review for hwbusters, mainly because I knew that lots of work and time had to be invested to make something that will be up to my high standards. But thanks to the sound analysis work that I already conducted for chassis evaluation, for Cybenetics mostly, I only needed to implement an accurate methodology for thermal performance, which is easier said than done!
Back to the Shadow Base 800. It comes in five flavors:
- Shadow Base 800 is available in black and comes with three Pure Wings 3 140mm PWM fans
- Shadow Base 800 DX comes with ARGB LEDs and an ARGB controller in the front panel and is available in black and in white with black highlights. The fans are three Pure Wings 3 140mm PWM fans as well.
- Shadow Base 800 FX features the same ARGB front lighting as the DX version but replaces the three fans with four Light Wings 140mm PWM fans. An ARGB and PWM hub for up to eight devices is included in both the black and white (including the fans) versions.
I have the white Shadow Base 800 FX version in my hands, which is tough during photo shooting but looks superb! be quiet! did a tremendous job in the last years in the chassis section, cementing its place in this market, besides the other two that it is already super-active, power supplies and cooling.
Thanks to the three different versions, with two of them offered in black or white color, there is a Shadow Base 800 to cover the needs of almost every user out there, from the ones that don’t like RGB-lit fans to the ones that dream in ARGB. The DX version adds LEDs at the front, while the FX offers better fans and a hub.
The Shadow Base 800 cases are compatible with the HDD Cage 2 if you want to add more HDD or SSD drives. You can mount up to two cages under the PSU shroud in the corresponding mounting frame.
- Part Numbers: Shadow Base 800, Shadow Base 800 FX, Shadow Base 800 DX
- Case Type: Mid-Tower
- Material: ABS, Steel, 4mm tempered glass
- Motherboard compatibility: E-ATX / ATX / M-ATX / Mini-ITX
- Pre-installed fans: [Front] 3x Light Wings 140mm PWM, [Rear] 1x Light Wings 140mm PWM
- Maximum fans: 8x (3x 140/120mm top, 3x 140/120mm front, 1x 140/120mm rear, 1x 140/120mm bottom)
- Optional radiator installation (mm): [Top] 120 / 140 / 240 / 280 / 360 / 420, [Front] 120 / 140 / 240 / 280 / 360 / 420, [Rear] 120
- GPU max length (mm): 430
- Max cooler height: 180mm
- Drive bays 3.5/2.5 slots (scope of delivery): 2/4
- Drive bays 3.5/2.5 slots (max): 4/8
- PSU form factor: ATX PS/2
- PSU Max length (excl/incl bottom fan) (mm): 305/260
- Case size excl. stands (L x W x H), (mm): 550 x 247 x 503
- Case size incl. stands (L x W x H), (mm): 550 x 247 x 522
- Lighting: ARGB LED
- Fan/RGB Controller: ✓
- I/O Panel: 1x USB 3.2 Gen. 2 Type C, 2x USB 3.2 Type A, Mic + Audio
- Removable dust filters: 2x (top, bottom)
- Expansion slots: 7
- Volume (l): 62.74
- Weight (kg): 12.3
- Price (excluding VAT): $170 (for the basic model)
- Warranty: 3-years
Is 800fx much better than 800dx? There is something like 60$ diference between those two cases I wonder is 800fx really worth spending more.
Nope it isn’t. Some lighting stuff as I remember and other small improvements.