be quiet! Shadow Base 800 FX PC Case Review
Meet the be quiet! Shadow Base 800 FX
While a lot of PC case manufacturers primarily focus on their visual appeal, be quiet! is a company that focuses on the user experience, creating case designs that are easy to work with and deliver the features that users need.
Today, be quiet has revealed their Shadow Base 800 series of cases, PC enclosures that are designed to support motherboards up to E-ATX in size, up to 420mm liquid cooling radiators, and large GPUs that are up to 430mm in length. On top of that, be quiet are offering this case in three tiers, allowing purchasers to define how much RGB support they want, be it through a subtle set of lighting strips, a full set of ARGB fans, or no RGB at all.
The Shadow Base 800 is available in three forms. The standard Shadow Base 800 Black ships with three 140mm Pure Wings 3 fans and features no RGB add-ons. This model is only available in black. next up we have the Shadow Base 800 DX, which features ARGB lighting strips at the front of the case, ships with three Pure Wings 3 140mm fans, and is available in both black and white.
Finally, we have the Shadow Base 800 FX, which ships with four Light Wings 140mm fans, an ARGB hub, light strips at the front of the chassis, and is available in both black and white.
All models of this case feature the same internal layout, the same tempered glass side panel window, and the same three-year warranty. If you want a Dark Base 800 and can’t decide which model you want, ask yourself what colour you want the case in (black of white), and if you want add-ons like RGB fans or a RGB hub/fan controller. That will help you settle on a specific model.
We are testing the Shadow Base 800 FX Black model
Today, we will be testing the Shadow Base 800’s FX Black model, but it is worth remembering that all three main Shadow Base 800 models have the same case layout, the same tempered glass window, and same level of hardware support. The only main difference between all three models is the case’s front panel, its included fans, and its inclusion, or lack of, an RGB/fan controller. As such, much of this review will apply to all three Shadow Base 800 case models.
Pricing and Specifications
The Shadow Base 800 is available in three forms, with pricing that ranges from £144.99 to £204.99. The case’s baseline model is all black, ships with three fans and features no RGB add-ons, while the higher-end DX model adds ARGB support to the chassis and ships with both black and white colour options. Be quiet’s flagship Shadow Base 800 model, the Shadow Base 800 FX, ships with four 140mm Light Wings RGB fans and comes with a fan/RGB fan hub. This model is also available with black and white colour options.
Below is a breakdown of what is and isn’t included with be quiet’s Dark Base 800 series cases, and each model’s prices within the US, UK, and European markets.
Radiator SupportÂ
If you plan to water cool your system, the Shadow Base 800 series all support a wide range of liquid cooling radiator and fan configurations. It is even possible to mount two 420mm radiators in these cases, though our preference would be to use a 420mm radiator and a 360mm radiator as that allows users to utilise thicker radiators and fans.
