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If you’ve been on Amazon or Newegg then you’ve probably come across a brand called Be Quiet!, a German manufactrer that makes PC components made for efficiency and low noise before ostentatiousness. Their SHADOW BASE 800 FX PC Case is one of their flagships that’s dedicated to maximum airflow, and it has plenty of space for almost anything you can think of.
First off, this case is a monster, albeit a silent one. The styling is Teutonic at a stout 21.66 x 9.73 x 20.56 inches and 27.11 lbs, meaning that you have a lot of room for serious E-ATX workstations or some flashy customized builds that can be seen through the tempered glass window. The exterior is almost nondescript with only minimal flair showing off the details, there is lighting in the form of ARGB arrays that are strictly limited to the front accents and four 140mm PWM fans (3 front/1 rear).
Other details are solely concentrated on providing airflow wherever possible. For optimized performance for air-cooled and liquid-cooled setups you get vented openings, cable management and removeable dust on the top, bottom, and front of the chassis. There are even screw-on brackets that accommodate both 3.5” HDDs and SSDs. You can also install a graphic card vertically by swapping the orientation of the rear PCIe bracket, a nice touch indeed but you’ll need to get a riser to physically mount it in place.
Connectivity is also typical with two USB 3.2 (Gen 2/Type A), USB-C 3.2, separate 3.5mm jacks for headphones and microphones, and dedicated ARGB controller button for direct adjustment when enabled.
The vastness of the SHADOW BASE 800 FX makes the installation process for your standard components easy as pie since there is next to nothing to impede your build, before going all-in on liquid-cooling arrangements. Be Quiet was nice enough to make routing wires and case deep enough to allow a hue assortment of stuff to fit in here with some clearance to spare, which is nice because I’ve either had to force in big CPU coolers (not recommended) like the Noctua NH-D15 or substitute them entirely for something more compact. With the 800 FX most people won’t have to compromise when piecing together their oversized coolers or high-end GPUs.
By comparison, I’ve been using the subjectively beautiful HYTE Y60 aesthetic case for some time and while it is eye-catching, the looks don’t do it any favors in terms of intermittent upgrades. This is where the SHADOW BASE 800 FX is superior because I’m no longer held back on what I can or can’t install for my build, and something most builders don’t think about until they’re deep into the job. Living with the Y60 was a stark reminder of limitations while the SHADOW BASE 800 FX invites you to build on it long-term. Best of all, it’s still whisper-quiet before modification at 38dB.
One thing I want to talk about is the ARGB lighting feature that allows you to individualize the 800 FX to your liking, specifically the way you can operate it. I appreciate that Be Quiet! has a dedicated button on the front to change the colors and modes, but it is tedious to use regularly because there are 31 hue and sync combinations all handled by this SINGLE button. You’ll tapping that button a lot just to find the RGB mode you want to show off and you’re better off leaving it there, obviously this is a very specific nitpick and you can fortunately connect the controller directly to a compatible motherboard instead, but it’s still cumbersome.
I don’t have to hype up Be Quiet! and their SHADOW BASE 800 FX PC Case because it does exactly what it’s supposed to do and a no-brainer chassis with ease of use being top priority. Its appearance might be too utilitarian for some who like more dazzle with their machine, but I know more people will appreciate having the practicality and airflow efficiency that this behemoth offers. The 800 FX is also a case that you can grow into and that for me makes it a definitive winner, and a proper testbench for any new PC components I can throw at it.