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be quiet! Dark Base 901 vs Lian Li Lancool 217: Comparison

be quiet! Dark Base 901 vs Lian Li Lancool 217 gpu clearance compared

Gpu clearance is where these two genuinely part company, be quiet! Dark Base 901 470 mm against Lian Li Lancool 217 384 mm, a 18% lead for be quiet! Dark Base 901. They differ on typical price too, 210 USD on the be quiet! Dark Base 901 versus 110 USD on the Lian Li Lancool 217. Dimensions is not the same on both, 547 x 240 x 522mm on the be quiet! Dark Base 901 versus 453 x 230 x 460mm on the Lian Li Lancool 217.

Which should you buy, be quiet! Dark Base 901 or Lian Li Lancool 217?

The be quiet! Dark Base 901 is the one to take for Quiet high-end builds and E-ATX motherboards, though it is the wrong buy for budget builds and small desks. Buy the Lian Li Lancool 217 for budget-conscious airflow builds and air-cooled high-wattage GPUs, though it is not the pick for Showcase/RGB dual-chamber builds and silent or dampened builds. Our rating of the be quiet! Dark Base 901 (8.5/10): nearly all of the Dark Base Pro 901 experience for less money, with genuinely quiet stock fans. Our rating of the Lian Li Lancool 217 (8.5/10): one of the best value airflow cases on the market right now: three fans included, mesh everywhere it counts, and no compromises for the price.

be quiet! Dark Base 901 vs Lian Li Lancool 217 price

The be quiet! Dark Base 901 asks 91% more, $210 against $110 for the Lian Li Lancool 217.

Frequently asked questions

Do the be quiet! Dark Base 901 and Lian Li Lancool 217 differ on cpu cooler clearance?

Yes. CPU Cooler Clearance reads 195 mm on the be quiet! Dark Base 901 versus 181 mm on the Lian Li Lancool 217.

Is the Included Fans the same on the be quiet! Dark Base 901 and Lian Li Lancool 217?

It is. Both are listed at 3, so it is not a reason to pick one over the other.

Specs and benchmarks

  • Brand

    be quiet! Dark Base 901
    be quiet!
    Lian Li Lancool 217
    Lian Li
  • Motherboard Support

    be quiet! Dark Base 901
    E-ATX, ATX, mATX, ITX
    Lian Li Lancool 217
    E-ATX (up to 280mm wide), ATX, mATX, ITX
  • Case Type

    be quiet! Dark Base 901
    Full-Tower
    Lian Li Lancool 217
    Mid-Tower
  • Model

    be quiet! Dark Base 901
    Dark Base 901
    Lian Li Lancool 217
    Lancool 217
  • Panel Type

    be quiet! Dark Base 901
    Tempered glass, tool-free removable
    Lian Li Lancool 217
    Full mesh front and top, tempered glass side
  • GPU Clearance

    be quiet! Dark Base 901
    470 mmBest
    Lian Li Lancool 217
    384 mm-18%
  • Typical Price

    be quiet! Dark Base 901
    210 USD
    Lian Li Lancool 217
    110 USD
  • CPU Cooler Clearance

    be quiet! Dark Base 901
    195 mmBest
    Lian Li Lancool 217
    181 mm-7%
  • Included Fans

    be quiet! Dark Base 901
    3
    Lian Li Lancool 217
    3
  • Radiator Support

    be quiet! Dark Base 901
    Front up to 420mm, top up to 420mm
    Lian Li Lancool 217
    Front up to 360mm, top up to 280mm
  • Front USB-C

    be quiet! Dark Base 901
    Yes
    Lian Li Lancool 217
    Yes
  • Dimensions

    be quiet! Dark Base 901
    547 x 240 x 522mm
    Lian Li Lancool 217
    453 x 230 x 460mm

    Which one should you pick?

    Choose be quiet! Dark Base 901 if you want the higher GPU clearance (470 mm vs 384 mm), the higher CPU cooler clearance (195 mm vs 181 mm) and the higher included fans (3 vs 3).

    Choose Lian Li Lancool 217 if you already have it on hand or find it at a lower price.

    Price comparison

    Retailerbe quiet! Dark Base 901Lian Li Lancool 217
    be quiet! Store

    $210.00

    View on be quiet! Store
    Amazon

    $110.00

    View on Amazon
    NeweggView on Newegg
    Lian Li StoreView on Lian Li Store

    Disclaimer: The price and specification of the given product may differ from the actual product. Please confirm on the retailer's website before buying.

    Verdict

    be quiet! Dark Base 901

    8.5 / 10 Expert Rating

    Nearly all of the Dark Base Pro 901 experience for less money, with genuinely quiet stock fans.

    Lian Li Lancool 217

    8.5 / 10 Expert Rating

    One of the best value airflow cases on the market right now: three fans included, mesh everywhere it counts, and no compromises for the price.

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