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be quiet! Shadow Base 800 vs Fractal Design Meshify 2: Comparison
What is the difference between be quiet! Shadow Base 800 and Fractal Design Meshify 2?
The gap that matters here is gpu clearance: be quiet! Shadow Base 800 430 mm against Fractal Design Meshify 2 461 mm, which puts Fractal Design Meshify 2 7% ahead. They differ on panel type too, Tempered glass window side panel, open mesh front and... on the be quiet! Shadow Base 800 versus Angular mesh front, tempered glass side on the Fractal Design Meshify 2. There is a split on dimensions as well, 550 x 247 x 503mm on the be quiet! Shadow Base 800 versus 474 x 233 x 495mm on the Fractal Design Meshify 2.
be quiet! Shadow Base 800 vs Fractal Design Meshify 2: which one fits your build
The be quiet! Shadow Base 800 suits home-office or bedroom builds needing low noise and 360mm AIO builds that also want dampening, though it is the wrong buy for RGB showcase builds wanting a glass front and extreme airflow builds prioritizing max CFM over silence. Buy the Fractal Design Meshify 2 for E-ATX motherboards and NAS or storage-heavy builds, though it is not built for small desks or tight spaces and minimalist builds that don't need drive bays. Our rating of the be quiet! Shadow Base 800 (8.5/10): the best quiet-focused case in be quiet!'s lineup for anyone who also wants serious radiator support, without paying flagship Dark Base Pro pricing. Our rating of the Fractal Design Meshify 2 (8.5/10): the full-size, storage-flexible option in Fractal's mesh lineup, built for E-ATX boards and big radiators.
Frequently asked questions
Do the be quiet! Shadow Base 800 and Fractal Design Meshify 2 differ on cpu cooler clearance?
Yes. CPU Cooler Clearance reads 180 mm on the be quiet! Shadow Base 800 versus 185 mm on the Fractal Design Meshify 2.
Is the Included Fans the same on the be quiet! Shadow Base 800 and Fractal Design Meshify 2?
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! Shadow Base 800
- be quiet!
- Fractal Design Meshify 2
- Fractal Design
Motherboard Support
- be quiet! Shadow Base 800
- E-ATX, ATX, Micro-ATX, Mini-ITX
- Fractal Design Meshify 2
- E-ATX, ATX, mATX, ITX
Case Type
- be quiet! Shadow Base 800
- Mid-Tower
- Fractal Design Meshify 2
- Mid-Tower
Model
- be quiet! Shadow Base 800
- Shadow Base 800
- Fractal Design Meshify 2
- Meshify 2
Panel Type
- be quiet! Shadow Base 800
- Tempered glass window side panel, open mesh front and top
- Fractal Design Meshify 2
- Angular mesh front, tempered glass side
GPU Clearance
- be quiet! Shadow Base 800
- 430 mm-7%
- Fractal Design Meshify 2
- 461 mmBest
CPU Cooler Clearance
- be quiet! Shadow Base 800
- 180 mm-3%
- Fractal Design Meshify 2
- 185 mmBest
Included Fans
- be quiet! Shadow Base 800
- 3
- Fractal Design Meshify 2
- 3
Radiator Support
- be quiet! Shadow Base 800
- Front 420mm, top 420mm, rear 120mm
- Fractal Design Meshify 2
- Front up to 420mm, top up to 360mm
Front USB-C
- be quiet! Shadow Base 800
- Yes
- Fractal Design Meshify 2
- Yes
Dimensions
- be quiet! Shadow Base 800
- 550 x 247 x 503mm (L x W x H, excl. stands)
- Fractal Design Meshify 2
- 474 x 233 x 495mm
Which one should you pick?
Choose be quiet! Shadow Base 800 if you want the higher included fans (3 vs 3).
Choose Fractal Design Meshify 2 if you want the higher GPU clearance (461 mm vs 430 mm) and the higher CPU cooler clearance (185 mm vs 180 mm).
Price comparison
| Retailer | be quiet! Shadow Base 800 | Fractal Design Meshify 2 |
|---|---|---|
| be quiet! Store | View on be quiet! Store | |
| Amazon | $150.00 View on Amazon | |
| Newegg | View on Newegg | |
| Fractal Design Store | View on Fractal Design 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! Shadow Base 800
8.5 / 10 Expert Rating
The best quiet-focused case in be quiet!'s lineup for anyone who also wants serious radiator support, without paying flagship Dark Base Pro pricing.
Fractal Design Meshify 2
8.5 / 10 Expert Rating
The full-size, storage-flexible option in Fractal's mesh lineup, built for E-ATX boards and big radiators.