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be quiet! Shadow Base 800 vs Fractal Design North: Comparison
be quiet! Shadow Base 800 vs Fractal Design North included fans compared
Included fans is where these two genuinely part company, be quiet! Shadow Base 800 3 against Fractal Design North 2, a 33% lead for be quiet! Shadow Base 800. Gpu clearance runs the same way, 430 mm on the be quiet! Shadow Base 800 versus 355 mm on the Fractal Design North, another win for be quiet! Shadow Base 800. They differ on panel type too, Tempered glass window side panel, open mesh front and... on the be quiet! Shadow Base 800 versus FSC-certified walnut wood front with mesh backing; mesh side... on the Fractal Design North.
be quiet! Shadow Base 800 vs Fractal Design North: which one fits your build
Buy the be quiet! Shadow Base 800 for 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. The Fractal Design North suits buyers wanting a distinctive, furniture-like case that still performs thermally and builders prioritising quiet stock operation. It is not the one for buyers planning around the absolute largest flagship GPUs, 355mm runs close to current flagship lengths. 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 North (9/10): A genuinely furniture-like ATX case that still cools and runs quietly, limited only by a 355mm GPU ceiling that flagship cards approach.
Frequently asked questions
Do the be quiet! Shadow Base 800 and Fractal Design North differ on motherboard support?
Yes. Motherboard Support reads E-ATX, ATX, Micro-ATX, Mini-ITX on the be quiet! Shadow Base 800 versus ATX on the Fractal Design North.
Is the Case Type the same on the be quiet! Shadow Base 800 and Fractal Design North?
It is. Both are listed at Mid-Tower, 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 North
- Fractal Design
Motherboard Support
- be quiet! Shadow Base 800
- E-ATX, ATX, Micro-ATX, Mini-ITX
- Fractal Design North
- ATX
Case Type
- be quiet! Shadow Base 800
- Mid-Tower
- Fractal Design North
- Mid-Tower
Model
- be quiet! Shadow Base 800
- Shadow Base 800
- Fractal Design North
- North
Panel Type
- be quiet! Shadow Base 800
- Tempered glass window side panel, open mesh front and top
- Fractal Design North
- FSC-certified walnut wood front with mesh backing; mesh side panel option
GPU Clearance
- be quiet! Shadow Base 800
- 430 mmBest
- Fractal Design North
- 355 mm-17%
Included Fans
- be quiet! Shadow Base 800
- 3Best
- Fractal Design North
- 2-33%
Radiator Support
- be quiet! Shadow Base 800
- Front 420mm, top 420mm, rear 120mm
- Fractal Design North
- 360mm
Which one should you pick?
Choose be quiet! Shadow Base 800 if you want the higher GPU clearance (430 mm vs 355 mm) and the higher included fans (3 vs 2).
Choose Fractal Design North if you already have it on hand or find it at a lower price.
Price comparison
| Retailer | be quiet! Shadow Base 800 | Fractal Design North |
|---|---|---|
| be quiet! Store | View on be quiet! Store | |
| Amazon | $149.00 View on Amazon | |
| Newegg | View on Newegg |
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 North
9 / 10 Expert Rating
A genuinely furniture-like ATX case that still cools and runs quietly, limited only by a 355mm GPU ceiling that flagship cards approach.