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be quiet! Shadow Base 800 vs Lian Li Lancool 217: Comparison

What is the difference between be quiet! Shadow Base 800 and Lian Li Lancool 217?

Gpu clearance is where these two genuinely part company, be quiet! Shadow Base 800 430 mm against Lian Li Lancool 217 384 mm, a 11% lead 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 Full mesh front and top, tempered glass side on the Lian Li Lancool 217. Dimensions is not the same on both, 550 x 247 x 503mm on the be quiet! Shadow Base 800 versus 453 x 230 x 460mm on the Lian Li Lancool 217.

be quiet! Shadow Base 800 vs Lian Li Lancool 217: 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 Lian Li Lancool 217 suits 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! 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 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.

Frequently asked questions

Do the be quiet! Shadow Base 800 and Lian Li Lancool 217 differ on cpu cooler clearance?

Yes. CPU Cooler Clearance reads 180 mm on the be quiet! Shadow Base 800 versus 181 mm on the Lian Li Lancool 217.

Is the Included Fans the same on the be quiet! Shadow Base 800 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! Shadow Base 800
    be quiet!
    Lian Li Lancool 217
    Lian Li
  • Motherboard Support

    be quiet! Shadow Base 800
    E-ATX, ATX, Micro-ATX, Mini-ITX
    Lian Li Lancool 217
    E-ATX (up to 280mm wide), ATX, mATX, ITX
  • Case Type

    be quiet! Shadow Base 800
    Mid-Tower
    Lian Li Lancool 217
    Mid-Tower
  • Model

    be quiet! Shadow Base 800
    Shadow Base 800
    Lian Li Lancool 217
    Lancool 217
  • Panel Type

    be quiet! Shadow Base 800
    Tempered glass window side panel, open mesh front and top
    Lian Li Lancool 217
    Full mesh front and top, tempered glass side
  • GPU Clearance

    be quiet! Shadow Base 800
    430 mmBest
    Lian Li Lancool 217
    384 mm-11%
  • CPU Cooler Clearance

    be quiet! Shadow Base 800
    180 mm-1%
    Lian Li Lancool 217
    181 mmBest
  • Included Fans

    be quiet! Shadow Base 800
    3
    Lian Li Lancool 217
    3
  • Radiator Support

    be quiet! Shadow Base 800
    Front 420mm, top 420mm, rear 120mm
    Lian Li Lancool 217
    Front up to 360mm, top up to 280mm
  • Front USB-C

    be quiet! Shadow Base 800
    Yes
    Lian Li Lancool 217
    Yes
  • Dimensions

    be quiet! Shadow Base 800
    550 x 247 x 503mm (L x W x H, excl. stands)
    Lian Li Lancool 217
    453 x 230 x 460mm

    Which one should you pick?

    Choose be quiet! Shadow Base 800 if you want the higher GPU clearance (430 mm vs 384 mm) and the higher included fans (3 vs 3).

    Choose Lian Li Lancool 217 if you want the higher CPU cooler clearance (181 mm vs 180 mm).

    Price comparison

    Retailerbe quiet! Shadow Base 800Lian Li Lancool 217
    be quiet! StoreView 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! 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.

    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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