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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
| Retailer | be quiet! Shadow Base 800 | Lian Li Lancool 217 |
|---|---|---|
| be quiet! Store | View on be quiet! Store | |
| Amazon | $110.00 View on Amazon | |
| Newegg | View on Newegg | |
| Lian Li Store | View 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.




