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be quiet! Shadow Base 800 vs NZXT H5 Elite: Comparison
be quiet! Shadow Base 800 vs NZXT H5 Elite gpu clearance compared
Start with gpu clearance, because it is the widest measured gap between them: be quiet! Shadow Base 800 430 mm against NZXT H5 Elite 400 mm, 7% in favour of be quiet! Shadow Base 800. Case volume is not the same on both, 62.74 L on the be quiet! Shadow Base 800 versus 35.5 L on the NZXT H5 Elite. There is a split on colour as well, Black on the be quiet! Shadow Base 800 versus Black, White on the NZXT H5 Elite.
Which should you buy, be quiet! Shadow Base 800 or NZXT H5 Elite?
The be quiet! Shadow Base 800 is the one to take for home-office or bedroom builds needing low noise and 360mm AIO builds that also want dampening, though it is not the pick for RGB showcase builds wanting a glass front and extreme airflow builds prioritizing max CFM over silence. Buy the NZXT H5 Elite for mid-range gaming PCs prioritizing looks over max airflow, though it is not built for high-heat CPU/GPU combos needing maximum front airflow and E-ATX motherboards. It also earns its place with RGB builds that don't want to buy a separate fan hub. 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 NZXT H5 Elite (8/10): good value once you factor in the included RGB fans and controller, but pick the H5 Flow instead if airflow matters more than looks.
Frequently asked questions
Do the be quiet! Shadow Base 800 and NZXT H5 Elite differ on cpu cooler clearance?
Yes. CPU Cooler Clearance reads 180 mm on the be quiet! Shadow Base 800 versus 165 mm on the NZXT H5 Elite.
Is the Included Fans the same on the be quiet! Shadow Base 800 and NZXT H5 Elite?
It is. Both are listed at 3, so it is not a reason to pick one over the other.
Specs and benchmarks
Motherboard Support
- be quiet! Shadow Base 800
- E-ATX, ATX, Micro-ATX, Mini-ITX
- NZXT H5 Elite
- ATX, Micro-ATX, Mini-ITX
Case Type
- be quiet! Shadow Base 800
- Mid-Tower
- NZXT H5 Elite
- Mid-Tower
Panel Type
- be quiet! Shadow Base 800
- Tempered glass window side panel, open mesh front and top
- NZXT H5 Elite
- Tempered glass front and side
GPU Clearance
- be quiet! Shadow Base 800
- 430 mmBest
- NZXT H5 Elite
- 400 mm-7%
CPU Cooler Clearance
- be quiet! Shadow Base 800
- 180 mmBest
- NZXT H5 Elite
- 165 mm-8%
Included Fans
- be quiet! Shadow Base 800
- 3
- NZXT H5 Elite
- 3
Radiator Support
- be quiet! Shadow Base 800
- Front 420mm, top 420mm, rear 120mm
- NZXT H5 Elite
- Front 280mm, Top 240mm
Case Volume
- be quiet! Shadow Base 800
- 62.74 L
- NZXT H5 Elite
- 35.5 L
Front USB-C
- be quiet! Shadow Base 800
- Yes
- NZXT H5 Elite
- Yes
Colour
- be quiet! Shadow Base 800
- Black
- NZXT H5 Elite
- Black, White
Which one should you pick?
Choose be quiet! Shadow Base 800 if you want the higher GPU clearance (430 mm vs 400 mm), the higher CPU cooler clearance (180 mm vs 165 mm) and the higher included fans (3 vs 3).
Choose NZXT H5 Elite if you already have it on hand or find it at a lower price.
Price comparison
| Retailer | be quiet! Shadow Base 800 | NZXT H5 Elite |
|---|---|---|
| be quiet! Store | View on be quiet! Store | |
| NZXT Store | View on NZXT 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.
NZXT H5 Elite
8 / 10 Expert Rating
Good value once you factor in the included RGB fans and controller, but pick the H5 Flow instead if airflow matters more than looks.