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be quiet! Shadow Base 800 vs Phanteks NV7: Comparison
What is the difference between be quiet! Shadow Base 800 and Phanteks NV7?
Start with gpu clearance, because it is the widest measured gap between them: be quiet! Shadow Base 800 430 mm against Phanteks NV7 555 mm, 23% in favour of Phanteks NV7. Case type is not the same on both, Mid-Tower on the be quiet! Shadow Base 800 versus Full-Tower on the Phanteks NV7. There is a split on panel type as well, Tempered glass window side panel, open mesh front and... on the be quiet! Shadow Base 800 versus Frameless tempered glass on the Phanteks NV7. They differ on dimensions too, 550 x 247 x 503mm on the be quiet! Shadow Base 800 versus 620 x 273 x 615mm on the Phanteks NV7.
Which should you buy, be quiet! Shadow Base 800 or Phanteks NV7?
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 not built for RGB showcase builds wanting a glass front and extreme airflow builds prioritizing max CFM over silence. The Phanteks NV7 suits custom water-cooling loops and Dual-480mm radiator builds, though it is the wrong buy for small or medium desks and budget 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 Phanteks NV7 (8.5/10): the go-to case for extreme custom-loop builds, as long as you have the desk space and budget to match.
Frequently asked questions
Do the be quiet! Shadow Base 800 and Phanteks NV7 differ on cpu cooler clearance?
Yes. CPU Cooler Clearance reads 180 mm on the be quiet! Shadow Base 800 versus 190 mm on the Phanteks NV7.
Is the Included Fans the same on the be quiet! Shadow Base 800 and Phanteks NV7?
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!
- Phanteks NV7
- Phanteks
Motherboard Support
- be quiet! Shadow Base 800
- E-ATX, ATX, Micro-ATX, Mini-ITX
- Phanteks NV7
- E-ATX, ATX, mATX, ITX
Case Type
- be quiet! Shadow Base 800
- Mid-Tower
- Phanteks NV7
- Full-Tower
Model
- be quiet! Shadow Base 800
- Shadow Base 800
- Phanteks NV7
- NV7
Panel Type
- be quiet! Shadow Base 800
- Tempered glass window side panel, open mesh front and top
- Phanteks NV7
- Frameless tempered glass
GPU Clearance
- be quiet! Shadow Base 800
- 430 mm-23%
- Phanteks NV7
- 555 mmBest
CPU Cooler Clearance
- be quiet! Shadow Base 800
- 180 mm-5%
- Phanteks NV7
- 190 mmBest
Included Fans
- be quiet! Shadow Base 800
- 3
- Phanteks NV7
- 3
Radiator Support
- be quiet! Shadow Base 800
- Front 420mm, top 420mm, rear 120mm
- Phanteks NV7
- Front up to 480mm, top up to 480mm
Front USB-C
- be quiet! Shadow Base 800
- Yes
- Phanteks NV7
- Yes
Dimensions
- be quiet! Shadow Base 800
- 550 x 247 x 503mm (L x W x H, excl. stands)
- Phanteks NV7
- 620 x 273 x 615mm
Which one should you pick?
Choose be quiet! Shadow Base 800 if you want the higher included fans (3 vs 3).
Choose Phanteks NV7 if you want the higher GPU clearance (555 mm vs 430 mm) and the higher CPU cooler clearance (190 mm vs 180 mm).
Price comparison
| Retailer | be quiet! Shadow Base 800 | Phanteks NV7 |
|---|---|---|
| be quiet! Store | View on be quiet! Store | |
| Phanteks | $270.00 View on Phanteks |
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.
Phanteks NV7
8.5 / 10 Expert Rating
The go-to case for extreme custom-loop builds, as long as you have the desk space and budget to match.