be quiet! Silent Base 802 Case Review

How Much Does it Cost?

Silent Base 802 will be available from the time this review is published. It’ll be available in black or white finishes, with a recommended retail price of $159.90/£149.99/€159.90. The version with a tempered glass window has a recommended retail price of $169.90/£159.99/€169.90 and is also available in black or white.

Overview

This is one of the best cases be quiet! has done yet. It makes no compromises on features and quality, and it just feels like it’s ready to be whatever you need it to be. Want an ultra-quiet and durable build for your server or workstation? That’s easily done, as was seen in my build. It’s a great looking case, but sometimes you need an understated build that can be left in a corner to get on with its job, never to draw attention to its self.

Want a bitchin’ liquid-cooled extreme gaming PC with tempered glass on the side and high-airflow? Well, just pop off the muting panels, open it up, and go nuts. It can do it, and it’ll look fantastic. We’ll likely have one of our builds like that on YouTube soon enough actually.

Of course, there’s a lot to do beyond that too, but it’s just a very versatile case overall. The fact that it’s all pretty much screwed together means you can move things around, remove them, modify, paint and tinker till your heart is content.

Can I Convert my 801 to the 802?

Yes, but it’s not as simple as you might think. Fortunately, be quiet! forwarded me the following statement on this;

“Unfortunately, it is not as easy as just sliding the mesh front onto the 801. Users will also have to replace the front of their 801, to make it fit. The mesh front will be offered as a spare part through after-sales some time in Q1 2021. Included in the spare part kit will be everything users need to upgrade from the 801 to 802, but they will require a screwdriver and the appropriate skills to replace the front itself.”

Build Quality

Clearly, this is a very well made case. It’s the little details that make it exceptional though, and the engineering of it really stands out. The way the side panels are tool-free, the magnetic flush mounting panel covers, the swappable front panel, the detachable feet, and so much more. Everything just works really well, and it takes just a few moments to completely transform the case to suit your needs. You could buy four of them identical models and still end up with four unique looking builds/cases.

Should I Buy One?

While it may not be cheap, you certainly get a lot for your money. If you upgrade and change your build a lot, it’s nice to see a case that’s as flexible as your requirements. From silent servers to extreme gaming PCs, the be quiet Silent Base 802 ticks every box and beyond! But which would you buy, the black/white version? With a window or without a window? Let us know!