The be quiet! Silent Base 802 – Big and Flexible

When I build PCs I keep a common theme: a medium-sized case that has a tempered side and good airflow. In November 2020 be quiet! released the Silent Base 802 case. I will admit that this case is not something I would normally consider, because of its size — and I don’t normally make water-cooling builds. However, after spending time with this case, my eyes have been opened.

be quiet! Silent Base 802 Unboxing

The Silent Base 802 comes packed in your standard cardboard box and styrofoam packing that supports the case, the stands for the case, and comes with an accessory box top and faceplate replacements. The box also had taping to keep it intact, and the case came damage-free.

Silent Base 802 Design

The Silent Base 802 is constructed out of ABS, steel, and tempered glass for the side panel. It’s designed to fit E-ATX, ATX, M-ATX, and Mini-ITX motherboards. While you could build a normal case, the Silent Base 802 allows you to invert the motherboard tray for a unique kind of setup. If you remove the motherboard tray, you can easily use it as a test bench.

Specs:

Dimensions	w/o stands: 539 x 245 x537mm (DWH) w/ stands: 539 x 281 x 553mm (DWH)
Materials	ABS, Steel, Tempered Glass
Mainboard Type	E-ATX (30.5 x 27.5cm), ATX, M-ATX, Mini-ITX
Front Access & Controls	Power, Fan Case Speed Control, 2 x USB 3.2 Gen. 1, 1 x USB 3.2 Gen. 2 Type C, HD-Audio, Mic
Expansion Slots	7 + 2
Internal Drive Bays	max 7 x 3.5″ (scope of delivery: 3) max 15 x 2.5″ (scope of delivery: 7)
Fans	Front: (included) 2 x Pure Wings 2 140mm (Max 3 x 120/3 x 140) Top: Max 3 x 120/3 x 140 Rear: (included) 1 x Pure Wings 2 140mm PSU Shroud: 1 x 120/1 x 140
Radiator	Front (mm): 120/140/240/280/360/420 Top (mm): 120/240/360 Rear (mm): 120/140
Max Compatilbilities	GPU Length: 287 (w/ HDD cage installed), 432 (w/o HDD cage installed) CPU Cooler Height: 185mm PSU Length: 288 (w/ or w/o bottom fan installation)
Dust Filters	Front/Bottom
Weight	13.15Kg
Warranty	3 years

Building in the be quiet! Silent Base 802

Much to my surprise, it was fun building in the Silent Base 802! There are plenty of extra features the Silent Base 802 has that cater to a wide array of PC builders. However, I was going for a straight build with the standard air cooling and included fans. You can remove the top fan frame for easier fan and radiator installation. Removing the covers on the PSU shroud allows fan installation at the bottom of the case for more airflow. With so many fan possibilities, the Silent Base 802 includes a 4-step fan controller that allows you to plug in up to 6 x 3-pin PWM fans.

Using a 2.5-inch SSD, I removed the drive bays to allow more airflow from the PSU shroud. To the right of the motherboard tray, there are slot covers for more bay installations or cable management. I kept these closed and used the standard cable management methods included with the case. Installing the PSU was a breeze since a PSU mount bracket is included. The case also snugly supports the weight of the PSU after installation.

One thing to note is that the Silent Base 802 does cater to newer motherboards. I installed an MSI X370 motherboard. While the board did work, the USB and fan cables did not align with the cable openings.

Unlocked! Custom Options

The be quiet! Silent Base 802 has a lot of options. So much so, that you pretty much have four or five cases right in front of you. As be quiet! is known for, the case comes with noise dampening side panels with dampening mats. You can replace the solid front panel with a full mesh panel, and the case’s top panels with the included mesh panel. There are various configurations that you can do to make this your PC. At the time of this writing, the be quiet! Silent Base 802 is priced at $179.99.