be quiet! at Computex 2023: New Shadow Base Series, Dark Base 901/701, and Straight Power 12 PSU

[AleksandarK]

be quiet!, a German company focusing on creating PC components and accessories, had a strong presence at Computex 2023. Showing off its cases and power supplies, the company introduced a few additions to its portfolio of offerings. For starters, be quiet! has introduced a new case series called Shadow Base. The new Shadow Base lineup is focused on maximum airflow and maximum performance, where the company has made a new open mesh design that allows for "exceptionally high airflow." Inaugurating model of the series is the Shadow Base 800, which comes in three flavors: standard, DX, and FX. The standard edition is just a regular case without flashy RGB; the DX model has an RGB strip, while the FX model is tailored for maximum RGB illumination across the case. With up to E-ATX motherboard support, the case supports three or four 140 mm fans, depending on the variant. You can see the specification sheet below.



Next up we have the new flagship case from the company, the Dark Base 901. Having tempered glass panels and mesh intake/exhaust panels, the latest case also pays attention to cooling. Integrating a new riser cable, the case can mount the GPU vertically. The case has removable noise-dampening panels, which are paired with the company's Silent Wings 140 mm fans. ARGB controller is built-in in the case, and there is even a wireless smartphone charger. And regarding the Dark Base 701, the 901's smaller brother, the new case boasts a new cable routing system, support for up to 360 mm radiators, and pre-installed Silent Wings 140 mm fans. Specification sheets are also below.

Last but not least, we have be quiet! newest lineup of power supplies called Straight Power 12. Built for 80 Platinum (94%+) efficiency, the new Straight Power 12 series is the ATX 3.0 lineup of PSUs. It uses one massive high-performance 12 V rail to power up to two PCIe 5.0 next-generation GPUs powered by 12VHPWR 600 Watt connector or four PCIe 6+2 connectors for even overclocked GPUs. It comes equipped with a single 135 mm Silent Wings fan and comes in 750, 850, 1000, 1200, and 1500-watt configurations with a 10-year warranty.


View at TechPowerUp Main Site

 

[P4-630]

My next PSU may be a Be Quiet! again...
Had a Straight Power 10 before.

 

[Chaitanya]

That 901 case looks quite massive.

 

[Tigerfox]

No Info about availability of the new straight power 12?

 

[#22]

Looking at multiple yt videos examining these cases, they feel quite mechanically dissapointing compared to what leading rivals as Fractal; Lian Li and Phanteks offer for years. Side panels with thumbscrews? Even bq! had them screw-less five years ago with Silent Base 601/801. I think that Phanteks and Lian Li for years show how cable management should be done i objectively better way (wide space with wide straps). Fractal two years ago showed with Meshify 2 how to easyli access front filter without the need of ripping the front panel off, others went magnetic attachment. I also wonder how it will be with Shadow Base's frameless front filter over time of fans pulling it or my favourite using hoover to clean such. I would expect that more precise reviews will show even more complains. It's not that these cases seem bad and really outdated, but they just haven't adopted better solutions rivals show for years, so what bq! had time to adopt. And they will cost money making expectations of such just obvious - reason to pay such money for the case. 901-300$; Shadow 170-230$, 701 something in the middle for sure. And now look what world best Fractal, Lian Li and Phanteks will give you for such money or even much lower.

 

[skates]

I think its time that vendors add mesh cooling to the side window, even if passive. Cases used to have that feature as a standard a decade ago and I'd like to see a mesh screen implemented, especially for GPU fans that dump into the case.

 

[Camm]

Some decent improvements, but I dislike how BeQuiet still has quite a closed off rear of the case. Sound escaping here is pretty inconsequential as it faces away from the user, but in a positive pressure case is where most air is going to escape.

 

[konga]

I think its time that vendors add mesh cooling to the side window, even if passive. Cases used to have that feature as a standard a decade ago and I'd like to see a mesh screen implemented, especially for GPU fans that dump into the case.

Fractal Design North. Lian Li Lancool II, III, and 216 have mesh on the side that allow you to get good airflow by mounting fans on the psu shroud. Asus Prime AP201 is an mATX case, but it has lots of mesh.

Having a mesh side panel is probably not something Be Quiet would do, though. They'd prefer to have thick glass or steel with sound dampening.

 

[Gmr_Chick]

I rather like the design of the new Shadow Base series, even if there's no way I'd part with my Phanteks Evolv-X

 

[bonehead123]

Other comments notwithstanding, I'm really diggin the USB ports on that white-ish case....with the little contact tabs inside being white also, and even the small area around the power button too, so as to not spoil the overall look...(now if they would only ditch those ugly-assed black thumbscrews on the pcie covers too)

That's some serious attention to details, well done bQ !