Thermaltake Level 10 GT Review - PAGE 2

The Level 10 GT is designed exclusively by the Thermaltake, unlike the original which was a collaboration between the manufacturer and the BMW design group. Still, Thermaltake has paid homage to BMW by including the likeness of one of their expensive cars on the Level 10 GT packaging. The box also includes an image of the case and highlights how the new Level 10 GT supports USB 3.0 connectivity.

The accessories that come with the Level 10 GT are found inside of the case packaged in a small black rectangular box. The accessories include all the documentation needed along with screws, cable ties, a power adapter and a headset bracket.

Right off the bat you can see the Level 10 GT maintains as much of the original look as it can, while eliminating the "Open Compartment Architecture" (O.C.A.) design. This results in the case still having the central pillar to distinguish it, but the rest the case in many ways looks more like traditional cases. Unlike the original Level 10 where the power supply, optical drives, hard drives and motherboard were isolated into their own compartments, the GT instead uses an open design where the air can freely travel throughout the entire chassis. Furthermore, the Level 10 GT houses three massive 200m x 200mm x 30mm fans, along with a single 140mm fan.

The front of the Level 10 GT uses the central pillar to house the power/reset buttons, activity LEDs, four USB 2.0 ports and the front audio jacks, while the ODD, HDD and floppy drive bays are connected directly to the front panel of the chassis. On the reverse panel the new Level 10 GT uses the layout of a standard case. This consists of a rear exhaust fan located next to the I/O opening, with the expansion slots and power supply installation area directly below. Additionally, the back panel has three pre-drilled holes at the top. Two of the holes can accommodate a water-cooling loop, while the third is used to run cables out of the chassis.

Both the side panels of the Level 10 GT maintain much of the original look, and even without the O.C.A. design Thermatake has done a good job making each section look like it has its own compartment via a convex design. With the use of a more classic chassis style, Thermaltake was able to add a 200mm side intake fan to the Level 10 GT, as well a clear side window. The opposite side is almost a mirror image of the original, including the handle at the top followed by a slightly convex side panel. The only real difference is that the Level 10 GT does not have the same base.

The front panel on the Level 10 GT has five 5.25" optical drive bays along with a single 3.5" floppy drive bay. Each bay has a removable cover that is detached by pushing inward on the outside latches, allowing the covers to be removed easily without having to first disconnect the front panel. The Level 10 GT has a second control panel along the top that has two SuperSpeed USB 3.0 ports, a e-SATA port and buttons to control the fan speed and LED settings.

The Level 10 GT includes five 3.5" hot-swappable hard drive bays that easily side in out out of the chassis. All five of the bays can support either a single 3.5" or 2.5" SSD/HDD drive and can be locked in place. A key is needed to remove bays; the user first unlocks the drives, which then presses the button next to the appropriate drive number to slide the drive out.

The largest convex panel on the Level 10 GT is located near the bottom left corner and houses a large 200m intake fan. The panel is optimally positioned for graphics card and chipset cooling. The fan also has a large modular mesh cover that can be removed for cleaning, and there is a latch on the side panel that can direct the airflow coming from the fan.

The base of the Level 10 GT includes a large ventilation area along the bottom. This will ensure the bottom mounted power supply will have ample ventilation, but it also has additional room to add even more case fans to the chassis. The ventilation area is covered by a large mesh filter that can be easily removed for cleaning. The feet found at the bottom of the Level 10 GT can be rotated outward for improved stability.

One of the more unique features of the Level 10 GT is the headset mounting kit. To attach the mount to the case, you simply place the plastic piece through the small opening found on the side panel and slightly push it down to secure it in place. This is a great feature for gamers, as it offers an easy and convenient storage option for any headset.