Thermaltake Level 10 GTS Snow Edition Review - PAGE 5

The Level 10 GTS features one of the better designed hot-swap hard drive rail systems I have seen to date. Not only are they rugged in construction and have that solid feel to them, they are key-lockable and the removal mechanism is easy and intuitive to operate. There is a lot to be said for things that just work and I think that this is a major selling point of this case. However as I mentioned earlier, be forewarned that if you are looking to put a Velociraptor or any other hard drive with non-standardized connection ports, you may run into issues.  Normal 3.5" and SSD's should be fine to use.

I really like the paint job on the Level 10 as well. The flat finish on the exterior is just about the only way to go when designing a white-colored case in my opinion, and it really contrasts nicely with the deep black of the internal workings and the trim. Another upside is that any dust that shows up is hardly visible thanks to the white color. Speaking of dust, this case has an absolutely excellent method of filtering out dust in the airflow. Those who read my articles often will know just how big of a deal that is with me. I am quite pleased to see the level of effort that went into this with the Level 10 GTS.

The Level 10 GTS "Snow Edition" is an attempt by Thermaltake to provide a budget case solution for its enthusiasts that still retains the Level 10 name. I must admit that this case is quite well constructed and has some nice features. Yet this case is not truly a budget offering, as the MSRP of $114.99 still feels rather expensive for what you get. I guess the old adage of paying for the name is at work here, though we can imagine the BMW design team playing its part in this regard.

PROS:

• Semi-Budget mid-tower that does not skimp on performance or features
  
• Great exhaust options on both the top and left door
  
• Solid design and feel to components
• Four hot-swap capable hard drive bays with custom power cable and locking mechanism
  
• Star-Destroyer white and quality 'flat' paint job
  
• Excellent designed dust filtration system
• Nifty Head-set hanger
  

CONS:

• Poorly designed cable management tie-downs and adequate room behind motherboard tray
• Only four main hard drive mount points. Adequate for up to RAID 6, but not more
• Part clearances inside, specifically in CPU area and 5.25" sector
• No convenient hand-holds. Hard to hold onto when moving about.
• Hard drive slots expect standard drives, Velociraptors need not apply.