Thermaltake Level 10 GT: Monument to Excess
by Dustin Sklavos on July 26, 2011 11:50 AM EST- Posted in
- Cases/Cooling/PSUs
- Thermaltake
- Full-Tower
Introducing the Thermaltake Level 10 GT
This promised to be a good month for big stonking enthusiast-class cases, and we're delivering on the second half of our one-two punch with Thermaltake's monstrous Level 10 GT. This is the biggest, most expensive enclosure we've reviewed to date. It was one of the major centerpieces of Thermaltake's line-up back at CES, and later it showed up housing one of the most powerful gaming systems we've ever reviewed, the CyberPowerPC Gamer Xtreme FTW. Today we get to take a look at the Level 10 GT on its own and pit it against the best and brightest we've been sent so far.
When I reviewed the CyberPowerPC unit back in May, I found myself with some reservations regarding the Level 10 GT. A great many of those were ameliorated when I went to actually test that tower and found it to be a remarkably capable enclosure, able to dissipate the heat generated by a pair of GeForce GTX 590s and a massively overclocked Intel Core i7-990X without creating too much of a racket. At the very least on that front it seemed like it would be a winner, and spoiler alert: it is.
Within that review I stated that I'd come back and review the Level 10 GT on its own merits, and that's on the docket today.
| Thermaltake Level 10 GT Specifications | ||
| Motherboard Form Factor | Extended ATX, ATX, Micro ATX | |
| Drive Bays | External | 4x 5.25", 1x 3.5" |
| Internal | 5x 2.5"/3.5" (see above) | |
| Cooling | Front | 1x 200mm fan |
| Rear | 1x 140mm fan | |
| Top | 1x 200mm fan | |
| Side | 1x 200mm fan | |
| Bottom | 1x 120mm fan mount | |
| Expansion Slots | 8 | |
| Front I/O Port | 4x USB 2.0, headphone and mic jacks | |
| Top I/O Port | 2x USB 3.0, eSATA, fan controller, fan lighting toggle | |
| Power Supply Size | ATX | |
| Clearance | 13.5" (Expansion Cards), 190mm (CPU HSF), 290mm (PSU) | |
| Weight | 28 lbs. | |
| Dimensions | 23" x 11.1" x 23.2" | |
| Price | $269 | |
From the stats it's pretty easy to tell: the Level 10 GT is big. Off the cuff it looks like it retains a lot of the design and compartmentalizing cues from the original (and comically expensive) Level 10, but as we get into the review you'll see the Level 10 GT is really a very different beast.
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geniekid - Tuesday, July 26, 2011 - link
I like the aesthetic and the design. If it were under $200, I'd seriously consider it for my next build.That said, I eagerly await your review of the SilverStone FT02 and the Fractal Design R2, both of which I think are strong contenders in the quiet and cool arena, and both of which I think are good looking.
HeroicTofu - Tuesday, July 26, 2011 - link
As an owner of the SilverStone FT02, I will say that I'm very impressed with the case. It has a very professional and sleek look to it which I so very much prefer to cases such as the CoolerMaster HAF 922 (to each their own right?). It's cooling efficiency is nuts as well. Compared to my previous case, the temps are a good 15-20 degrees cooler at full loads. Motherboard would get up to 60 degrees celsius where as in the FT02, it's rare when I see it exceed 40. It idles just 8 degrees above room temperature.geniekid - Tuesday, July 26, 2011 - link
Yes, I've read good things about the FT02 and it's my favorite in terms of looks. Unfortunately, the +$200 price tag forces me to consider the cheaper Fractal Design R3 case for my next build.SunLord - Wednesday, July 27, 2011 - link
I love my FT02B the only thing remotely lacking on it is USB3.0 but since it predates the USB3 spec it's easy to forgive. I've got it running 5 2tb drive with the hot swap brackets and a new 128g ssd it's pure awesome and mostly silent. I wish it came with a 3.5" external bay adapter given it's price so I could of mounted my card reader right when I got it but that is a minor annoyance at best.Dustin Sklavos - Wednesday, July 27, 2011 - link
Actually, SilverStone offers a USB 3.0 bracket to swap into the FT02. They sent me one along with the review unit.ggathagan - Wednesday, July 27, 2011 - link
Dustin,Did Silverstone provide a part number for that bracket?
No mention of it on their website.
Kisakuku - Wednesday, July 27, 2011 - link
Email Joel at usasales@silverstonetek.com. The replacement cable is $12 + $6 shipping. Silverstone isn't advertising this part, but they will sell it to you.IAMTHEPROCESSOR - Wednesday, July 27, 2011 - link
Ok I emailed him and I am awaiting a reply but might you tell me whats the link to your review please so I can see the usb 3.0 cable swap? Thank you!Dustin Sklavos - Wednesday, July 27, 2011 - link
The FT02 cable swap is SUPER simple. My review isn't written up yet (I literally JUST finished doing assembly and photography), but the housing is held on by two screws. You remove the housing, and then two more screws hold the USB/audio jack board in place. Remove those, slide the board out, slide the new board in, presto change-o.iamafish - Tuesday, July 26, 2011 - link
I own the FT02B, and in my long experience with cases it is by far and away the best I have opened up and played with. Sleek looks, lots of space, well designed, great fans, cooling is brilliant. The whole thing oozes quality, it's worth the asking price.This Thermaltake however is ugly as hell, I wouldn't pay bargain basement prices for something that looks like it had an accident at the car crusher.