Slashdot Mirror
First Look At Wild New "Level 10" Concept PC Case
notthatwillsmith writes "Maximum PC just posted an exclusive hands on with Thermaltake's unique Level 10 case. This concept design features individual compartments for different components (each with dedicated cooling) all mounted on a black steel frame. The case looks like a prop from 2001, rendered in black steel instead of white plastic. It's absolutely unlike anything I've ever seen before."
but for me, and my company, ludicrous to even consider. Laptops and Desktops and Servers are all throw-away* commodities these days. I have no use for this. But wow, it's pretty.
*recycle, Manbearpig thanks you.
Sent from your iPad.
If you buy one of these suckers, you'd best make sure your girlfriend really enjoys dusting. Oh, wait a minute...this is Slashdot. Never mind.
I've calculated my velocity with such exquisite precision that I have no idea where I am.
The case looks like a prop from 2001, rendered in black steel instead of white plastic. It's absolutely unlike anything I've ever seen before.
How can it look like a prop from a movie if its unlike anything you've ever seen before?
Logic failing aside,
It makes me think of what might happen if they combined the Death Star's Exterior with a PS3.
All those nooks and crannies, I'd say it looks like the moore's law version of an english muffin. Hope your apartment is actually a fab's clean room.
Of course its like nothing you've ever seen. Its completely unnecessary. I've never seen a car with built-in centrifuge.. doesn't mean they should make one.
So basically, -1 troll/offtopic is really slashdots way of saying "I hate that you thought of something before me."
Cool? Yes. $700 cool? No.
If you look at the drive bay covers they are not perfectly aligned. For $700, you would expect Jobsian OCD attention to detail, regardless in shortcomings to the other design elements.
That's all I really need to know. It looks interesting, it might be cool, but I'll never buy one.
steveha
lf(1): it's like ls(1) but sorts filenames by extension, tersely
Why this case is a bad idea :
1. $700. That would buy a whole generation of core component upgrades (CPU/video card/RAM)
2. It uses small, noisy fans rather than larger, quiet ones like this case : http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811103011
3. Having a sweet looking computer case isn't going to impress anyone any more than having a sweet comic book collection. Save the money for spending things on stuff that actually (theoretically) have a chance of getting you laid, like better clothes or a nicer car.
4. You could buy a vapor chill cooler instead and overclock like mad. This case won't give you any more performance than a standard case.
In short, $700? No Wi Fi? Less space than a server case? Lame.
For $700 I'd expect at least one FW800 port on the front.
It is indeed beautiful. And it's very cool that it takes standard hardware Every other commercial case I've seen is either a barebone with a non-removable motherboard, a conventional large box, or a large box with tacky plastic 'round the edges to make it look less like a large box. I couldn't imagine anybody spending this much on a non-standard case which will go obsolete, but a real case stays current for a long time, unless, of course, the PSU is non-replaceable. Anybody know about that?
# cat
Damn, my RAM is full of llamas.
I've been a system builder since the 486DX2 66MHz days and of all the case designs I've seen come, go, and be claimed to be the next coming, the only one to ever be a perfect blend of form and function is the Mac Pro cases by Apple. I'm not even a fanboy, and most of those cases probably were never even cracked, but there is no denying them. This thing is just dumb.
http://teasphere.wordpress.com - A little spot of tea
My case needs to go to eleven.
Evil is as eval("does");
I would prefer something with more class, more style, more customization and a price tag that doesn't make one vomit blood.
This is going to be my next case. Wood and brass (fake brass, but close enough). Great thing about a wood case is that it is easily modifiable with simple household tools.
http://www.nmediapc.com/htpc8000.htm
One of the strengths and unfortunate weaknesses of PCs is that components are interchangable. This is a plus, since it means anyone can replace a part, but the downside is, the replacement parts may not fit the "concept" quite wel.
In this case, it appears that while there's the central stand for wire routing, I'm not sure if it comes with the requisite power supply and cables trimmed to the right length. Too much cable is OK, you can hide the slack in the tower, but more often than not, cables are just a wee bit too short.
A design like the old G4 towers where one side flips down with the motherboard exposed and all the cables running along the edge is what I envision a good case to be, but even in OEM PC designs from Dell and the like, they incorporate such "flip open" design. Unfortunately, it fails as some cable is too short, meaning it flips open a little bit, you disconnect it, open it more, disconnect the next too-short cable, etc. A real mess that spoils the nice servicability.
My one concern is that - what happens if the power supply you bought doesn't have cables that reach? You have to invest in extensions? Or is that vertical stand contain a backplane, and all you do is plug the power/sata/IDE/etc cables into it, where they will go to the right component?
It weights 50lbs, you're not going to move it around your house at will unless you shove some wheels on it. Then you have to drag your monitor, find a flat place for the keyboard, plug all the 20 cables back in and so on. There's a handle I'm guessing so you can move it around at all without spending the next week with ice on your back.
If I wanted simple access to things, I'd by a server rack case with hot swap bays and a convenient door on the top of the case then mount it under my desk like a drawer. Come to think of it. That's what I want... Where are the computer desks with built in rails?
Every time I start to have faith in humanity, I ruin it by driving to work between 7 and 8 am.
No thanks. I'll take my Big Black Box of Death over this modular monstrosity any day of the week (and for half the price).
So does your mom, I hear.
You are welcome on my lawn.
No need to bring Star Jones into this discussion.
You are welcome on my lawn.
If a Mac user spends the money on something jaw-droppingly cool, they're an elitist snob who pays more for white plastic with a logo on it.
Actually no, they're still just a hobbyist who's into cool computer hardware because nothing that could be described as "jaw-droppingly cool" comes in white plastic with an Apple logo on it.
"Our two-party system is like a bowl of shit looking at itself in a mirror." - Lewis Black
Either "The case looks like a prop from 2001" or "It's absolutely unlike anything I've ever seen before."
Make up your mind.
C.
"Doctor, it's not the voices I hear in MY head, but the voices I hear in YOUR head that really frighten me."