Thermaltake Level 20 XT Case Review

Nov 30, 2018

The second review in our series looking at the Anniversary Level 20 range from Thermaltake, concentrates on the XT. Whilst its styling is very much in keeping with the GT, the form factor is a different prospect altogether.

As you can see from the below image, the box for the Thermaltake Level 20 XT is massive and that’s to be expected; the case weighs around 21KG! 4mm tempered glass panels cuddle the chassis which adds weight, but it also adds visual appeal that’s popular currently.

Thermaltake Level 20 XT Specifications & Features

Model	Level 20 XT
P/N	CA-1L1-00F1WN-00
Case Type	E-ATX Cube Case
Dimension (H x W x D)	515 x 394 x 623 mm (20.3 x 15.5 x 24.5 inch)
Net Weight	20.4 kg / 44.97 lb
Side Panel	4mm Tempered Glass x 4(Left & Right & Front & Top)
Color	Exterior & Interior : Black
Material	SPCC
Cooling System	Rear (exhaust) : 140 x 140 x 25 mm fan (1000rpm, 16dBA)
Drive Bays -Accessible -Hidden	6 x 3.5’’ or 2.5’’ (HDD Cage) 1 x 3.5’’, 2 x 2.5’’ (M/B Tray)
Expansion Slots	8
Motherboards	6.7” x 6.7” (Mini ITX), 9.6” x 9.6” (Micro ATX), 12” x 9.6” (ATX), 12” x 13” (Extend ATX)
I/O Port	USB 2.0 x2, USB 3.0 x2, HD Audio x 1, Type-C x1
PSU	Standard PS2 PSU (optional)
Fan Support	Front: 3 x 120mm, 2 x 140mm, 2 x 200mm Top: 8 x 120mm, 6 x 140mm, 2 x 200mm Rear: 2 x 120mm or 2 x 140mm Bottom: 3 x 120mm Left / Right Side: 4 x 120mm, 3 x 140mm
Radiator Support	Front: 1 x 120mm or 1 x 240mm or 1 x 360mm 1 x 140mm or 1 x 280mm Top: 2 x 120mm or 2 x 240mm or 2 x 360mm or 2 x 480mm 2 x 140mm or 2 x 280mm or 2 x 420mm Rear: 1 x 120mm or or 1 x 140mm Left / Right Side: 1 x 120mm or 1 x 240mm or 1 x 360mm or 1 x 480mm 1 x 140mm or 1 x 280mm or 1 x 420mm Bottom: 1 x 120mm or 1 x 240mm or 1 x 360mm or 1 x 480mm 1 x 140mm or 1 x 280mm or 1 x 420mm
Clearance	CPU cooler height limitation: 250mm VGA length limitation: 400mm(with ODD cage) 590mm(without ODD cage) PSU length limitation: 220mm (With Bottom Fan)

Thermaltake Level 20 XT Closer Look

I didn’t think I would review a case that weighed more than the GT, but with the XT tipping the scales at 20.4kg, this is the new heavyweight king! Removing the case from it’s box, and its easy to see why it’s so heavy….this thing is HUGE!

The base design of the XT mirrors that of the previously reviewed GT, but this time with a cube structure. Tempered glass again clads all four sides, with the top & sides able to be removed with the help of thumbscrews located at the back of the chassis.

The front panel comes away with a hefty tug, leaving the IO panel in situ. Speaking of the front IO, here we have all the essentials laid out front & centre, including a USB Type-C port, which should now be considered standard for any new case.

Removing the top panel exposes what has to be described as the biggest dust filter I have ever seen, running the entire length of the chassis. When you see what’s under it, you understand why it’s so big…there are mounts for 8, yes EIGHT 120mm fans in the roof!

With all panels removed, we start to see what we have to work with when we come to build inside the XT. The motherboard tray lies flat, with all the drive cages located directly underneath it. The tray itself is easily removed with thumbscrews, making motherboard installation a doddle.

With all the glass removed, I thought the chassis itself would be fairly light, but it really isn’t. There’s still a fair amount of weight, which proves the quality and thickness of steel used to construct the XT.

Everything located within the chamber is modular and can be relocated, or removed entirely. There’s an option of two different PSU locations, but with only 1 motherboard position, a dual system is out of the question.

The Thermaltake Level 20 XT Review: The Verdict

Building in the Level 20 XT was extremely easy, given the amount of space and access available. Build quality is as solid as it gets, but the downside to that is that the case weighs a ton…before you even start building components inside.

The space inside the double width chamber is positively cavernous, and for custom loop systems, the XT is going to be an absolute joy.

Building a non-custom loop system in this case really doesn’t do it justice, but for the purpose of completing a review that wasn’t feasible. Therefore, the components in our test build look a little lost inside the XT, but the pictures at least give you an idea of the sheer amount of space you have to play with.

Thermaltake Level 20 XT Floe Riing 240 2

There is a view into the system from every conceivable angle, thanks to the huge expanses of tempered glass that clad both sides, top and front. This adds to the weight tenfold but it’s a worthwhile trade off given how good it looks, inside and out.

Whilst this level of view-ability is one if it’s greatest selling points, it also brings with it the problem of hiding any unsightly cables. Given the open layout, and the horizontally mounted motherboard, there really is nowhere to hide cables easily. Whereas you could just stuff all the cables behind the motherboard tray, and slap on the rear panel in a conventional case, this is going to take a little bit more work to achieve a tidy look.

What’s hot:

Beautifully crafted with top-notch build quality & materials
Modular design giving lots of layout options
Makes a real statement, and will look amazing as a centrepiece in any custom loop setup

What’s not:

Only one fan included…and it’s not even LED
Tt missed a trick by not giving the option of housing a dual system inside

The Thermaltake XT is without a doubt a fantastic case to look at. For anyone wanting to make a statement with a drop-dead gorgeous, water cooled build, you need to look no further. The XT is a stunning piece of kit, and you will not be disappointed.