To be honest, I'm not too sure what year the one I looked at was from, I just saw it on the web page and ordered it according to the specs I read.  I just looked and they no longer have it listed, so I can't check on the hot swap details, but I do recall my supplier calling me about the cooler not fitting and opting for the other Level 10.  Anyway, I would research to see if the 2009 version would accommodate my mobo and take it from there... hopefully it'd fit cos I really, really like that case.

Quoting Jafo, reply 150

https://www.ramcity.com.au/buy/samsung-xp941-256gb-m.2-pcie-x4-80mm-ssd/MZHPU256HCGL-00000 

That's the 256 ...but I had a link somewhere to the same animal in 512 [in Oz] for under 600 ....dunno where...shall keep looking...

Wow, they really have come down in price since I last checked, I guess a couple of months ago... though I guess prices will vary some between various traders.  Still want a 512gb one, though, and maybe they'll be even less come mid-2015.

I think the $500-odd for the 512 was USD...it's $610.99 at Ram City.... but since that'll handle both the OS and my FSX I went with one of those.

FSX suffers from drive access times and CPU speed...so I think I now have that well and truly covered...;)

I should have the Box sometime today.  When I get it I'll measure whether it can be adapted for eATX without too much messing with a CIG spanner...;)

Still, [you may as well say] $611 isn't too bad for a 512gb PCIE SSD.  Not that long ago you were paying that and more for a 256gb.  It would add to the cost of my upgrade, but I'm figuring that if I go with that and the CPU, mobo and RAM, I'm likely to not ever need upgrade again, given it's pretty much as high-end as you can get these days.  Sure, something better and faster will come out in a few years, but unless it's something uberly spectacular, this gear would be more than enough to sate my PC needs 'til the cows come home.   Now all I gotta do is set up house again.... then start saving/economising like buggery to have the necessary funds.

I'll be interested to know how that works out - not that I'm planning to house an eATX board in one - but it may have a bearing on whether I end up getting a black version for my current Intel setup.... if one is gettable, that is..

Now I have to go take some pain meds... got injured trying to stop somebody smashing up a laptop at 5.00am this morning and ended up with a badly bruised right arm and 7 stitches in my elbow.... and now it's smarting some.

Okay, so I dunno if I'm too late with this, and I normally don't shop at or browse the Kogan online store, but I just [moments ago] saw a a Crucial 480gb M2 drive for $275.00 at Kogan.  It's only 22gb smaller and considerably less expensive than the one you were looking at... for that price you could even get 2 and still come out better off than going with the $611 one... with a shitload more storage space into the bargain.

Hope this helps save yer a few bob.

Now I'm going back to feeling sorry for myself... not really, but my elbow and lower right arm's throbbing like a SOB. 

Time for a shandy or six with near eff all lemonade.

Looks a bit 'confused'...calling itself 'sata 6gb' and 'M.2' .... they're 2 different animals.

Either way, the 512 is ordered and in the mail already...should have it by Friday at the latest...;)

So far what's been delivered are the 2 SSDs, the CPU and the GPU.... still hanging out for the rest...;)

So they are, 2 different animals, and the specs provided seem confused, but the drive pictured is definitely a PCIE SSD 6gb... not a SATA 6gb.

Oh well, your 512gb is in its way, so it's irrelevant to you [unless you want/need another], but I've bookmarked the page and will investigate when the time draws near to purchasing components.

Yeah, 'hanging out' is the term... hanging out the front window every 20 minutes and hanging on every delivery van to stop at your place... and when it doesn't, you go back to trying to be busy until the next scheduled hanging out the window arrives and you repeat the process over and over 'til 5.00pm.

Orright, maybe it's not that bad, but I know what you're going through... having read up on all those beautiful specs and positively itching to assemble them into a nice, new working machine to play with. 

Hmmm, that last bit is like rubbing salt into the wound, isn't it?

Well it doesn't look like I'll be able to get a Level 10 VL30001N1Z case anyplace anytime soon.  Just out of curiosity I searched dozens of sites Australia wide for one and every time the result came back "Currently Unavailable"  Apparently, while Thermaltake still manufactures them, dealers, suppliers - whatever you want to call them - just aren't making them available to traders/retailers... and thus the public.  So unless there's one hiding away in some obscure puter shop someplace, and it calls out to me over the internet or via SMS to go purchase it, me thinks I may have to settle for something else.... and there is this... a Coolermaster Cosmos II

I've not tried Coolermaster cases before, but I do like this one and would happily house my upgrade in one... and I've started saving already... put tuppence halfpenny in a tin.

One of my 'wanderings' found a closed/finished auction on ebay of a Level 10 for something like 2 and a half grand.... dunno if that's indicative of 'scarcity'...

The Limited Edition ones are ostensibly only 500 world-wide [40 to AU-NZ] and are numbered.  I found one in 'the second place I looked', but wasn't looking for the earlier vers... dunno if they might be able to be sourced down here...;)

http://www.ebay.com.au/sch/i.html/_W0QQ_sopZ12?_nkw=thermaltake%20level%2010&_fromfsb=0&_trksid=m270.l1313&clk_rvr_id=749732945615&adpos=1o1&treatment_id=3&crlp=59322362164_2421866&MT_ID=79&device=c&keyword=thermaltake+level+10&geo_id=32586&crdt=0 

Eek ....huge link....;p

Of my many wanderings thus far, so glad I didn't have to walk it, I've not had a single hit on anything remotely like the Level 10 I'd like.  Dozens of sites have them listed but none have any in stock, and seemingly can't get them, either.  I may have to resign myself to the fact I'm not going to get one.. unless I find a second-hand one somewhere, like at one of those weekend markets where techno geeks buy, swap, sell PC parts.

However, I do not want to be planning an upgrade on an if, a maybe or a wing and a prayer, so the Coolermaster Cosmo II case could very well be the go.. unless something changes with my preferred Level 10.  Anyway, I priced the key items, CPU, mobo, RAM, PCIE SSD and aforementioned case.  At current prices they would cost me $3090, but given the expected price drops over the next 6 - 8 months, I can reasonably expect to pay somewhat less come August, September 2015, which is when I guesstimate I'd be able to afford it.

Second delivery of 5 total [don't ask] arrived.  Now I have the CPU mounted to the X99 MoBo...and the brackets for the Noctua cooler [it's a big lump of a thing].

Quite impressed with the 'bits' so far....;)

I have the box!!!!  YAY.....;)

It's huge ....probably affects planetary orbits.

'Unboxed' was more blood-sweat-and-tears.... probably needs to be assisted by several beers....

It's darn impressive in the flesh.

I had to pick it up from the Parcel Depot....it was too heavy for The Aussie Post delivery [they'd have to get a bigger truck].  Pays to have a SAAB 9000 that's essentially a station wagon. the box was about 1000x1000x500 and weighs in at 50 pounds.

Now the 'fun' can begin....;)

Told you the cooler would be a big lump of at thing... mine is.  I'll bet that CPU and mobo look great... and I've got 8 - 9 months before I can cop an optic of mine in situ.  Oh well!

Yeah, they are quite large, aren't they!   Mine is also huge, and with all the components in it [includes 10 HDDs], it likely weighs in the vicinity of 90 - 100lbs.  Having done removals alot of my life I'm no weakling - even at 61 - but I have to brace myself and bend my poor aching knees before picking it up off the floor.  And yeah, I'll bet it's impressive up close and personal.  I saw the black version in person and instantly wanted one, but alas, it doesn't look like that's meant to be.

Sure there wasn't half a dozen illegal immigrants hiding in there?

Not long after getting back with the box the M.2 turned up....certainly speedy and efficient delivery.

Mounted it in its bracket [doesn't use a PCIe slot and card] ....tiny little thing...looks about the size of a Wrigley's stick of gum.... kinda makes SSDs seem 'archaic', huge as they are....;)

Board's in... but still waiting for the last delivery....the ram and the PSU.   Can't do a lot more until they're here.  Need to put the ram in...and finish cabling before the monster of a CPU fan/cooler goes in.

It's a done deal that any macines I build from now on will have that wider recess behind the MoBo tray  to hide all the wiring....cos looking at my old machine is just plain 'sad'....;)

Okay, if it doesn't use a PCIE slot, how does it draw power, transfer data, etc?  The SSD cards I've seen are PCIE mountable, so yeah, I'm curious.

I found with my Thermaltake cooler, which is very similar to yours, that it's easier to fit/install with the mobo out of the case... as in you need both hands: one to hold the cooler in place, and the other to put on the nuts and tighten them.  If you wait until the after the mobo is installed you'll find it's not so easy to install... so if I were you I'd take the mobo out again, place the cooler on the table/bench, then place to mobo over it, position properly and place/tighten nuts to hold in place. 

That is so much easier than trying to do it the other way... believe me.   True, once the cooler is in it doesn't leave alot of room to work in, but I've got big hands and managed it.  Thing is to have as much of the preliminary work done beforehand... such as installing the RAM and PSU, feeding the cables through the tray before installing the cooler and replacing the mobo... again, so much easier.

My level 10 doesn't have a huge space between the mobo tray and side cover, either, but I found the trick was to feed ALL the PSU cables through the back... except maybe the one that connects to the top ATX socket if not long enough to be fed up the outside and back in.  Once they're fed through you can feed them back tidily through their designated cable ports to connect to their corresponding components. Once you have done that there are tie loops to hold the cables in place.  If done properly the side cover will fit without issue and your cables are hidden.  Yeah, it is a time consuming, tedious job, but it can be done if you want a tidy, neat looking component compartment.

Oh and my arm is much better today... thanks for asking.

Nah, it's all good.  I have a partially fractured ulna [not broken all the way across] and some local bruising, but it's not as painful as yesterday and I've not needed any pain relief thus far.  I may take something before bed, however, just to make dozing off that bit easier.  Sadly, I can't look back in hindsight and rewind the tape, otherwise I'd job the bastard with a viscious left hand [thus saving myself the injuries] before taking the laptop off him.  That didn't escape unscathed, either.  It hit a mosaic tiled floor heavily when I was pushed off balance and through a door...now doesn't start up fully, but we're hoping the local techie can get it goung again for her.

I feel like I've broken a few bones....just man-handling the case....

Re the M.2 .... The ASUS board comes with a PCIe add-on card for one...but also has an onboard connector...which is where I hooked mine in....sticks up perpendicular to the board in its own metal bracket.....and when used pinches the channel of the PCIe 5 slot.  Certainly neater than filling up a PCIe.

I won't use the card unless I get eager and buy a second M.2 ....

Re the cooler... Noctua are clever enough to have the center fan pop out easily allowing straight access to the two locking 'screws' which are spring-loaded [captive].  It'll be simple 2 handed job to fit.....nothing like the V8 cooler in the old case...where I had to hacksaw a bigger hole in the mobo panel to access the brackets...yet again the Lian Li case was a slide-in tray...and the V8 was too big to slide...so it HAD to be done after the tray went in.

This time it's a drop-in tray...so no issues re size anyway....;)

Still waiting for picts..........

Okay, that's interesting, will look at that when I get around to building/upgrading mine around July - August 2015.  It seems like a great idea, though.  So, cos I'm not visualising it right now, would these addons/connectors make available those PCI/PCIE slots that are often made inaccesssible by large/multiple GPU cards?

So the Noctua has a mounting bracket that's fitted to the mobo before it's installed... and then the cooler is fitted?  With the Thermaltake in my AMD machine, the mounting pins are connected to the cooler and must be poked through the designated holes in the mobo.  Once through, you need to hold the cooler in one hand while placing the nuts on the pins and tightening them... and with one pair of hands you need extra long arms or pretty near be a contortionist to be on both sides of the case at once.... hence I used the above method to make it easier on myself.

Oh well, it seems you have it under control... and the tidy [hardly seen] cabling is possible with a bit of Percy Verance.  I met him in my early PC days when cases weren't at all cabling friendly.  I managed to get some pretty decent results even back then, but these modern cases are so much easier to work with, and if you use the cable holes wisely you can pretty much hide the majority of cabling between the mobo tray and side cover, with just a few cables intruding inside for the mobo, GPU and any 3rd party cards requiring power.

Yes.

As I said earlier...Yrag put me on to their stuff ....and since using it I'll probably stick with them in preference.  They don't go in for 'bling' ....just function...;)

Yeah, I know what you mean... it does leave too much to the imagination, and at my age I dunno if I have alot of that left.

Thing is, I also know what it's like to have a new case and a heap of super-duper stuff to put in it. 

It's like: "Fech the photographs, let's get this baby together... NOW!!!

With a bit of luck we may get to see some piccies of this beastie soon... hint, hint.

Okay, that's handy to know for future reference... cos that Thermaltake cooler was a mongrel to install.  One thing is assured!  The bastard ain't coming out again.  No siree, it's staying right where it is... permanently.  Why Thermaltake didn't design it with a mounting bracket is beyond me.  I mean, with their time and experience in the PC hardware industry, surely they could have seen it was the best way/solution to installing it. 

Oh well, it's not something that will concern me again.  The next build/upgrade will have either Corsair or Coolermaster liquid cooling, which is easy to fit and isn't so large and cumbersome, thus allowing for better airflow within the case in the absence of all that bulk. 

Yup, the Thermaltake cooler is a BIG lump of a thing... like Avanda Manstone but much prettier. 

starkers, i have but one word for ya ........ thermaltake.    you knew that was coming, didn't ya?

There it is....size of a small city....full of 'clever bits' and the number '221' onit...;)

The 'innards'.

The masking tape holds the CPU cover in place so I don't inadvertently get grubby fingers on the back of the cpu .... it's in...as is the cooler bracket.... just waiting on the Ram so it can go in and then the Cooler.

That 'thing' just to the right of the 'A' in ASUS is the vertical M.2 hooked straight into the MoBo ...just 'above' the first pair of SATAs.

From the look of it, the only thing stopping an eATX from 'fitting' is lack of screw-hole layout for the standoffs to the right ...and the cable holes would be half covered.  I reckon with a bit of DIY I could have used the Rampage Extreme afterall.  Doesn't come anywhere near the inlet fan at all...;)

    That's big alright. Seeing it on your bench gives it a better sense of scale.  I'd need to install additional floor supports under my trailer just to hold it up!

Really nice, Paul. Congrats.

Quoting MadDeez, reply 172

starkers, i have but one word for ya ........ thermaltake.    you knew that was coming, didn't ya?

 

Yup, I knew it was coming.  In fact I'm surprised it didn't come about 10 - 15 posts ago. 

You're slacking off, John, you're slacking off.

Thing is, I've had a good run with Thermaltake products and have enjoyed using them.

Yes, they could have designed that cooler better, making it easier to install, but thus far that'd be my only complaint.

But on a scale of 1 to 10, my satisfaction level is 9.9999 and I'd have no hesitation using Thermaltake products again.

However, as much as I'd love to have a case like Paul's, preferably in black, my next one is likely to be a Coolermaster Cosmos II.

I very much like it's design, the cooling options and additional HDD space in the lower compartment.

Yessssss... the more I think about it.........