Computer cases are not things you often buy, as they tend to last for a long time, even if you upgrade all your hardware components. That's why a good computer case should be right at the top of your buying list when you decide to build your own computer. We've recently received a pre-made computer from ASUS, that used a new case made by them in collaboration with Cooler Master. It's called ASUS TUF Gaming GT301, and we were curious to discover how good it is for building a PC, what it looks like when all is mounted in it, and what its best features are. If you're also curious about the ASUS TUF Gaming GT301 computer case, read this review:
NOTE: We didn't receive the ASUS TUF Gaming GT301 case as new. ASUS sent us an already built computer that used this case. As such, we can't tell you everything about the unboxing or the PC building experience. We've disassembled and then reassembled the prebuilt computer that we've received to understand what this case has to offer.
Pros and cons
The ASUS TUF Gaming GT301 is a great choice for:
- People who want a mid-tower computer case that's also compact
- Gamers who use modern hardware for their computers
- Fans of RGB lighting
- Those who need proper air cooling for their PCs and don't want to spend more money on additional fans
- Users who appreciate PC cases with a clean and organized structure
There are also some downsides to consider:
- If you're using an AIO liquid cooler, it might hit your RAM modules
- There's no USB Type-C port on the front panel
- It has a price that's a bit higher than other similar computer cases on the market
Verdict
ASUS TUF Gaming GT301 is an excellent mid-tower computer case that manages to offer plenty of space, while still being compact. Not only does it look beautiful, but it's also well designed and made of high quality materials. There are a few shortcomings too, like the lack of a USB Type-C port on the front panel, but overall, ASUS TUF Gaming GT301 is a computer case that we warmly recommend to anyone looking to build their own PC.
Hardware specifications and design
The ASUS TUF Gaming GT301 is a mid-tower PC case that's made of steel, tempered glass, and ABS plastic. The side panel is made of tempered glass from top to bottom and lets you see everything inside, except for the power supply unit, which is hidden beneath a steel plate on the bottom. The case is 426 x 214 x 482 mm (16.77 x 8.43 x 18.98 in) in length x width x height, so it's slightly smaller than other mid-tower cases, which is why ASUS presents it as a compact case. However, as we've found out, it's quite roomy inside, and also quite heavy: 7.2 kg (15.87 pounds).
ASUS TUF Gaming GT301 comes with four pre-installed fans: 3 fans on the front and one fan on the back. They're all large 120 mm fans, and the ones on the front also have RGB lighting and are compatible with ASUS' Aura Sync software.
Unfortunately, none of the pre-installed fans are PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) fans. They're all DC (Direct Current) fans, so they're not the quietest you can get. In addition to the pre-installed ones, this case can host another two 120 mm fans on its top side.
There are also three different dust filters pre-mounted on the ASUS TUF Gaming GT301 case. One of them is on the top, one on the front, and another one on the bottom. The top one is magnetically attached to the case, so getting it out to clean it should be fast and easy. That's a really nice touch from ASUS!
Regarding space, we've mentioned a bit earlier that the ASUS TUF Gaming GT301 is a pretty roomy case. In detail, that means it can fit seven horizontal PCI-E slots. In terms of storage devices, it has four 2.5" bays and another two bays that can accommodate both 2.5" and 3.5" drives.
The maximum length of the graphics card you intend to mount in this PC case can go up to 320 mm (12.6 inches) in length, and the maximum processor cooler height can be 160 mm (6.3 inches). That's more than enough for even the largest graphics cards and CPU coolers.
On the front side of the case, there's a panel that includes a power button, a reset button, two USB ports, a 3.5 mm combo audio jack, and also an LED lighting control button. Pushing the latter switches the RGB lighting of the fans through a series of predefined effects, which is quite useful if you're not using software for that purpose.
Also, on the front side of the ASUS TUF Gaming GT301, there's a strap made of strong textile material. We suppose that it is there to put the accent on the fact that this is one TUF (tough) case. It does the trick, but some might like it better without the strap. Not a problem: you can simply take it out! 🙂
If you want to check all the specs and features of this computer case, visit its official webpage here: ASUS TUF Gaming GT301.
The ASUS TUF Gaming GT301 computer case looks beautiful, and its compact mid-tower size should be perfect for those who like keeping their computing machines on their desks. It looks sturdy and well built, and the materials used by ASUS appear to be high-quality. Furthermore, the four pre-installed fans are a nice addition that many will appreciate.
Building a PC inside the ASUS TUF Gaming GT301 case
The ASUS TUF Gaming GT301 case is great for first-time PC builders. It might not look extremely spacious from the outside, but, on the inside, the space is quite generous. Also, the attention to details is something you instantly notice.
The glass panel is easy to take out: two screws that you can handle without a screwdriver, and then you slide the panel out. The back panel, which is made of steel, is also easy to take out using the same procedure. Under it, there's plenty of space for cable management, although you might have to be a bit careful when running the power supply unit cables. That's because, under the back panel, there's also the place where the RGB connections are made.
Although ASUS didn't label everything inside the case, it's easy to see exactly where and what component to mount. We started with the motherboard, processor, and power supply unit. The standoff screws were easy to install and didn't require us to use any screwdriver or pliers to make them stay firm on the case.
Mounting the solid-state drive was also fast and easy, as we used a PCI Express model. There are also enough bays to mount SATA drives, regardless of whether they're 2.5" or 3.5". However, note that the 3.5" drives have to go under the back panel, inside a dedicated HDD cage near the power supply unit, and cable management can be a bit tricky if you add such drives. On the other hand, mounting such drives is easy, thanks to the click-type trays.
The ASUS TUF Gaming GT301 case is designed for modern computers, and, unfortunately, it doesn't let you use internal optical drives. There is no tray for that on the front panel, so you'll have to make do with an external USB optical drive if you want that.
After we mounted the motherboard, processor, power supply unit, and the PCIe solid-state drive, the RAM and graphics card were next. Obviously, the RAM was fast and easy. The graphics card we used was an ASUS TUF RTX 2060 GAMING OC. It's not a large component, so it was easy to put it in its place. However, larger graphics cards can fit inside this case without issues either: up to 320 mm (6.3 in) in length.
For the processor cooling, we had an ASUS ROG Ryuo 240 all-in-one liquid CPU cooler. The dimensions of the cooler's radiator are 272 x 121 x 27 mm (10.71 x 4.76 x 1.06 in), and it comes with two 120 mm fans on it. It's quite large, but it was a perfect fit on the top of the case, where it also provided excellent airflow. The only thing that we didn't quite like was the fact that, once mounted, the cooler made it practically impossible to take out the RAM DIMMs from their slots. It came a bit over the DIMM brackets so, if you want to get the DIMMs out, you must first unmount the cooler.
Finally, we did the cable management. It didn't take long because we didn't have too many cables running along, and we also had some zip ties that allowed us to properly group and hold the cables in place. One nice thing you have to know about this case is that it has some rubber grommets that protect the power supply cables that go to the motherboard and graphics card, and also make them look organized.
Once we finished mounting everything, it was time to find the right place for the computer and power it on. Because of the RGB lights and the nice looks of the ASUS TUF Gaming GT301 case, we wanted it to sit on the desk rather than under it. This is what we got:
Really nice looking! 🙂
The ASUS TUF Gaming GT301 is a beautiful case that deserves its place on a desk, where everyone can see it. It's compact and fits well on medium-sized desks, but it is also spacious inside, so it's easy to build your computer.
Do you like the ASUS TUF Gaming GT301 computer case?
Now you know more about the ASUS TUF Gaming GT301 computer case. You know we like it, and you know both its strengths and its shortcomings. Before closing this review, would you mind telling us your opinion about it? If you already have it, what do you like or dislike about the ASUS TUF Gaming GT301?
