The TUF Gaming GT302 ARGB is a Mid Tower PC case that supports motherboards up to EATX size, graphics cards up to 407mm in length, and power supplies up to 220mm long. This case allows us to build a fairly large system. The dimensions of the case itself are 235520485 mm. Cooling has been well thought out here – the case features mesh panels on almost every side, four built-in 140mm ARGB LED-lit fans, and we can add more fans or a CPU cooling system up to 360mm in size.
The parts of the case are easily removable without the need for a screwdriver. It’s also worth mentioning that this is a product from the ASUS BTF series.
The PC case comes in a huge box featuring both a picture of the case and its full specifications. The product is securely packed between sturdy styrofoam sheets, ensuring it won’t be easily damaged during transportation. Inside the box, along with the case, is a small accessory box containing screws, cable ties, a vertical GPU mount, and a manual. Dust filters and fans are already pre-installed in the case, so you won’t need to screw or install them yourself.
Useful Features
- The case has excellent cooling design, with almost all panels perforated and equipped with dust filters. One side of the case is covered with a tempered glass panel.
- Four 140mm ARGB-lit PWM fans are included by default – three mounted at the front of the case and one at the rear.
- Thoughtfully designed cable management openings.
- Supports the installation of 2 x 2.5″ and 2 x 3.5″ devices.
- The front panel includes 2 x USB-A ports, 1 x USB-C port, and 3.5mm audio ports.
- Can accommodate a CPU cooler up to 165mm tall, a power supply up to 220mm long, and a graphics card up to 407mm long.
- The top can hold a radiator for a CPU cooling system up to 360mm in size.
The case is available in both black and white colors. We received the white version for review, along with some other white ASUS BTF series components, which will be reviewed soon.
In the product description, ASUS states that this case conveys “Cool Confidence,” and you can visually see it. The design is well thought out to ensure efficient airflow into and out of the case. Only one side is covered with a single glass panel, while all other sides are perforated. The side panels can be swapped, as they are identical in size. However, in practice, you likely won’t want to hide your sleek wireless PC setup from view.
The entire front of the case, beneath the meshed cover, is occupied by three massive 140mm fans, with a fourth fan mounted at the back. Together, these fans create significant airflow.
Almost all panels of the case are easy to remove and even disassemble further. This makes it incredibly quick and simple to access the interior for cleaning dust. For example, you can easily “pop off” the top panel to access and clean the dust filter, which slides out of the panel, or clean the CPU cooling radiator. You can install a radiator up to 360mm in size, and the installation process is remarkably straightforward.
Dust filters can be found on the front, top, and underneath the power supply unit (PSU) of this case.
The panels are attached to the case with specific clips, which are both an advantage and a disadvantage. The good news is that these clips make removing and reattaching the panels convenient and fast. The downside is that they aren’t overly secure, and if you have too many cables behind the motherboard, they might push the panel open. This was something I noticed in my test setup. The only solution is to fasten the cables tightly and press them against the inner frame. On the other side, the case can accommodate CPU coolers up to 165mm in height.
The front panel of the case features two USB-A ports, one USB-C port, a 3.5mm audio jack, a power button, and a reset button.
As shown in the image below, the front panel is also easy to remove, and it includes a detachable dust filter. This is a great design because large fans tend to attract a lot of dust, and you’ll want to clean it regularly.
The power supply will also benefit from good cooling, as the case is vented on one side and the top. As you can see, this case is well-designed for cooling, with airflow moving through it effectively.
The removable air filter under the power supply can be seen in the image. The case also has sturdy legs with rubber pads. This raises the case by a few centimeters from the desk or floor, allowing for better cooling, and the rubber pads prevent it from being accidentally pushed out of place. On flat surfaces, this case stays firmly in place. Additionally, the PSU sits on rubber strips, which reduce vibration and slightly improve cooling.
Overall, I find this case to be well-built, sturdy (read: heavy), highly functional, and tastefully designed. It would fit nicely on the desk for those who like neutral and single-color lighting (such as white) or for those who want their PC to shine in all the colors of the rainbow.
Now, let’s focus on cable management in this case. Despite being a BTF case, you can also install non-BTF components, and even in that case, the cables can be successfully hidden under special plastic covers and routed behind the motherboard. There are plenty of holes for this, and they seem to be placed in the right spots.
The other side of the case is also designed to keep cables in place. In the central cable channel, you can secure them with velcro straps, and on the backside, you can hook them behind special plastic clips. In the image below, pay attention to the PSU area—there isn’t much space for cables. However, the good news is that you can unscrew the HDD holder, and then there will be plenty of room for cables behind the PSU. Another thing to consider is that cable lengths vary, so it can take some effort to neatly route them through the cable channels. Additionally, the issue I mentioned earlier, where standard CPU and motherboard power cables take up too much space, could cause the side panel to pop open.
The case comes pre-wired with cables for the front panel and fans, so you’ll only need to connect them to the motherboard. Another detail worth mentioning is that ASUS has pre-installed screws on the case base, which are used to mount the motherboard. It’s a small thing, but it’s nice to have!
You can mount two 2.5″ devices (like SSDs) in special trays and screw them vertically to the case wall or place them in the 2.5″/3.5″ bay below. If you’re only using NVMe SSD storage, you can unscrew these elements to create more space for cables and slightly improve airflow within the case.
One thing this case does not include is a fan controller. You can find many cheaper cases that have one built-in. It’s up to you to decide how important that is since you can still connect the fans directly to the motherboard. ASUS even includes cables that allow you to combine the power and control of the fans into a single connection to the motherboard.
Case Performance
But how does this case actually perform in practice? Visually, it’s sleek and attractive, that’s clear. The airflow and ventilation should also be well handled, as this case is very “open” and comes factory-equipped with substantial fans. However, these fans can become noticeably loud. The good news is that larger fans can be run at lower speeds, making them quieter while still providing ample airflow to cool our components.
We built the test PC using the hot and power-hungry Intel Core i9-1400K processor on an ASUS TUF GAMING Z790-BTF WIFI motherboard. For the graphics side, we used the equally powerful ASUS TUF Gaming GeForce RTX 4070 Ti SUPER BTF White OC Edition graphics card. During our standard tests, we found that the processor could exceed 90 degrees Celsius for short periods, but the motherboard’s temperature remained under 48 degrees (on the VRM side), and the graphics card maintained an acceptable 77 degrees Celsius. So, the cooling in this case really works well. However, since the case is “open,” the fans can be heard quite clearly. Also, you’ll need to move the PC away from curtains, as the large front fans tend to pull them into the case. True story!
Conclusions: An Excellent Premium Mid-Tower PC Case!
I would like to say that the ASUS TUF Gaming GT302 ARGB has turned out to be an excellent premium-class Mid Tower-sized PC case. It is spacious, solidly (read: high-quality) built, stylish, and features exceptionally good ventilation, easy accessibility, and a well-rounded standard setup. The case comes pre-installed with four large fans, providing genuinely effective cooling. This is also a part of the ASUS BTF series, allowing you to create a very clean and elegant PC, where almost no cables are visible, as they are all hidden behind the motherboard. The price of around $150 for this case is not cheap, but I can assure you it is a worthwhile purchase!
