The ASUS TUF Gaming Build

Now that we have covered all the parts of the build, it is on to the fun stuff. Adding the Intel Core i9-12900K to the board elicits feelings of awe, knowing of the processing power being inserted. Slotting in the SSD and making sure the heatsink is upright so that one can easily read the branding gives you a first glimpse of how the parts will end up fitting together. The same goes for the DDR5 memory with its orange highlights on black heatspreaders.


With the core of the system assembled, all the parts already make a very cohesive impression, and after a brief pause to admire the progress so far, it is on to prepping the unit with the LG1700 mounting kit from the TUF AIO.


Once that whole setup is inserted into the chassis, how spacious the TUF Gaming GT501 is shows. The 240 mm AIO seems a little small, but while it won't beat out bigger units and thus won't wrestle the Intel Core i9-12900K down to the lowest-possible temperature, it will be perfectly fine and functional.


Adding the GPU and thus 6th TUF-branded component to the mix makes that the GT501 is a roomy chassis even more apparent. And even though you won't see the Enermax PSU once the shroud is re-installed, the PSU bay also offers lots of room without getting close to the two hard-drive trays.


With all the TUF branded parts installed, the interior looks really cool. While plenty of people build color-coordinated systems, there are far fewer options to get the same branding on all the parts, which is possible with the TUF Gaming Alliance. On the back of the chassis, all the cables are neatly packed up and held in place by the three Velcro strips.