CONCLUSION

   The CR1288TG Full Tower by RIOTORO may not be the largest of its kind (far from it really) but it does offer plenty of room for you to mount lots of hardware inside including up to E-ATX sized mainboards, 8 fans (including the two of the PSU shroud) and/or 2 radiators (zero clearance issues with the top mounting area), 8 drives, 400mm long graphics cards, 180mm tall CPU coolers and 220mm power supplies. In terms of overall build quality, the CR1288TG does very well (with perhaps the exception of the fascia which made out of plastic) and the same applies for looks thanks to the three front RGB LED strips combined with the left side tempered glass panel (the red thumbscrews are also a good touch). Unfortunately for unknown reasons RIOTORO decided to bundle regular (non-LED) fans with the CR1288TG and although all that light show would probably not be very visible from the front fascia still, we think that it would further improve on its looks. The air-filters located on both the top (magnetic) and bottom (slide in/out) are also welcome as is the RGB fan hub which you can use with certain models to sync their colors with the front RGB LED strips.

   The RIOTORO CR1288TG Full Tower currently retails for a very attractive price tag of USD159.99 inside the USA (Amazon.com) and for 129Euros inside the EU (Amazon.co.uk). Of course, as already mentioned the CR1288TG is very similar to some of the larger mid-towers we’ve reviewed to date and so this price tag places it right in the middle of several such choices. At the end of the day the decisive factor might just be its looks (better than most of its direct competition), 3 pre-installed fans, tempered glass side panel (which for some people might be better than full tempered glass side panels), RGB fan hub and of course its room for up to 8 drives and a top 240/280/360mm radiator without any clearance issues. As for us we just think that RIOTORO should had used RGB fans and perhaps a higher quality fascia but other than that we feel covered by the CR1288TG which is why it gets our Golden Award.

PROS

- Overall Build Quality
- Looks (Tempered Glass Side Panel / 3 Forward RGB LED Strips)
- Spacious Interior (400mm Long Graphics Cards / 180mm Tall CPU Coolers / 220mm Long PSUs)
- Room For Up To 8 Drives (4x2.5” & 4x3.5” Or 8x2.5”)
- Three Pre Installed Fans (2x140mm/1x120mm)
- Space for Up To 8 Fans or Two 240/280/360mm Radiators (No Clearance Issues)
- Air Filters (Top Magnetic / Bottom Ones)
- RGB Fan Hub
- Price (For Some)

CONS

- Plastic Fascia
- “Plain” Pre Installed Fans