Customer Ratings & Reviews

If you are looking for a non-gaming PC that is reliable, quick and great at multitasking, look no further than this Ryzen 5 ASUS mini tower. It’s a nice looking machine that looks tasteful and elegant (i.e. no bright lights - although I do like those). However, it comes with some performance trade-offs and limits to upgradeabiliity. IN THE BOX You get the PC, a power cable, and a basic (i.e. replace immediately) keyboard and mouse. No video cables, no monitor. The keyboard and mouse are fine to get it setup and running, but is not something I would use on a daily basis - I’m kind of a keyboard and mouse snob. SETUP I always like mentioning setup, even though as a Windows PC, it’s a pretty standard affair. It’s like every other Windows PC setup. It takes about an hour when you factor in the updates and logging in, etc. But I ran into no issues. I was up and running relatively quickly and I really liked the one-click registration process through ASUS (I’m not sure why I do it, I’ve never had to call support or anything, but it makes me feel good in case I need to). DESIGN AND AESTHETICS The tower is somewhat bland, it’s more of a dark brown color, but there’s a fake wood grain on the front that gives it a contemporary modern look. I find it attractive while understated. In the front you get a headphone jack, two USB-A ports (the rectangle kind) and USB-C. On the back it has 3 additional USB ports, Gigabit ethernet, 7.1 channel audio jacks, and a HDMI 2.1b port and DisplayPort 1.4. It runs really quiet, I don’t know the decibels, but you can’t hear it and it’s designed that way. It’s not distracting in any way. SPEED AND PERFORMANCE It’s powered by an AMD Ryzen 5 processor and 16GB of DDR5 RAM. It feels really quick for everyday tasks. Booting up or waking it up from sleep is extremely quick. You can easily run dozens of browser tabs, stream videos, and manage your workspace tools simultaneously without any sacrifice to its performance. Using it as a home office computer designed to handle basic tasks, it’s more than adequate. We use it as a family computer for everyone to have access and it switches profiles, loads programs, etc. extremely fast. The performance in that regard is superb. GAMING PERFORMANCE This is where this computer lags, and that’s honestly by design. But if you’re like me, and your kids might use it for some gaming, it’s important to know its limitations. It has an integrated Radeon 740M graphics chip. It handles light titles, like Minecraft, Roblox or casual games without any problems at 1080p (we are using a 1080p monitor with it). I downloaded a few other games, like Bioshock Infinite and Lego Builder’s Journey. Bioshock crashed, I couldn’t get it to open, while I could play Builder’s Journey at the lowest graphics settings pretty seamlessly. Point being, your mileage will vary, but you will most certainly have to lower the graphics settings (pretty low) to be able to get smooth performance. The same rationale will apply to video editing. While I did not install any video editing software like Adobe, please know that there will be extreme limitations to anything requiring a lot of GPU power. UPGRADEABILITY It comes with a standard 500GB in the form of M.2 storage. The SSD is extremely quick (see the boot times mentioned above). It’s plenty of storage for most people, but you might need additional storage. Luckily, there’s an additional M.2 slot in the motherboard. You can also install a standard 3.5 inch HDD as there’s enough space in the chassis for it. Taking off the cover is easy and doesn’t require any tools. When you open it, you’ll find a LOT of open space. This helps with cooling and sound. But the only things I would recommend upgrading would be the storage space (swapping out the included 500 GB M.2 or adding a second). You can also swap out the RAM sticks (assuming you get new ones at a decent price) as the system can handle up to 64 GB of DDR5 RAM. While the motherboard does feature a standard PCI expansion slot for dedicated GPUs, I don’t believe this PC was intended for that purpose. The power supply is very modest at only 180W, so any GPU would need to be low powered or you’d have to swap that out. Plus, while there is space in the chassis for a GPU, technically, I would imagine it would get pretty hot and potentially overheat the unit. Bottomline, you could upgrade the storage and RAM now or down the road, but don’t expect to add a GPU - if that’s your plan, I’d look at other options. CONCLUSION If you’re looking for an elegant machine with snappy performance for everyday tasks such as work, web browsing, media consumption, look no further than this ASUS mini tower. It runs really quiet with upgradeable storage and RAM. But don’t treat it as a blank canvas to really push its capabilities beyond its intended use case of everyday type computing needs.

This is my first non-gaming desktop PC from ASUS. It is compact, lightweight, and surprisingly powerful for an entry-level mini tower. It comes with a USB keyboard and mouse, but doesn’t include a monitor, so you will need to supply your own. The exterior of the rig is all metal with a faux wood faceplate that wraps around the front left-hand side. This not only looks modern and sleek, it also doubles as ventilation for the tower, as there is an air gap and vents behind it. The power button and status LED are located on the front towards the top-right corner and below it are the mic/headphone combo port and 2x USB-A 3.2 and 1x USB-C 3.2 port. At the rear, there are an HDMI 2.1, DisplayPort 1.4, USB-A 3.2, 2x USB-A 2.0, Ethernet jack, and audio I/O jacks. The left-hand panel of the tower is removable by loosening the two thumbscrews securing it, and they do not have to be fully removed. The panel can be further secured with a padlock, and the tower has a Kensington lock slot as well. Inside, you'll find one 16 GB DDR5 5600MHz RAM chip with an additional slot free, which is upgradable to up to 64 GB. A 512 GB PCIe Gen 4 m.2 SSD is pre-installed with a second m.2 slot available for additional storage. There is also one PCIe 5.0 slot open on the board, though you may be limited in your options due to its low powered 180-Watt power supply. The PC supports WiFi-AX (WiFi 6) and Bluetooth 5.4 connections for fast stable and reliable wireless connections to your home network and peripheral devices. The machine runs on the AMD Ryzen 5 220 CPU with 3.2 GHz base clock, 4.9 GHz boost max and 6 cores over 12 threads. It has Radeon 740M integrated graphics which is suitable for casual gaming though doesn’t have enough power to render contemporary AAA titles at max video settings. I was able to play Counterstrike 2 at medium-high graphics with smooth motion at 60 fps. I also played Warframe at medium graphics and experienced framerates above 100, although visuals were blurry and smeary at times, with numerous dropped frames and stutters during fast-paced action. Unfortunately, I was unable to launch Halo Infinite due to the unsupported GPU. I found the bootup time for this PC a bit slow, but once it’s on, I didn’t experience any slowdowns or lag during use, even while using multiple applications and background processes running for everyday tasks. I can comfortably browse the Internet, check email, use word processing and spreadsheets, and even consume streaming content like music and video without any performance issues. The tower is basically silent, even when under heavy load, for example, while gaming or exporting video. There’s virtually no fan noise from the unit, and there’s plenty of ventilation on the bottom and sides, although the tower itself seems to generate very little heat. The included optical mouse is basic, as is the full-size keyboard with 10-key numpad. The keyboard should be plugged into the left-hand USB 2.0 port at the back, as this port lets it wake the computer up from sleep mode. That also leaves the other high-speed ports free to power or charge devices that can utilize the extra bandwidth, like USB storage drives. Note that the keyboard is not backlit, though it does have a dedicated Co-Pilot launch key as well as one that I couldn’t identify next to the mute key. It looks like a waveform and pressing it simply brought up a message on screen that the “feature was not supported on the current device,” though I couldn’t figure out what it was meant to do. Overall, the VM501 is a decent basic desktop computer that would work well for work, school, and even light gaming. It’s lightweight with a small footprint and focuses on productivity and efficiency, prioritizing cool, silent operation while delivering enough power to multi-task and run more intensive processes like generative AI.

I picked up this desktop as a media server for my entertainment room and I think it will do a pretty good job. It's a very simple design and the tower itself is mostly empty which makes for easy cleaning and hopefully simple leads to long lasting. The processor is plenty fast and has a remote heat sink on the back of the case which should keep it cool enough. There is a video card slot for adding a card but I'm still trying to figure out how much power the board can send through the slot. There is a port on the motherboard labeled 'VGA power' but it's a proprietary plug and I can't seem to find a cable for it online. So if you intend on adding a video card to this your options will be limited. The power supply is only 180w but that should leave well over 100w for a future card. The performance of this as it comes is plenty for any office work or light video browsing. It's not great for newer games but no computer at this price point would be. For my purpose of watching videos on a TV or possibly playing lighter games I think it will do just fine. The system does come with power cord, keyboard and mouse. It has built in WIFI and Bluetooth with internal antenna which will limit range a little but I had no problem connecting to everything and I like the clean look of not seeing antenna exposed. The front of the case is also a very nice classical finish that will look good sitting on the shelf in my entertainment center. Overall I think this is a great option that comes with a nice SSD (easily upgraded later if desired), 16GB in 1 stick which is great for upgrading when DDR5 prices come back to earth in the future. I'm very happy with this computer and would recommend it to anyone who needs a good solid workhouse or good looking computer in a smaller size.

This ASUS VM501 Desktop with AMD Ryzen 5 220, 16GB Memory and 512GB Storage is great for home and everyday use. It is best for all the things a lot of users do today, including web browsing, email, streaming, mild gaming, office applications like word processing, spreadsheets, presentations, and scanning/pdf files. Graphics software runs pretty good on this desktop too. This desktop has a built in graphics card, but paired with the AMD processor, the graphics card in this desktop is more powerful than if it was paired with another type of processor, so it’s not so bad. In the box: Asus VM501 Desktop, power cord, wired keyboard, wired mouse, paperwork. Setup: All that had to be done to set the desktop up was plug in the keyboard, mouse, and power cord. Once plugged up, connect the monitor and turn it on. It’s ready to go. Ports/Outputs/Connectors: 1 Display Port 1.4 1 HDMI 2.1 I USB C 3.2 3 USB A 3.2 2 USB A 2.0 Microphone Input WiFi 6 Bluetooth 1 Ethernet Port 2 Memory Slots The desktop has a small footprint. I really like that it’s small and not too heavy. The case looks really nice, neat, and not complicated. The keyboard has a number pad on it. That is plus on the keyboard. The mouse is a standard wheel mouse. Summary: This ASUS VM501 is a really great middle range system. It lacks only in the video card being integrated and not stand alone. This system will run most all software that home users and students use. It boots up fast, and seems to have it all that any home office, school just general home use.

The Asus VM501 is a small desktop footprint. It is a 15L tower design and it is lightweight. Moving it around my home office is easy, trying to find a good spot for it. It has a tool-less design, meaning you do not need a screwdriver to open it up. The thumb screws are easily turned and they stay on so you cannot lose them. I was curious as to what upgrades this tower can offer. The power supply is a Huntkey HK280-75PP. Googling it tells me it has an output of 180W. Not much to work with if you want to upgrade the GPU. Also looks like this a proprietary connector so you cannot swap it out with something larger. This is a compact size, not standard PSU size. If you want to upgrade to a discrete GPU card, make sure you don’t get one that needs power, you cannot power it. You can probably try an Intel Arc A310 or maybe nVidia RTX3050. I would just leave it alone or look elsewhere if you are going to want to game with this. You cannot install a large/long card anyway so selection is limited plus additional costs. With that said, I tried to play Marvel Rivals on Steam. The results were not that great. You may be able to play less demanding games. This is not marketed for gaming anyway but I was curious and wanted to share what I found. What's great is the NVMe storage is a fairly good one. It comes with a WD SN5000S 512GB drive. It can boot up fast and onto your desktop. I removed unnecessary software and was able to get back just under 5GB of storage. I was able to regain just under 1GB of ram under idle usage. This has an integrated GPU so your system RAM is shared with it. This has two slots for SO-DIMM RAM (laptop). One is occupied by a 16GB Samsung DDR5 5600. You can get a matching RAM stick so it runs in dual channel but RAM cost are a bit high at the moment. But you have the option since it comes with an available slot. This is not common but welcomed option. As for performance with the hardware I mentioned, it's not bad. For daily tasks like web browsing and emails, this computer can handle those easily. Nowadays, you do not need to install software since many run as web applications. All you need is an internet connection which this has 1GB ethernet port and Wifi6 with bluetooth (AW-XB547NF). There is an additional 2280 NVME slot if you want to add more storage. I wouldn’t add or improve the internal components. I would spend the money on a nicer keyboard and mouse. With bluetooth capability, get yourself a nicer wireless keyboard and mouse to reduce desk clutter. This desktop is already small and would compliment with nicer keyboard/mouse setup. For basic use, this is a nice computer. It has HDMI and Display Port for monitor.

Asus managed to pack a nice system into a small 15L tower with well rounded corners to blend into modern living spaces while having clean lines to make it easy on the eyes when in open areas. This alone makes it a perfect machine to setup for use as a home entertainment system for films and shows. This system also works a perfect every day use machine for work, studies, homework, and other research. While it has Wi-Fi, it is not gen 7 and still compliant with today’s Wi-Fi capabilities via gen 6. The unit does not ship with a high-end GPU, but does have the slot available for one. It does have an onboard GPU, AMD Radeon that serves more than well inline with the unit’s design intent for “surfing” the internet and streaming as noted. The system does have Bluetooth capabilities built into as a standardized option. Overall system testing reflects quick and responsive as well as reliable, but may not be suitable heavy demand type work that requires more than normal workload. Cooling during heavy to normal use has been very quiet and not overly annoying for open areas. The shipped mouse and keyboard are wired, one small change to create a truly native wireless environment to work from home on a large screen in a comfortable setting.

The ASUS VM501 Desktop is not the kind of machine that immediately tries to impress with oversized cooling, RGB lighting, or a dedicated graphics card. Instead, it takes a much quieter approach. The compact tower has an elegant look, helped by its wraparound wood veneer-style finish and clean minimalist front panel. It feels more at home in a finished reception area, guest room, home office corner, or family workspace than tucked under a gamer’s desk. That first impression matters because this desktop seems designed around simplicity. It is the sort of system that can be placed beside an existing monitor, connected to a keyboard and mouse, and used without much thought. For basic Windows use, web browsing, office apps, streaming, schoolwork, business access, and light household tasks, the VM501 fits the role of a clean, low-power desktop that does not demand much from the space around it. Opening the case gives a better sense of what ASUS is doing here. This is not a traditional high-performance tower, but it also does not feel completely disposable. Internally, the layout is clean and accessible. The motherboard uses laptop-style SO-DIMM memory, an M.2 NVMe SSD, a modular Wi-Fi card, and an open PCIe slot. The power supply is compact and limited, but the overall layout leaves room to service or modestly upgrade the machine later. Internal hardware observed Inside this unit, the major components appear to match the advertised configuration: • AMD Ryzen 5 220 processor with integrated Radeon graphics • 16GB DDR5 SO-DIMM memory, with one additional memory slot open • 512GB WD PC SN5000S NVMe SSD • Modular Wi-Fi/Bluetooth card with antenna leads • Open PCIe 4.0 x16-length expansion slot • Huntkey 180W 80 Plus Bronze power supply • Compact OEM ASUS motherboard labeled for the VM501MH platform The lack of a dedicated GPU is the main thing buyers should understand before choosing this system. Integrated graphics have become much more capable than they used to be, and for everyday computing, they are often enough. But this is not a desktop meant for serious gaming, heavy 3D work, or GPU-accelerated creative workloads. The empty PCIe slot may make the system look more expandable than it really is, but the 180W power supply keeps expectations grounded. Reasonable upgrade options The VM501 does have some practical upgrade potential, as long as the upgrades stay within the original spirit of the machine. The most reasonable upgrade would be adding a second DDR5 SO-DIMM module. With one memory slot open, increasing the memory could help multitasking and may also improve integrated graphics performance if the system moves from single-channel to dual-channel memory. That is probably the cleanest and most sensible upgrade path. The NVMe SSD is also replaceable. The included 512GB drive is enough for basic use, but users with larger local storage needs could move to a 1TB or 2TB M.2 SSD without changing the overall character of the system. A low-power, slot-powered graphics card may be possible, but this is where I would be cautious. The PCIe slot is there, but the 180W PSU does not leave much headroom for a full 75W slot-powered GPU. Something in the lower-power range would make more sense than trying to turn this into a gaming desktop. I would not buy this machine with the expectation of replacing the power supply or building it into a high-performance tower. That distinction is important. This system is serviceable, but it is not a blank canvas for major power-hungry upgrades. The more I used and inspected the VM501, the more it made sense as a modern endpoint machine. In a small business, it could serve as a clean front-desk computer, a kiosk, a browser-based workstation, or a remote desktop access point. In a home, it could be a simple guest desktop, a family computer, a schoolwork station, or a quiet system used to access files from a NAS or heavier compute from another machine on the network. That perspective helps make the design feel more intentional. Not every computer needs to carry the heaviest compute locally anymore. Between cloud software, remote desktops, home servers, NAS storage, and dedicated gaming or AI systems elsewhere in the house or office, a compact desktop like this can work well as the user-facing access point. The value question still matters. More desktops and laptops are arriving with integrated graphics only, and prices do not always feel as modest as the hardware suggests. Buyers should know that the VM501’s value is not in raw graphics performance. It is in its clean design, compact footprint, low-power operation, easy setup, and some modest internal serviceability. The ASUS VM501 is best understood as a polished everyday desktop, not a performance tower. It looks good, stays simple, and offers enough internal access to avoid feeling sealed or disposable. For the right space and the right workload, that makes it a respectable little machine. But anyone shopping for gaming performance, heavy GPU compute, or large upgrade headroom should look elsewhere.

Wasn't expecting much from this PC but hey, I was pleasantly surprised by what it could handle. Still don't know why Asus refuses to put a intake fan in the front of their build but that is a minor gripe with this one. Let's start with how this looks. Very clean and it was girlfriend approved to be in the living room next to the TV. It is super quiet as long as you are not trying to play a game on it. Plex and basic entertainment is done very smoothly and not a peep out of it. Handled my hi bit rate 4K movies from Plex without a hiccup except for one movie that I have that tends to make everything that attempts to play it crash. Super light weight so it will be easy to move around in case you need to keep finding a spot to put it to keep your partner happy.😉The AMD Ryzen 5 220 w/ Radeon 740M Graphics was not on my bingo card to be a decent base with just a single so-dimm stick of 16GB of ram. I like what AMD is doing and Asus is impressing me with the quality of their builds. I really can't pick this apart. It is a solid PC with the components it has. Solid 8 out of 10.

Summary I've spent some time using the ASUS VM501MHC desktop for everyday work, and it has been exactly what I expected. It isn't built for gaming or demanding creative work, but for web browsing, office tasks, streaming, and general productivity, it feels quick, reliable, and surprisingly refined. I work remotely a lot, so it works well with our Azure Virtual Desktop solution. Product Overview This ASUS desktop is designed for people who simply need a dependable desktop that works every day without fuss. It comes with an AMD Ryzen 5 processor, 16GB of DDR5 memory, a 512GB PCIe Gen 4 SSD, integrated Radeon graphics, Windows 11 Home, and built-in Wi-Fi 6. Those aren't headline-grabbing specifications, but they're well balanced for everyday computing and make the system feel responsive right out of the box. Design & Build Quality The first thing that caught my attention wasn't the performance—it was the way the desktop looks. Instead of another plain black tower, ASUS gave the front panel a dark wood-style finish that makes it feel much more elegant. It blends into a home office much better than most budget desktops. The compact chassis doesn't take up much room, and everything feels solidly put together. It isn't flashy, but it doesn't need to be. It looks like a computer designed to be used every day rather than shown off. Performance For the kind of work this machine is meant to do, I've been impressed with how responsive it feels. Windows boots quickly, applications launch almost instantly, and juggling multiple browser tabs, Office documents, and streaming music never slowed it down. The benchmark results back up that experience. CPU performance is strong for productivity, while the SSD helps keep the entire system feeling snappy. The integrated Radeon graphics are the weakest part of the system, but that's exactly what I expected before buying it. They're perfectly adequate for watching videos, browsing the web, and everyday tasks, just not for modern gaming or demanding video editing. Setup was incredibly easy. The only part I found frustrating was Microsoft's insistence on pushing passkeys and online account features during the initial setup. Once that was out of the way, everything else went smoothly. Pros • Feels fast and responsive during everyday use • Attractive dark wood-style front panel stands out from typical office PCs • Quiet operation with a compact footprint • Fast SSD keeps Windows and applications loading quickly • Perfect for office work, browsing, streaming, and home use Cons • 512GB of storage fills up faster than I'd like • I would have preferred 32GB of memory for better future-proofing • Integrated graphics limit gaming and creative workloads • The price is a little high considering the hardware Value I knew exactly what I was getting, so none of the compromises were surprises. While I would personally choose a model with more memory, additional storage, and dedicated graphics next time, the VM501MHC delivers exactly what it promises. If your workload revolves around everyday productivity, it offers a smooth and dependable experience. Final Verdict After using this stylish ASUS desktop, I can confidently recommend it to students, home users, and anyone who spends their day working in Office applications, browsing the web, attending video meetings, or streaming content. It isn't trying to be a gaming powerhouse, and that's perfectly fine. It feels quick, looks better than most desktops in its class, and has been a dependable computer to use every day. Even though I'd personally buy something with higher specifications next time, I honestly couldn't ask this machine to do much more than what it was designed for.

The Asus VM501 packs all the essentials for your day to day needs in a very sleek, light weight chassis. And while Asus is known for making quality products it is important to understand the direction this unit is going and its capabilities. Out of the box the very first thing i noticed was how light this PC is. When i say light i mean i was able to easily pull this thing out with just one hand and no effort. Out of the box you get everything you need to get you started minus a monitor. Jumping right in to it this thing is lightening quick when it comes to my day to day task. The 16gb of DDR5 Ram means you get the newest and quickest memory out there to help you move from tab to tab while live streaming a Google Meets call. This meant i could live stream my projections and forecast through my meets calls and pull up videos with no effort or lag. My calls did not drop out or gave me the impression that they would. Now with that being said understand there are some limitations. For general day to day task like meet calls or drafting needs this unit is a beast and is going to blast through it no problem. If your trying to video edit this PC will handle it but keep in mind it will cause a bit of a struggle and it can be seen in the form of rising temps. Rising temps does make me a bit concerned as the unit only has one noticeable fan (unless i missed one) and what appears to be a single pipe heat sink. Now temps never were an issue and they never ran more than 70 deg. Celsius, its just something i personally worry about. Your not going to be able to 3d edit and AAA gaming is not going to happen on this unit as it has a integrated graphics card. Upgrading this unit in the form of adding more hardware really isn't possible unless your wanting to upgrade the motherboard. The unit does come with preset spacers and looks like it will accept a mini atx board. You can build off of this chassis but that's not really what its meant for. This is meant to be a quick, affordable, powerhouse, that won't break the bank and hand handle your day to day needs.

Disclaimer: The ASUS VM501 is essentially a mini pc or an ultra small form factor pc that uses laptop components but the system still uses a larger case making it deceiving. A few important things to note as you consider this desktop: * It uses a laptop motherboard or one like it. * SO-DIMM laptop ram instead of full sized ram. * A mobile CPU * A heat pipe cooling system, where a copper heat pipe runs from the cpu to back of the desktop case that transfers heat from the cpu to a fan on the back case. Similar to a laptop. * Compact internal power supply. The desktop came nicely packaged in a smaller than expected box. It came with a standard wired keyboard and mouse but both are nice enough to get you going. The desktop is very light but as expected as noted above on how it’s built out. I was excited to see the wood front but unimpressed once I felt/saw it. I can’t tell if it’s plastic or actually wood? Which also makes me question its durability. General use: the desktop performed well doing tasks online and having 2 programs up at the same time. I played some games like World of Warcraft with Discord and it worked well too. Where I started having performance issues was using dual monitors. The pc has a hdmi and dvi port which I used for the dual setup. While gaming this is where my performance issue was. Single monitor no problems. Now games that are using graphics heavily, I wouldn’t even try this PC. Good overall computer for basic needs. This is a great computer for everyday low powered needs. It performs very well for what it is but doesn’t necessarily make sense as why one would choose this desktop over a regular desktop which will overall perform better and be better equipped.

At the time of this writing, I couldn’t believe the price of this box! The memory & chip shortage due to AI datacenters suctioning up as much memory & storage as possible. It led to this desktop, a perfectly fine machine at a reasonable price, but when you open it up it's just a laptop in a desktop costume. I had to deduct a star for the limitations of using a soldered CPU, laptop RAM, and only a single PCIe slot, along with the form factor being twice as tall as it should be (I'd also suggest laying this sideways for aesthetics if you're using it for media & streaming like I am, fits in nicely with A/V equipment! This isn't a bad idea by any means, lets look at the pros: ● AMD Ryzen 5 220 is a solid family workstation chip. ● 16 GB of expandable DDR5 RAM at a decent 5600MT/s is more than acceptable for this class of machine. ● 512 GB SSD storage that is both expandable with a second m.2 SSD slot & replaceable! But then you get the cons... ● CPU is soldered to the motherboard, no upgradability. ● DDR5 RAM is laptop style - more expensive at any time. ● Storage is currently obscenely expensive! ● Large case for what's inside. Overall though, if you can snag this at a good price, it's a great desktop for a family computer to browse the internet, use Office and other productivity programs, streaming PC, light gaming, or other more basic, daily tasks. The expansion options are amazing to have, especially given that this is effectively a mid-range laptop in a desktop shell, but with that shell being about twice the thickness it needs to be. This would be a great classroom, library, office desktop with a half-height/slimline case to be laid on it's side with a monitor stacked on top of it! Really brings some nostalgia back of the computer labs of the 90s & 2000s. If you need something right now that can handle most of your daily tasks, some gaming, maybe you want to add storage & memory down the road, this is a good option. Not great, but certainly not bad. It is definitely worth checking out the 1TB SSD model if you know you'll need a little extra storage right away.

To briefly summarize my thoughts on this setup, I think this is a good-looking desktop that excels at what it was designed for: everyday tasks, e-mail, home/office work, meetings, browsing, media consumption, and general productivity. There are some pros and cons, but it comes at decent price (especially given the current market), has some upgrade paths for some future proofing or performance improvements, and should work for most people looking in this space, for some time. As for the look and design, I really like it. Plain. Clean. Simple. Black (with some wood highlights). Easily fits in a home or professional setting. It is compact and light yet still feels well put together. All good there for me. Ports, connectivity, and audio are all fairly solid, with a nice selection that should cover just about everyone. Both front and back. There is only 1 USB-C (front), so perhaps more would be nice, but just something to note, not really a concern. It does come with a keyboard and mouse, though they are quite basic. It is nice to see, and probably fine for many, but I am using my own solutions. Specs-wise, I think they covered things well. Both generally, and within context of the somewhat crazy parts market right now. The CPU/Graphics choice works very well for what its needs are, as does the 16GB of DDR5 RAM. Yes, I really would have preferred to see 32GB, and as the standard, but where that seemed to be the path not that long ago, I don’t see that coming for some time. The 512GB SSD is more of a let down for me, as I tend to have more data on-machine when it is a desktop, but, again, I get it. Regardless, it is fast, and I am moving some additional storage from some parts I already had on hand, so it is not that big of a deal for me. All in all, I am happy with the hardware. Mostly, because it just works and performs. It may not be crushing any wild benchmarks as is, but it is efficient, fast, and quiet. It is quick, responsive, and doesn’t leave me waiting. Full stop. It easily handles my workloads, and even my “tab problem,” has not been problematic. Graphics power is the most limiting aspect of this machine, but on some level that is expected with an integrated solution. Just keep that in mind. That said, I do like that ASUS has at least given some upgrade potential here, be it with hardware you have now, or when prices (maybe) come down. There are 2 RAM slots as well 2 M.2 slots for storage which are easy upgrade paths. There is also 1x PCIe® 4.0 x 16, so perhaps even a dedicated GPU “could” happen, but I need to look more into the PSU, board, case space, etc…to confirm it could be done or if it would make sense. Regardless, it is nice to have options as well as the potential to keep this system running into the future. Not everyone offers this these days, despite it becoming more and more important. Ultimately, I think this is a quality machine. It looks good, should last for some time, delivers what it promises, and, most importantly, performs well. If the computer parts market were not so out of control right now, I would say the price for what you get is a little high, but given things, I think there is value here. Know your use case going in, and your expectations, and if they match, I think most would be pleased with this desktop.

If you’re looking for a workstation for everyday browsing, streaming, home office tasks and the like then you’ll find this ASUS mini tower well suited for multi-tasking these everyday computing tasks. It comes equipped with Windows 11 Home and integrated AI Copilot in Windows. ASUS has done a nice job with the design and form factor. I like that it’s small, lightweight and features a sleek design with a metal chassis and faux wood design. I’ve found the performance of the computer to be quick and efficient, and it operates quietly with adequate cooling. It’s convenient that ASUS has included a mouse and keyboard, but I’d expect many to consider them to be pretty basic and one will likely want to step up in the peripherals used. There are expansion capabilities in terms of additional memory (up to 64 GB) and upsizing the SSD but just keep in mind that these upgrades will further improve the basic functions this desktop is designed to meet, not become anything intended for heavy graphics or gaming. Based on Best Buy’s current pricing I’d opt for the version with a 1TB SSD and AMD Ryzen 7 processor as it is a better value than the model with the 512 GB SSD and the AMD Ryzen 5 processor. In terms of monitors, keep in mind that this desktop has one HDMI output and one DisplayPort. Lastly, I’ve had really good reliability from ASUS computers, and I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend them. This ASUS VM501 desktop offers a very nice look in a minimal footprint with quiet and efficient performance.

I like everything about my new hard drive, it Works great.

easy setup no complains .

I have relied on gaming PCs to be all around workhorses for me for quite some time. There is nothing wrong with this as they are amazing machines with a deep vault of resources. Something that I have to remind myself is that not every task requires a gaming desktop or the inherit investment required to get there. Enter the ASUS VM501 Desktop. This desktop PC is a much more budget friendly computer that would be right at home for an office, business, or student. With a smaller footprint than most gaming PCs and a very unambiguous look, it will fit in nearly anywhere. Its ambient noise is also very subdued so even the most sensitive to sounds won't have to worry about where they place this PC. In my home, I actually connected this PC to a canvass style television that we use during family game nights, vacation planning, and other group activities. Just like almost any store-bought computer, it comes with an adequate mouse and keyboard, however this is always one of the biggest areas on improvement that you can make cheaply. I ended up pairing this PC with an inexpensive wireless mouse and keyboard so that I don't have to run cables over to our sitting area. With this addition, the computer works great for our needs of multitasking between spreadsheets, website research, and online videos. Surprisingly, we were even able to run lower demand games such as Minecraft to keep the kids occupied while the adults worked on more monotonous tasks associated with planning. Although this mild gaming was a surprise to us, I would definitely caution a potential buyers to realize that this Asus VM501 may not be a completely budget minded addition to the Asus lineup, however it does fall somewhere between budget to moderate performance. The AMD processor handles multitasking well with business and studious tasks, however will most likely not fit the needs of content creators. There are two display outputs (HDMI & Display) and this should work just fine for most people wanting to be productive. Having an SSD is also a great addition, but if I were to do it over again, I would probably splurge for the 1TB model as the size of pictures and files is ever growing. Is this Asus VM501 Desktop the end all, be all PC for everyone's needs? No. But its not intended to be. If you want to have a budget friendly workstation that handles productivity well and flirts with the ability to be used for fun, this is a desktop that should definitely be considered.

The VM501 Desktop PC from ASUS is a great mid-level PC desktop that is ready to go right out of the box. This PC is perfect for the average everyday user. Design This is a smaller desktop PC. Since everything is solid state and it does not have any large CD/DVD drives it all fits into a small package. This is the perfect size desktop if you have limited desk space and it can easily fit on the corner of a desk tucked behind your monitor if needed. The side panel has thumb screws that do not require a screwdriver to open which allows you to easily open it and change out components. However, this is probably not necessary since this PC comes with just about everything you need. Asus includes a keyboard and mouse in the box. They are both wired and basic, but they are perfect for what this PC was designed for. There is a single fan inside of this PC and it has an advanced cooling system which uses some thermal engineering to help cool the CPU and other components. Ports Since this is a smaller PC it has limited ports. As far as USBs, it has multiple 5 USB-A ports and 1 USB-C port. If there was one thing that could be better, it would be at least one additional USB-C port. Since most peripherals use USB-C it would be a nice addition. The graphics are integrated and your options are a single HDMI port and a single display port. Performance This PC is not designed to be a crazy gaming PC or used for graphic intensive tasks. AMD’s Ryzen 5 offers great performance when it comes to multitasking and everyday applications/entertainment. Paired with 16 gbs of DDR5 memory and it has everything you need to be productive. The graphics are integrated but are more than enough to handle daily tasks. One of my favorite things about this PC is how simple it is right out of the box. It is easy for anyone to set up. It does not come with bloatware. It only comes with the basic programs you need to get started and be productive. It also comes with a keyboard, mouse, and power cord. Not much else is needed besides a monitor and HDMI or display port cable. Upgradability Upgradability is somewhat limited due to the size of this PC. It does not have an additional SSD slot so if you want to upgrade the SSD you would have to replace the one that is currently in it. It does have two RAM slots (only one in use) but it is smaller RAM designed for laptops. It also has a slot that you could add a graphics card or something else that uses PCI Express but honestly, I would leave this PC as is. Conclusion This is the perfect PC for older people, someone with a small business, or maybe even a college student. It is great for everyday tasks such as checking emails, multi-tasking, browsing the web, and watching your favorite entertainment online. It is compact, quiet and efficient. I consider it mid-range because it is slightly better than the cheapest PC you can buy and it comes with everything you need right out of the box.

The Asus vm501 desktop is an affordable, attractive workhorse. Jumping right in, this is one of the more stylish yet refined PCS I've ever seen. If you're looking for something classy, and not just full of RGB colors and everything, this is it. It looks so great on a bookshelf, making it the perfect computer for an office or even a living room. It looks good everywhere. It's also a great computer for someone who hasn't really had computers before. It's not as intimidating as it doesn't. Just feel like a computer, and setting it up is quick and easy. Plug in the monitor, plug in the mouse, plug in the keyboard, and you are done. While that is pretty much the case with any computer setup, this one just feels less intimidating for less experienced folks. It is very quiet, and so it is not obtrusive in any environment. That said, it's important to remember that this is not a gaming PC. While you certainly could do some light gaming on it, it is actually a great computer for a student because there are less chances for them to get distracted with gaming capabilities. But any basic work you throw at this machine, it can handle without ramping up the fans or anything. With this setup, keep in mind that you are paying a bit extra for style, which I am all for doing, but if you're looking for these specs at the best price possible and aesthetics don't matter, then this computer is a bit pricey. If your top goal is aesthetics, this is for you, but if you just need functionality, there are better options

If you need a new desktop for general home usage and don't want to break the bank, this is exactly what you are looking for. Pros: Size/ build - the mini tower is a fantastic form factor that will fit in any setup/ office space. It is also a very good looking unit and looks good if you want to have it on top of a desk which gives great access to the front 3 USB ports. It is also surprisingly quiet. the lack of graphics card and the ample space inside the case make airflow smooth and minimize fan noise. The only true indication of power on is the led. Specs - This machine is notal a world beater or gaming powerhouse but for what it is made for, it excels. Snappy multitasking and general purpose home computing are remarkably quick. The mouse and keyboard are fine, nothing fancy and work well. Cons: Memory - 500gb just isn't a lot these days however with many options for external storage, it's hard to count against it. With the price of computer components these days, I think this computer fills a niche perfectly. If you have an aging general purpose home computer that needs replacing, this is the perfect option.