ASUS V500SV Dark Gray Review

The ASUS V500SV is a port king in a compact box, scoring in the 99th percentile for connectivity. But its performance is strictly entry-level, with a CPU in the 17th percentile and only 8GB of RAM. At $450, it's a decent pick only if your computing needs are minimal and you hate dongles.

The ASUS V500SV is a small-form-factor desktop that's all about ports and practicality. It lands in the 99th percentile for connectivity, packing a total of 8 USB ports, including a front USB-C, plus HDMI and DisplayPort. That's a lot of flexibility for a 3.66-inch wide box. Under the hood, it's built for basic tasks, with an Intel Core i3-1315U CPU, 8GB of DDR5 RAM, and a 512GB PCIe 4.0 SSD. It's a straightforward machine for a tidy desk, but our data shows its performance sits in the lower percentiles across the board, so you need to know exactly what you're getting.

Let's be clear: this isn't a performance machine. Its CPU lands in the 17th percentile, which means it's fine for web browsing, documents, and video calls, but it's going to feel slow if you push it with heavier multitasking. The 8GB of RAM is also in the 25th percentile, which is the bare minimum for Windows 11 these days. You'll want to keep your tabs and apps in check. The integrated Intel UHD Graphics are predictably weak, scoring in the 25th percentile. It can drive two displays and handle 4K video streaming, but that's the limit. The one bright spot is the PCIe 4.0 SSD, which will make the system feel snappy for booting and opening everyday apps.

At $450, the value proposition is simple: you're paying for a compact, well-connected PC that's ready to go out of the box. You're not getting much raw performance for that money, as the CPU and GPU scores show. The value is in the convenience of the small form factor and the extensive port selection, which you'd typically have to add via hubs on other tiny PCs. If your needs are truly basic, it's a fair price for a complete system. If you need any horsepower at all, that $450 could go further elsewhere.

Compared to its direct small-form-factor rivals, the V500SV's main advantage is its port count. Many mini PCs skimp on ports, especially front-panel USB-C. Against more powerful towers like the HP Omen or Dell Alienware, there's no comparison—those are gaming rigs with dedicated GPUs and CPUs in the 80th+ percentiles. A more apt comparison would be to other budget office desktics or mini PCs. The V500SV trades some potential CPU performance (found in AMD Ryzen-based mini PCs) for its excellent physical connectivity and Asus's security features. It's a trade-off: ports over pure speed.

Gamers and creative professionals should steer clear—our data gives it an 8.1/100 gaming score for a reason. Anyone who does video editing, coding, or heavy multitasking should also skip it, as the 17th percentile CPU will be a major bottleneck. If you need a PC for more than just the absolute basics, this isn't it. Look for systems with CPUs ranking above the 50th percentile at a minimum.

We can only recommend the ASUS V500SV to a very specific user: someone who needs a compact, no-fuss desktop for the most basic tasks and values having every port imaginable right on the chassis. The data is clear—its 17th percentile CPU and 25th percentile RAM make it a slowpoke for anything beyond light duty. If your workflow involves more than a browser, a document, and a video call at the same time, you'll feel the pinch. For everyone else, especially if you ever think you might need more power, it's worth looking at systems with better performance scores, even if they sacrifice a few ports.