Asus has redesigned the V500 Mini Tower for 2026, opting for AMD Ryzen processors instead of Intel chips for the first time. The compact desktop case is available in either a light gray fabric-like finish or in black with a wood-grain front panel—though no real wood is used.
Features: AMD Ryzen Instead of Intel
Buyers can choose between two processors: the AMD Ryzen 5 220 and the AMD Ryzen 7 260. The top-of-the-line model features eight cores based on the Zen 4 architecture and reaches boost clock speeds of up to 5.1 GHz. Graphics are handled by the integrated AMD Radeon 780M, which also delivers surprisingly good gaming performance in numerous mini-PCs such as the Geekom A7.
Older and less demanding games run smoothly on it, but the V500 isn’t a true gaming PC. If you need more performance, you can theoretically upgrade to a desktop graphics card thanks to the available PCIe 4.0 x16 slot—though this will require replacing the included 180-watt power supply. Since Asus uses a laptop processor, the system employs DDR5 SO-DIMM RAM via two slots instead of standard desktop memory.
The chip’s TDP is just 45 watts, which should keep the tower running particularly quietly. The built-in storage can be expanded later via a second M.2 slot. In terms of ports, the front panel features two USB-A ports, a USB-C port, and a 3.5-mm audio jack. The rear panel includes three additional USB-A ports, HDMI 2.1b, DisplayPort 1.4, and Gigabit Ethernet.
Specifications at a Glance
| Component | Details |
|---|---|
| Processor | AMD Ryzen 5 220 or AMD Ryzen 7 260 |
| Graphics | AMD Radeon 780M (integrated) |
| RAM | 2x DDR5 SO-DIMM, 16 GB |
| Storage | 512 GB or 1 TB SSD, second M.2 slot available |
| Ports | 5x USB-A, 1x USB-C, HDMI 2.1b, DisplayPort 1.4, Gigabit Ethernet |
| Expansion | PCIe 4.0 x16 for desktop graphics card |
| Power supply | 180 watts |
Pricing and Availability
The Asus V500 Mini Tower (VM501MH) is expected to be available soon at MediaMarkt. The entry-level model with a Ryzen 5 220, 16 GB of RAM, and a 512 GB SSD costs 599 euros. The model with a Ryzen 7 260 and the same memory configuration costs 649 euros, while a version with a 1 TB SSD costs 719 euros.
If you’re currently looking for a suitable mini PC, you’ll find additional recommendations in our guide to the best mini PCs, such as the Asus ExpertCenter PN54, which also relies on a compact AMD platform.
