The Asus VivoPC is a small desktop computer with an Intel Celeron processor, Windows 8 64-bit software, and a case that’s designed to look at home in your living room.

Asus unveiled the tiny desktop in June, and now it’s available for purchase in the US for around $320 and up.

Asus VivoPC

While you could probably find a cheaper desktop PC that packs more power, it won’t be this small. The Asus VivoPC measures about 7.5″ x 7.5″ x 2.2 and weighs less than 2.7 pounds.

There are also smaller desktop computers like the Intel NUC or Zotac Zbox line — but they tend to be more expensive than a VivoPC once you configure them with memory, storage, and an operating system.

The Asus VivoPC isn’t exactly going to replace your high-end gaming PC, but it should perform well as a basic home theater PC for streaming internet video, surfing the web, playing light games, or even recording television programs (if you have a USB or network-attached TV tuner).

Asus equips the little computer with 4GB of RAM, a 500GB, 7200RPM hard drive, 802.11ac WiFi, Bluetooth 4.0, and a 1.5 GHz Intel Celeron 1007U dual-core processor with Intel HD graphics.

Other features include Gigabit Ethernet, an SD card slot, optical S/PDIF output, VGA and HDMI ports, and 2 USB 3.0 ports and 4 USB 2.0 ports.

MacMall is selling the VivoPC for $320, and Newegg has it for $330. The little desktop launched in other regions, including Europe, in November.

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13 replies on “Asus VivoPC mini-desktop now available for $320 and up”

  1. You can pick up an orphan Dual Core PC for about $100 via Craigslist. Add a stick of RAM, bigger HD, a video card, a USB Keyboard/Mouse combo and for less than $200 you have a perfectly capable HTPC. Love mine…even had a black case that blends in perfectly in my den. However, I have just picked up a Chromecast stick. Played around with it last night using my iPad as a controller. When I get more time, I will try it with a PC laptop and the Chrome browser. If it performs as described, this may be an even better solution for video streaming.

  2. What I’m waiting for is a fanless Bay Trail version of this for $200 or less with 32-64GB of storage. I don’t see why a tablet can sell for $300 (including Windows and Office!) and they can’t do the equivalent with a mini-PC.

    What happened to the Bay Trail Intel NUC?

  3. Wasn’t this supposed to come with that Vivo Mouse pad thingy they were showing off this summer?

  4. Is it fanless? What parts are user replaceable? Is there a barebones version (add your own RAM, SSD and OS) ?

  5. 320$ might not be much, but for the spec, it is quite expensive. I mean you can get a 6800K APU moderate gaming pc for around 350$ range.

    1. I think you are on the wrong website. This is lilliputing, not hardocp. The computer you are talking about will just be another atx form factor PC. If you price one out in a 2 liter case, the cost goes up. Make it look like something that isn’t immediately recognizable as a PC and the price goes up even higher. Make it so it burns less power than an incandescent light bulb and the 6800K can’t even hang. This thing is not meant for gaming, it is a multimedia box.

      1. I agree Labmouse, so many folks want to compare apples with oranges. That’s not a hard trap to fall into these days with the variety of processors and form factors available. This little box looks quite promising for $320 as a plug and play pc, just add monitor or plug into an HDTV…

        1. I don’t know, I built a mini-itx machine with an APU in it for about the same as this. On the other hand, it probably isn’t any better.

          1. Kind of why I mentioned the variety of form factors, as the lines tend to blur at different places for different people depending on their usage. A slightly larger case with a bit more powerful cpu and a small fan would give a noticeable performance boost. My general agreement with Labmouse was the fact that this is Liliputing and the focus is on very small form factor. I must say you’ve really done something to build your own complete system at this price point and if you’re happy with it then the performance is certainly good enough.What OS are you running on it? I’ve been running Xubuntu 12.10 on a couple of old Xp machines (an old Dell 2400 and an off lease Lenovo T61) with good results…Cheers…

      2. So could you define a usage case for this pc then? I can think of a lightweight office machine, remote desktop client, media centre client /HTPC. All which can be done with a much cheaper 200$ range machines with Linux MC or even a full Windows. Better how about those stick hdmi machines. 320 is a lot for a fanless pc, many cheaper low power mitx machines are already on the market. Hell you can get a atom server for similar price! Oh and you can easily fit FM2 socket move with APU on a smaller case. Power usage will be a bit heavier though compared to atom. People who say: “multimedia pc” and paying 300 for it makes me laugh. Bay trail tabs go for less than that. You can use a 80$ stick pc with XMBC that will perform similarly and even more efficient. And since when were larger cases more expensive? I still remember you could get mid towers for 30$, my small MCPC mini it Liam Li case was nearly 120$.

        1. Relax man, I’m not making a personal attack against you. I’m just letting you know this is not a website and forum for conventional PC’s like hardocp in case the name didn’t give it away.

          A usage case for this computer is that of HTPC, with a secondary function of media server.

          Considering the current pricing of parts, I find it hard to believe a full computer could even be built for $200 no matter what the form factor. Unless you’re talking about obsolete, used or refurbished parts. Maybe you can find some thin clients on clearance sales for around that price. I remember the Acer Veriton N2620G was on and off sale for $180 over the past few weeks, 1-2 generation celeron CPU, 2 GB ram, 320 GB hdd. That would have made a reasonable HTPC if you wanted to spend the extra money and time to upgrade it. My total cost was around $320 with the memory and SSD upgrade (I bought it when it was off sale for about $230 and used my own copy of windows)

          The majority of those android based stick HDMI thingies just don’t have the graphical oomph to serve as an HTPC. Try running a 1080p 10bit bluray rip through one of those things. Same goes for the bay trail tablets. (though bay trail is getting closer). Then there’s the issue of needing a server to store your media on. The old Atoms were even worse. Not only did they not have the graphical horsepower, but their drivers were 32-bit only and horrible. They made good headless storage boxes or remote bit torrent clients, bad HTPCs.

          I’ve tried those fm2 and fm1 m-itx boards too. In anything less than 4 liters, you either spend too much money on exotic cooling solutions or too much time trying to undervolt them. Even the 65W chips. The end results look like something from a prototype lab and sounded like a vacuum cleaner in the next room. Qualities that aren’t good for an HTPC.

          I never said larger cases were more expensive. If you reread my post, I actually implied the opposite.

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