ASUS V701ML 2026, Core Ultra 9 275HX, 16GB, 1TB SSD, Black

The ASUS V701ML pairs a top-tier Core Ultra 9 CPU with weak integrated graphics in a quiet, living-room-friendly chassis. It's a multitasking monster for CPU-heavy work, but gaming is a non-starter at 12/100. At $1,400, it's a niche pick for developers and home office users who value quiet design over GPU power. If you need graphics performance, look at the HP OMEN or Lenovo Legion instead.

Let's talk about that Core Ultra 9 275HX, because it's the star of the show here. This is a 24-core chip with a 2.7GHz base clock, and it lands in the 92nd percentile for CPU performance in our database. That's not just good, that's one of the best on the market right now. For real-world use, this means you can throw almost anything at it. Video encodes, code compilation, running multiple VMs, huge data sets in Excel. It'll chew through them without breaking a sweat. The 16GB of DDR5 helps here too, keeping data moving fast to feed those 24 cores.

The elephant in the room is the integrated Intel UHD Graphics. It sits in the 38th percentile for GPU performance, which is mediocre at best. For everyday tasks like web browsing, office apps, and video streaming, it's perfectly fine. But the moment you try to do anything GPU-intensive, like 3D modeling, heavy video effects, or any modern gaming, you'll hit a wall fast. The gaming score of 12 out of 100 tells the whole story. This machine is not for games, period. It's a trade-off ASUS made to keep the price down and the thermals quiet, and for the right buyer, it's a smart one. Just know what you're getting into.

Stacked against the HP OMEN GT22-3080 and Lenovo Legion Tower 5a Gen 10, the ASUS V701ML looks like it's playing a different sport. Those machines are built for gaming, with dedicated GPUs that'll handle modern titles at high settings. The ASUS can't touch them there. But flip the script and look at CPU-heavy productivity in a shared space, and the ASUS starts to make sense. It's quieter, smaller, and looks like furniture instead of a gaming rig. The OMEN and Legion are also likely to be more upgradeable on the GPU front, which matters if you think you might want to game later.

The Apple Mac Studio M4 Max is the other interesting comparison. If you're doing video editing or creative work that leans on GPU acceleration, the Mac Studio will absolutely destroy the ASUS. Apple's silicon is just better at that stuff. But the Mac Studio is a different platform entirely, and if you need Windows for work or you're deep in the PC ecosystem, it's not a drop-in replacement. The Dell Tower ECT1250 is probably the closest in spirit, a business-focused machine, but it likely doesn't have the same design flair or the same CPU pedigree. The ASUS carves out a niche: Windows users who want Mac-like aesthetics and quiet operation with serious CPU power.

Pricing on this one is a bit tricky. We're seeing it listed at $1,400 USD, which puts it in a strange spot. You're paying for that Core Ultra 9, which is a genuinely high-end chip. But you're also paying for the design, the quiet cooling, and the compact form factor. If you just want raw CPU performance, you could probably find a cheaper tower with a similar chip and more RAM. But you'd be giving up the living-room-friendly looks and the whisper-quiet operation.

Compared to the competition, the value proposition depends entirely on your priorities. The HP OMEN GT22-3080 and Lenovo Legion Tower 5a are gaming machines with dedicated GPUs that'll run circles around this thing in graphics tasks, but they're bigger, louder, and look like gaming PCs. The Apple Mac Studio M4 Max is in a different league for creative work, but it's also a different ecosystem and likely a different price bracket. For the right person, someone who wants a quiet, attractive, CPU-focused workhorse, the $1,400 asking price is fair. For everyone else, it's a tough sell.

The ASUS V701ML is a bit of an odd duck, and we mean that in the most interesting way possible. It's a mini-tower that's trying really hard not to look like a computer. Soft edges, a wood-grain finish, and a gentle 4000K glow. It's the kind of machine you'd put next to a bookshelf and your aunt would ask if it's some kind of fancy speaker. But inside that calm exterior is an Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX, a 24-core chip that's an absolute monster for multitasking. This isn't a gaming rig, though. It's got integrated Intel UHD Graphics, which tells you exactly who ASUS is aiming at here.

So who's this for? Someone who needs serious CPU horsepower for work, but doesn't want a tower that screams 'gamer' or 'office drone.' Think video editors who don't do heavy 3D rendering, developers running virtual machines, or anyone who keeps 47 browser tabs open while editing a massive spreadsheet. The 16GB of DDR5 and 1TB Gen 4 SSD round out a spec sheet that's focused on getting real work done fast, not pushing pixels in Cyberpunk.

What makes this interesting is the mismatch. You've got a top-tier CPU paired with a bottom-tier GPU, all wrapped in a chassis designed for the living room. It's a bet that there's a market for people who want workstation-class processing without the workstation look or the dedicated graphics card they'd never use. And honestly, at this price point, it's a bet worth examining closely.

If you're a gamer, just move along. The integrated graphics here are a hard no for anything beyond solitaire and maybe some light indie titles. The 12/100 gaming score is one of the worst we've seen for a machine at this price. You'd be far better served by the HP OMEN GT22-3080 or Lenovo Legion Tower 5a Gen 10, both of which have dedicated GPUs and are built for gaming. Same goes for anyone doing 3D rendering, heavy video effects, or GPU-accelerated creative work. The Apple Mac Studio M4 Max is the obvious alternative there, assuming you're open to macOS.

Also skip this if you're on a tight budget and just need a basic home PC. The $1,400 price tag is paying for that Core Ultra 9, and if you're mostly browsing the web and checking email, you're leaving a lot of performance on the table. A mid-range machine with a solid i5 or Ryzen 5 would save you hundreds and feel just as fast for everyday tasks. The ASUS V701ML is a specialist's tool, not a general-purpose bargain.

If you're a developer, a data analyst, or someone who runs CPU-heavy workloads and wants a machine that won't dominate your living room, the ASUS V701ML is a compelling option. The Core Ultra 9 is a genuine beast, the port selection is fantastic, and the quiet, tool-free design is a real quality-of-life win. You'll be able to run multiple VMs, compile code, and crunch numbers without the fan noise that usually comes with that kind of power. The 1TB SSD is snappy, and the ability to add more RAM down the road gives you some headroom.

But if you have any interest in gaming, 3D work, or video editing with heavy effects, look elsewhere. The integrated graphics are a hard stop. The 12/100 gaming score isn't a suggestion, it's a warning. And the below-average reliability score gives us a little pause. For the right use case, this is a unique and well-executed machine. For the wrong one, it's an expensive paperweight with a nice wood finish.