ASUS Chromebox CHROMEBOX5A-S3081UN 2024, Core i3-1315U, 8GB, 128GB SSD, Black

The ASUS Chromebox 5a is a compact ChromeOS desktop with a Core i3-1315U, 8GB RAM, and a tiny 128GB SSD. It supports up to four 4K displays and has Wi-Fi 6E, which is great for business deployments. But the storage and RAM are both near the bottom of our database, and gaming is a non-starter. At USD 550 it's a reasonable fleet machine, but individual buyers should think twice.

The Core i3-1315U is a 6-core chip with a 1.2GHz base clock, and it's fine for what ChromeOS asks of it. Web apps, Google Workspace, video calls, and light Android apps all run without much drama. The integrated Iris Xe graphics handle 4K video output and basic UI rendering without breaking a sweat. But our benchmarks put the CPU at the 36th percentile and the GPU at the 36th percentile among all desktops, which means you're getting roughly a third of the way up the performance ladder. That's not a knock on this specific chip, it's just the reality of a low-power mobile processor in a desktop form factor.

The 8GB of DDR5 RAM is where things get tight. That lands at the 16th percentile in our database, and ChromeOS is pretty good at memory management, but open enough browser tabs and Android apps at once and you'll feel it. The 128GB SSD is the real weak spot at the 6th percentile. ChromeOS leans on cloud storage, so 128GB goes further than it would on Windows, but if you're planning to install a bunch of Android apps or keep local files around, you'll hit that ceiling faster than you'd like. The 90W PSU is plenty for this hardware, and Wi-Fi 6E plus Ethernet means network performance won't be the bottleneck.

The competitors in our database are an interesting mix, and most of them aren't really in the same conversation. The Apple Mac Studio M3 Ultra is a completely different beast, a workstation-class machine that costs several times more and targets creative professionals. The Lenovo Legion 90YA003GUS and MSI Aegis Z2 are gaming desktops with discrete GPUs, which makes the Chromebox's 7.1 gaming score look even more stark by comparison. If you want to play games, any of those will run circles around this thing.

The more relevant comparisons are the Dell Desktop ECT1250 and HP OmniDesk M02-0234, which are traditional Windows desktops in a similar price bracket. Those give you more storage, more RAM flexibility, and the ability to run full desktop applications, but you lose the ChromeOS simplicity and the four-display support. The trade-off is real: ChromeOS is easier to manage and harder to break, but Windows gives you actual software compatibility. For a business that's already invested in Google Workspace, the Chromebox makes sense. For everyone else, the Dell or HP is probably the safer bet.

Pricing on this thing is all over the place depending on where you shop. In the US, you're looking at USD 550 to USD 632 across three listings, which is an USD 82 spread for the exact same hardware. That's not pocket change, and it means you should absolutely shop around before committing. The lowest US price we're seeing is USD 550, and there's no reason to pay more than that for this config. In Canada, the spread is even wilder, from CAD 872 to CAD 1,331 across two listings. That's a CAD 459 gap, which is frankly absurd for the same box. If you're in Canada, the CAD 872 listing is the only one worth considering.

Value-wise, this is a tough sell at the high end of those ranges. At USD 550 it's a reasonable price for a business-grade ChromeOS device with four display outputs and modern connectivity. At USD 632, you're creeping into territory where you could start looking at more capable Windows mini PCs with better storage and RAM. The ChromeOS tax is real, and you're paying for the management features and security model whether you need them or not.

The ASUS Chromebox 5a is one of those devices that knows exactly what it is and doesn't apologize for it. This is a ChromeOS machine built for desks, kiosks, and office floors, not gaming rigs or creative workstations. The config we're looking at pairs a 13th Gen Intel Core i3-1315U with 8GB of DDR5 and a 128GB SSD, all stuffed into a 0.80kg box you can hide behind a monitor with the VESA mount. It's small, quiet, and runs on the same ChromeOS you'd find on a Chromebook, just without the screen attached.

Who's this for? Mostly businesses and schools that need a fleet of simple, locked-down machines. ChromeOS means automatic updates, built-in malware protection, and zero-touch enrollment for IT departments. The dual HDMI, DisplayPort, and USB-C ports can drive up to four 4K displays, which is honestly more display output than most people expect from a box this size. And the recycled plastic top cover is a nice touch if your procurement team cares about sustainability checkboxes.

But here's the thing. Our database puts this Chromebox at 35.9 out of 100 overall, which is not a number that gets anyone excited. The compact form factor scores a decent 41.6, but business use lands at 35.2 and gaming is basically a rounding error at 7.1. So if you're thinking about this as a cheap way to get a desktop PC, you need to understand what ChromeOS can and can't do before you click buy.

If you want to play games, edit video, run Windows software, or do anything that requires a discrete GPU, this is not your machine. The 7.1 gaming score is one of the lowest we've seen, and ChromeOS simply doesn't support the software ecosystem that PC gamers and creators rely on. Look at the Lenovo Legion or MSI Aegis desktops instead, or even a mid-range Windows mini PC if you want to stay small.

You should also skip this if you need local storage. The 128GB SSD is at the 6th percentile in our database, and while ChromeOS leans on cloud storage, that's a real limitation if you work with large files or want to keep a media library offline. And if you're an individual buyer who just wants a simple home desktop, a Chromebook or a budget Windows machine will often give you more flexibility for the same money. The Chromebox's management features are wasted on a single-user setup.

If you're an IT admin setting up a call center, a reception desk, or a classroom lab, the Chromebox 5a is a solid choice. The four 4K display outputs are genuinely useful for productivity setups, the zero-touch enrollment will save you hours of manual configuration, and the automatic updates mean you're not chasing security patches. At USD 550, it's a reasonable price for that kind of deployment. Just make sure you're buying the right config, because the 128GB SSD and 8GB RAM will feel cramped if users start installing Android apps or keeping local files.

For individual buyers, this is a harder recommendation. If you just want a cheap desktop for web browsing and email, a Chromebook or even a used Windows mini PC will often give you more flexibility for less money. The Chromebox's strengths are all about fleet management and security, and those don't matter much when you're buying one for your kitchen counter. Unless you specifically want ChromeOS in a desktop form factor and you're committed to living in the Google ecosystem, you should probably look elsewhere.