Asus Intros M32 Multimedia Desktop PC
On Friday, Asus introduced the M32, a new "high-value" desktop that comes with either Nvidia GeForce or AMD Radeon HD discrete graphics. Unfortunately, the company is a little short on the details, including when this desktop will hit the market, and how much it will cost.
"With a premium brushed-metal finish that exudes chic elegance, an HDMI port for connection to HD TVs and monitors, and an affordable price point, M32 strikes the perfect balance between cost and performance for those seeking a desktop PC for effective productivity and quality multimedia reproduction," states the PR.
With the M32, Asus is striving to be a little stylish in its external design, offering a metallic case with an "eye-catching" electroplated logo that is ergonomically tilted to make it easier to access the front ports and DVD burner. These front ports include a USB 3.0 port, a 6-in-1 card reader, SonicMaster audio ports, and an ASUS Ai Charger for 50 percent faster charging of mobile devices, even when M32 is shut down.
This new desktop provides up to an Intel Core i7 processor. Combined with the discrete graphics, customers may have a decent pre-built gaming desktop on their hands. However, Asus doesn't provide any additional information like the amount of RAM or the amount of storage (but does point out that engineers spent time making sure that the noise coming from this PC is minimal at best).
The company's PR states that this new PC is up to four times quieter than PCs from other leading brands. M32 monitors its internal temperature and "intelligently" adjusts fan speed to ensure efficient cooling with very little noise. M32's noise level is typically below 25 dB, which is quieter than the ambient noise in a library.
Finally, Asus talks about the PC's exclusive SonicMaster audio technology combined with MaxxAudio from Waves, which provides users with "immersive and high-impact audio that treats users to a truly cinematic sound experience." The included AudioWizard allows customers to use preset levels including music, movies, games, voice recording and speech. There's also an HDMI port so that owners can enjoy media on a big screen.
"With 32 GB of ASUS WebStorage included, completely free of charge for three years, M32 makes it easy for users to share their documents, pictures, music and movies and access them from anywhere via the cloud," the PR concludes.
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Again, Asus did not provide pricing or a release date, and the rig currently isn't listed on the Asus website. Presumably, this desktop will show up in electronic stores like Best Buy already configured with several hardware options. Keep an eye on the website too; the M32 could show up soon.
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Kevin Parrish has over a decade of experience as a writer, editor, and product tester. His work focused on computer hardware, networking equipment, smartphones, tablets, gaming consoles, and other internet-connected devices. His work has appeared in Tom's Hardware, Tom's Guide, Maximum PC, Digital Trends, Android Authority, How-To Geek, Lifewire, and others.
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Menigmand Oh, what a coincidence. I was just looking for a piece of technical equipment to provide me with "quality multimedia reproduction". Seriously, who writes these PR pieces?Reply -
2Be_or_Not2Be So it looks like ASUS is trying to create their own boutique line of gaming PCs, ala Alienware, Falcon Northwest, etc.Reply
Personally, I prefer mini-ITX cases over larger designs. The better ones can store 2+ 2.5" drives (SSD, larger one for storage), and they obviously are so much better in terms of space conservation. If ASUS can build a great mini-ITX case like the Tiki from Falcon Northwest but at a much better price-point, then I think it would sell better than "yet-another" blasé desktop.
Also, I hope they can quiet the video card. By far, that is the loudest component in my own system.