The ASUS M32CD-US003T is a midrange tower that offers the best of both worlds. It has forward-looking capabilities, such as the latest Skylake microarchitecture (6th Generation processors that replaces Broadwell)-Intel Core i5 processor, 1TB hard drive, Windows 10 and the latest USB 3.1 ports (that’s an additional 10gbps data transfer speeds), and retains legacy features, like VGA and HDMI ports and a card reader for older media formats, that keep veteran users happy. Similar specs are seen in the ASUS M32AD-US001T, only that the latter comes with an Intel Core i3 processor.
For users who want more storage, you have the option of the ASUS M32AD-US026S, still in the same family, with similar size and port selection except for the larger 2TB storage, 4th Generation Intel Core i5 processor, and Windows 8.1 instead of Windows 10 in the other two models. Expandability, new technologies, multimedia performance, multitasking prowess, and a decent price all factor in for a win.
Design
The ASUS M32CD’s mid tower chassis measures about 16 by 15 by 6.90 inches (HWD). It is slightly raised on the front than in the back, making it easier to access the I/O ports and the Integrated 24X DVD-RW Drive on the front panel if you tend to keep your PC on the floor under your desk. The M32CD is painted bright silver to mimic the look of brushed aluminum.
The case doors are actually black, and the top and front panels are made of plastic. The system has the potential to grow, thanks to empty slots at the back cover and we hope for more in the spacious chassis unlike the small-form-factor (SFF) that are have limited expandability options.
Storage
The ASUS M32CD is fully loaded from the factory. The standard configuration includes a 1TB SATA Hard Drive (7200RPM), Intel Core i5-6400 processor up to 3.3GHz, Intel H110 GPU, and 8GB DDR 3 (1600MHz) of system memory. The chassis still has room for an additional hard drive, one more optical drive, and more PCIe x1 expansion cards.
That’s pretty good for a midrange system. Connectivity comes in way of Gigabit Ethernet and 802.11ac Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.0, with the M32CD, also featuring dual monitor capability through the HDMI and VGA connections available.
Connectivity
Rounding out the package are 2x USB 3.0 (front) ports, 2x USB 3.1 (rear), 3x USB 2.0 (rear) ports and 8-channel audio. For entertainment, the M32CD desktop PC features ASUS SonicMaster audio technology along with MaxxAudio from Waves to deliver fine-tuned surround sound for movies and games. The included ASUS AudioWizard features five preset profiles to optimize sound from music to voice recording. You also get a bundled ASUS keyboard and mouse in the box, which is quite a kill for the price.
Performance
The 6th Generation 2.7GHz Intel Core i5-6400 processor will offer you subtle performance, thanks to the quad-core turbo extremes of up to 3.3GHz. The Core i5 processor is paired with an integrated Intel HD graphics card and 8GB of memory that will definitely push performance to new excellent levels. You’ll appreciate the turbo power when you have multiple projects running simultaneously, let’s say 10 browser windows, over 5GB data transferring and a video encoding somewhere in the background and the system won’t even for a minute.
With these specs, we expect the ASUS M32CD to push the competition to new frontiers and even match stronger competitors such as HP Pavilion 550-050 although it comes with a discrete graphics card for gaming and even the similarly priced Newest Model HP Pavilion Desktop outfitted with AMD Quad-Core A8-6410 Processor.
All said and done, the ASUS M32CD offers ample computing power and will perform well in casual gaming although it is Intel H110 GPU may not match the dedicated NVIDIA GeForce GTX760 we’ve seen in the Acer Predator AG3-605-UR1D; but still, the HD Graphics will give you decent playability for some modern titles.
If you need an inexpensive gaming rig that can also multitask at the same time, the Lenovo X315 and Acer Predator AG3-605-UR1G are recommendable options, but hardcore gamers will look upwards at the HP ENVY Phoenix 810-460 or even the All-in-One MSI 24GE 2QE-016US Gaming Desktop. Still, for the price category, the system remains competitive on the game grid with playable scores.
The Bottom Line
Essentially, the ASUS M32CD-US003T is a competent and compliant multimedia desktop. It gives you what you’d expect at this price point: very good multimedia benchmark performance, a good amount of day-to-day performance, and some gaming prowess. The combination of forward-looking technology, such as the latest 6th Generation Intel Core i5 processor, 1TB hard drive, Windows 10 and the latest USB 3.1 ports, and legacy features means that the unit offers the best of both worlds.
If you’re looking for a multimedia-oriented, do-it-all system, the ASUS M32CD-US003T should be at the top of your list; and so are the ASUS M32AD-US001T (Intel Core i3, 1TB), the ASUS M32AD-US026S (Intel Core 5, 2TB) and even the Intel Core i5-powered Dell Inspiron 3000 Series i3847-4617BK Desktop with similarly amazing computing power.
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