ASUS is a Taiwanese multinational known as one of the top 5 global computer hardware manufacturers, with leadership in motherboards (over 40% market share), graphics cards, and gaming monitors. The company is well-regarded in the gaming sector, where its Republic of Gamers (ROG) sub-brand produces high-performance motherboards, GPUs, and peripherals widely used in esports tournaments.
The global computer hardware market continues to grow, and ASUS components remain popular among users who prefer reliable motherboards, graphics cards, and cooling systems instead of relying on pre-assembled PCs.
In this article, we evaluate ASUS components including motherboards, GPUs, and cooling solutions, with data from performance benchmarks and independent consumer studies.
What Are the User Requirements for an ASUS Computer?
ASUS computer users require compatibility with workloads such as video editing, gaming, and future upgrades. If you are into video editing or other workloads such as 3D rendering and CAD that need 16–32 core CPUs, a custom-built PC is required because most pre-built PCs are based on mainstream chipsets like Intel B660 or AMD B550, which support fewer cores compared to workstation chipsets such as Intel X299 or AMD X670E.
Gaming systems also require non-proprietary components for upgrades. If you want something highly customizable and upgradable, avoid pre-built PCs because many of their components, such as proprietary power supplies or motherboards, limit GPU and RAM upgrades in the future.
Does ASUS Offer a Wide Range of Choices?
Yes, ASUS offers a wide range of pre-built PC series designed for office professionals, content creators, everyday users, and gamers. The company includes business-oriented ExpertCenter desktops and the ProArt series for content creators. The ExpertCenter series is targeted towards corporate and office workloads, while the ProArt series is dedicated to video editors, 3D designers, and digital artists who need high-performance workstations.
You can also choose the Everyday Use series, which provides entry-level desktops for light office tasks and basic multimedia use. Everyday Use desktops generally include Intel Core i3 or AMD Ryzen 3 processors and integrated graphics, making them suitable for casual workloads but not for heavy gaming or rendering.
ASUS gaming desktops, particularly the Republic of Gamers (ROG) and ROG Strix series, are recognized for high performance and customizable designs. These PCs include RGB lighting, advanced cooling solutions, and upgrade-ready components.
There are two primary gaming desktop lines by ASUS: ROG and ROG Strix. Earlier ROG desktops featured Intel 8th and 9th-generation processors, while the current ROG Strix desktops include Intel 12th-generation CPUs and AMD Ryzen 5000 processors.
Apart from the latest processors, ASUS ROG Strix desktops support NVIDIA GeForce RTX graphics cards, including RTX 3060 Ti, RTX 3070, RTX 3080, RTX 3080 Ti, and up to RTX 4090. This range ensures both mid-range and high-end options for gamers with different budget levels.
Is ASUS a Hassle-Free Purchase Option?
ASUS is not always a hassle-free purchase option, because warranty claims and component reliability vary across its product lines. According to 2023 hardware surveys by Puget Systems and Consumer Reports, ASUS has a return rate of around 2–3%, which is slightly better than some competitors but not as low as brands like MSI or Gigabyte. Buying a pre-built ASUS ROG or TUF Gaming PC is easier than building a custom PC, since you avoid assembling components and receive a ready-to-use system with pre-installed drivers and firmware support.
Do ASUS Computers Provide Good Value?
ASUS computers provide good value because their pre-built systems include Intel i7 processors, NVIDIA RTX 4070 GPUs, and DDR5 RAM at competitive prices. You get high-performance components such as those in ASUS ROG Strix desktops, especially in the case of a gaming pre-built PC, and it saves 12–18% in cost compared to custom-built PCs where each component is purchased individually.
How Good Is ASUS Hardware and Software Support?
ASUS provides hardware and software support for its pre-built ROG and TUF gaming PCs, including warranty coverage up to 3 years and access to customer service through the MyASUS platform. These systems come with a pre-installed Windows 11 operating system and bundled utilities such as Armoury Crate, ASUS GPU Tweak III, and driver update tools. Customers receive direct assistance for operating system issues, firmware updates, and bundled applications, which ensures fewer compatibility problems compared to custom PCs.
Limited Choices
The biggest issue with ASUS pre-built PCs is that they are offered in 3–5 case designs per series. The same limitation applies to motherboard chipsets (B-series and some H-series in mainstream models, Z-series in premium ones) and other components. This means buyers may not always find the exact hardware combination they want when selecting an ASUS pre-built system.
Less Customizability
Another issue with ASUS pre-built PCs is reduced upgrade flexibility compared to custom systems. For example, if you buy a gaming PC with an RTX 3060 Ti and later want to install an RTX 4080, the included 550W or 650W power supply in many ASUS ROG Strix models may not support it without replacement. This limits high-end upgrades unless the power supply is changed.
No Overclocking
Most ASUS pre-built PCs do not include unlocked overclocking features because they use B-series or H-series motherboards. This prevents CPU overclocking on many mid-range models. However, select ASUS ROG Strix and ROG Huracan desktops include Z-series motherboards that allow processor overclocking, which means overclocking availability depends on the model tier.
Conclusion
ASUS components are designed for entry-level and mid-range users who lack in-depth knowledge of PC hardware and prefer ready-to-use parts. ASUS offers 5 main categories of components, including motherboards, graphics cards, monitors, power supplies, and cooling systems, each targeting specific workloads such as gaming, content creation, or office tasks.
ASUS produces multiple product lines of components, with models covering workloads from basic productivity to 4K gaming. For example, ROG Strix graphics cards use NVIDIA GeForce RTX GPUs, while ProArt motherboards and monitors are optimized for 3D rendering and video editing.
Custom-built PCs provide higher customization and features like manual BIOS tuning, advanced liquid cooling, and stable overclocking, if the user is an advanced builder. Benchmark data shows that custom configurations with mixed-brand components achieve up to 18% higher performance in overclocked scenarios compared to standard ASUS-only builds, although this approach requires 20–30% higher budget on average.
