The ASUS Chromebox 5a with an Intel Core i3-1315U is $479.99 at Amazon, and the number that matters most is missing from the listing. Google's ChromeOS device list gives the Chromebox 5a an Auto Update Expiration of June 2032.
That is about five years and eight months of guaranteed updates left. On a ChromeOS machine, that single date decides how long the hardware stays patched and manageable.
The configuration is modest. It pairs a 15W, six-core Core i3-1315U with 8GB of memory, a 128GB NVMe SSD and Intel UHD graphics, in a box measuring 166.5 by 165.8 by 45.9 mm.
ASUS sells the same part number on its own US store. The CHROMEBOX5A-S3081UN, part 90MS02X1-M00080, is listed there at $599.00, which puts Amazon $119.01 lower.
What the Amazon listing gets wrong
Two of the listing's bullet points do not match ASUS. They claim 8GB of DDR5 memory and 2.5 Gbps Ethernet.
The ASUS spec page lists DDR4-3200 SO-DIMM memory and a network port rated "10/100/1000 Mbps, 1G LAN". The Amazon product title says DDR4, so the page contradicts itself.
There is a third gap. The listing groups a VESA mount with the hardware, while ASUS marks "VESA Mount (optional)" in its accessories row, next to an optional keyboard, mouse and screw pack.
None of that changes what the box does well. Four USB Type-A ports, an audio jack and a microSD slot sit on the front, with two more USB Type-A ports, two HDMI 2.1 outputs, a DisplayPort 1.4 and a USB-C port behind.
That USB-C port carries DisplayPort 1.4 output and accepts power delivery input. Together the video outputs drive up to four 4K displays.
ASUS Chromebox 5a specifications
| Specification | ASUS Chromebox 5a (CHROMEBOX5A-S3081UN) |
|---|---|
| Processor | Intel Core i3-1315U, 6 cores (2P + 4E), 8 threads, up to 4.5GHz, 15W base power |
| Graphics | Intel UHD Graphics for 13th Gen Intel Processors |
| Memory | 4GB DDR4-3200 SO-DIMM x 2 (8GB total), two slots |
| Storage | 128GB M.2 2280 NVMe PCIe 4.0 x4 SSD |
| Video outputs | 2 x HDMI 2.1 (up to 4K at 60Hz), 1 x DisplayPort 1.4, 1 x USB-C with DP 1.4 |
| USB | 3 x USB 3.2 Gen1 Type-A, 3 x USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-A, 1 x USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-C |
| Networking | 1G LAN (10/100/1000 Mbps), Intel Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.4 |
| Other ports | Audio jack, microSD card slot, DC-in |
| Size and weight | 166.5 x 165.8 x 45.9 mm, 0.8 kg |
| Auto Update Expiration | June 2032, per Google's ChromeOS device list |
| Warranty | 1 year manufacturer's limited warranty, per the ASUS store |
Both memory slots are already full
The 8GB does not arrive as a single module. ASUS's store page for part 90MS02X1-M00080 lists the memory as "4GB DDR4-3200 SO-DIMM x 2".
Both slots are occupied, so adding memory means replacing both sticks rather than filling an empty one. ASUS puts the ceiling at 16GB per slot on Core i builds, which works out to 32GB.
Storage is easier to improve. The drive is a standard M.2 2280 NVMe PCIe 4.0 card, and ASUS lists support for 128GB to 512GB in that slot.
That upgrade room is the reason the AUE date carries weight here. ChromeOS itself keeps moving, and some Chromebooks are set to move to Googlebook OS, but Google has not published anything of the sort for this Chromebox.
How it compares with the other mini desktops on sale
Nothing listed near it is cheaper. The closest in price is GEEKOM's AX8 Max at $269.01 more, and it ships from a third-party seller showing only 17 units.
| Mini desktop | Price and configuration |
|---|---|
| ASUS Chromebox 5a | $479.99, Core i3-1315U, 8GB, 128GB, ChromeOS |
| GEEKOM AX8 Max | $749.00, Ryzen 7 8745HS, 16GB DDR5, 1TB |
| Apple Mac mini (M6) | $1,299.00, ships in 3 to 5 weeks |
| Sinbun Mini Gaming PC | $1,799.00, Core i9-13900HX, RTX 4070, 32GB, 1TB |
| Apple Mac Studio (M5 Max) | $2,299.00, down from $2,499.00 |
The comparison is not like for like, since only the Chromebox runs ChromeOS. Windows mini PCs at this size usually cost more, as the ACEMAGIC X3 at $575 and the HP OmniDesk from $799 show.
What ASUS and Amazon do not publish
Several things stay unlisted. ASUS does not publish noise levels, fan behaviour or idle power draw for the Chromebox 5a, no MIL-STD-810H durability rating appears on the company's spec page, and the Energy Star revision number is not given.
Amazon does not say when the discount ends, and ASUS lists the i5 version of this box as out of stock on its own store. ASUS does keep building at the other end of the range, where the Ascent QN10 starts at $1,349.
All prices here are the ones Amazon showed at the time of writing, and they can change without notice. The June 2032 update date will not.
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