Framework, the corporate that’s higher identified for its modular, repairable laptops, simply launched its first desktop pc. It’s a small desktop PC that punches above its weight.
Probably the most attention-grabbing half is what’s contained in the machine. Framework is likely one of the first corporations to make use of AMD’s just lately introduced Strix Halo structure, often known as the Ryzen AI Max processors. It’s an all-in-one processing unit that guarantees some critical efficiency.
In different phrases, Framework simply designed a PC for 2 sorts of prospects: folks on the lookout for a particularly small gaming PC, or individuals who wish to run massive language fashions on their very own computer systems.
From the surface, the Framework Desktop appears to be like extra like a toy than a critical pc. It’s a small 4.5L pc constructed round a mini-ITX mainboard, which makes it smaller than a PlayStation 5 or an Xbox Collection X.
It has a customizable entrance panel with 21 interchangeable plastic sq. tiles. If you purchase a Framework Desktop on the corporate’s web site, you possibly can choose tile colours and patterns to create your individual entrance panel.
Along with the standard ports that you simply often get with a mini-ITX mainboard, you’ll discover Framework’s iconic growth playing cards on the backside of the machine — two on the entrance, and two on the again. You’ll be able to choose between a variety of modules, akin to USB-C or USB-A ports, a headphone jack, an SD card reader, or perhaps a storage growth card.
The internals are fairly easy: There’s the mainboard with AMD’s accelerated processing unit, a fan, a warmth sink, an influence provide, and two M.2 2280 NVMe SSD slots for storage.
AMD’s Strix Halo APU is soldered to the mainboard. Framework gives two completely different configurations — the AMD Ryzen AI Max 385, and the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 395. The highest configuration comes with 16 CPU cores, 40 graphics cores, and 80MB of cache, whereas the entry-level configuration comes with 8 CPU cores, 32 graphics cores and 40MB of cache.
However the place’s the RAM? That’s actually going to be probably the most divisive design alternative since Framework gives 32GB to 128GB of soldered-in RAM. You received’t be capable to purchase extra RAM or improve it down the highway.
“There may be one place we did should step away from PC norms although, which is on reminiscence. To allow the huge 256GB/s reminiscence bandwidth that Ryzen AI Max delivers, the LPDDR5x is soldered,” Framework CEO Nirav Patel wrote on the corporate’s weblog.
“We spent months working with AMD to discover methods round this, however finally decided that it wasn’t technically possible to land modular reminiscence at excessive throughput with the 256-bit reminiscence bus,” he added.
However, having as a lot as 128GB of unified reminiscence unlocks many prospects with regards to massive language fashions. Llama 3.3 70B can run with none hiccup utilizing Ollama, llama.cpp and different open-source instruments for native AI workloads.
Different open-weight fashions from Mistral, Nous, Hermes or DeepSeek also needs to run positive. Framework additionally sells the mainboard and not using a case. As an illustration, the corporate has constructed a mini-rack with 4 Framework Desktop mainboards operating in parallel for AI testing.
The bottom mannequin of the Framework Desktop begins at $1,099, whereas the top-end model prices $1,999. Like different Framework computer systems, the corporate guarantees help for Home windows in addition to standard Linux distributions akin to Ubuntu, Fedora, or its gaming-focused cousin Bazzite.
Pre-orders are open now, however shipments will solely begin in early Q3 2025.