Framework Desktop Overview: Small and Mighty, however Shy of Improve Greatness

Professionals

• Very spectacular built-in GPU
• Robust, sustainable efficiency
• Compact footprint

Cons

• Much less upgradeable than most desktop PCs
• Sort of cheap-feeling case

The Framework Desktop is an attention-grabbing machine. It presents shocking efficiency on all fronts with much more shocking maintain for such a small, 4.5-liter footprint. The worth tag begins to make sense when contemplating each these points. 

Nonetheless, the Desktop desktop additionally misses one thing. It is partly a pre-built Mini-ITX PC, missing not solely a few of the person upgradability that desktop PCs on the whole, and Framework particularly, are recognized for. Integrating the CPU, GPU, NPU and reminiscence onto one package deal could have its benefits, however these benefits would possibly solely be totally realized in AI workloads for the reason that Desktop’s capability to re-allocate its reminiscence might help keep away from the necessity to purchase an costly separate GPU. For everybody else, a Mini-ITX gaming PC construct or perhaps a full-size desktop might show simpler, to not point out mini PCs just like the Minisforum AI X1 Pro for folk who can get by with lower-end graphics at a cheaper price. 

The Framework desktop begins at $1,139 for a mannequin with the AMD Ryzen AI Max 385 and 32GB of reminiscence. This bumps as much as $1,639 to get to the mannequin examined right here, which incorporates an upgraded Ryzen AI Max Plus 395 CPU, boosted built-in graphics and 64GB of reminiscence. You’ll be able to stand up to 128GB of reminiscence, bringing the system worth as much as $2,459. 

These costs aren’t for a ready-to-run pc, although. Storage, an working system, the CPU fan, growth playing cards, entrance tiles and even the ability twine are priced as additions. These can actually add up. As an illustration, our check configuration’s base worth jumps to $1,987 to get 1TB of storage, a Home windows 11 license, an influence cable, the Noctua fan and the $40 clear facet panel. That is earlier than selecting a few of the aesthetic entrance panel tiles and the 2 growth playing cards that function entrance I/O (bringing the overall to $2,039). 

Framework additionally presents the mainboards on their own, which begin at $839, indicating that the price of the case and energy provide provides $300 to the worth of the system. 

Robust for its measurement, however nonetheless no desktop

In its squat little case, the Framework Desktop hides away an impressively succesful {hardware} setup. The AMD Ryzen AI Max Plus 395 is the beating coronary heart of this technique, with the CPU, GPU, NPU and reminiscence all built-in. There’s loads of efficiency too, with the system managing a really spectacular PCMark10 rating of 8,715, a lofty stage that is typically reserved for beefy gaming PCs. This can be a sturdy indication that the Framework has greater than sufficient muscle for a variety of workplace duties. 

The CPU efficiency by itself is not earth-shattering, however it presents excessive efficiency. Its single-core speeds are very sturdy, rivaling latest entries from Intel just like the Intel Core i9-14900HX and Intel Core Extremely 7 255H, although it lags behind well-cooled desktop chips just like the Intel Core Extremely 9 285K and even AMD’s Ryzen 9 9950X3D. Apple’s M4 additionally nonetheless has a single-core efficiency lead. 

Multicore speeds shift again over within the Framework Desktop’s favor, with the chip not solely getting out forward of most cellular chips but additionally main Apple’s M4 within the Mac Mini and iMac. It even will get into the ballpark of the AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D or Intel Core i7-14700K once they’re put in in beefy gaming desktops (with sturdy liquid cooling in a single case). The Framework Desktop manages this with a single-fan air-cooling setup that runs quietly even beneath a heavy load. As spectacular as that’s, the large gaming desktops working different top-of-the-line CPUs nonetheless have the lead.

Whereas high-end CPU efficiency was anticipated, the built-in GPU’s capabilities have been a shock. It is an enormous step up from prior AMD built-in graphics and leaves Intel Arc built-in graphics within the mud. Throughout graphical benchmarks, the Radeon 8060S iGPU carried out on a stage between the cellular variant of an Nvidia RTX 4060 and RTX 4070, although higher-wattage RTX 4070 laptops tended to nonetheless show superior. It was sufficient that I had to take a look at its gaming chops, and it managed to run Shadow of the Tomb Raider at 1080p with the best graphics preset at a median of 111 frames per second.  

With the small stature of the system and low-profile cooler, sustained efficiency was a fear, however the Framework Desktop proved itself able to sustaining its velocity beneath sustained hundreds. A single move of Cinebench R24 yielded outcomes just like a 10-minute run, and the system maintained over 99% consistency in 3DMark’s Metal Nomad Gentle stress check. 

Because the 64GB of LPDDR5x-8000 system reminiscence is shared, it is doable to allocate a considerable amount of reminiscence to the CPU, GPU, or NPU as wanted. A part of the system’s promise is AI efficiency, and having an enormous pile of reminiscence obtainable to whichever element you need to run an AI mannequin on might be helpful. Whereas it may be exhausting to straight examine AMD, Intel and Nvidia within the benchmarks we run, there is definitely some promise for the Framework Desktop. Working UL’s Procyon Steady Diffusion XL picture technology benchmark, the Framework Desktop held its personal towards the Minisforum AtomMan G7 Ti, which had a cellular RTX 4070 Ti however was probably hampered by solely 8GB of VRAM. 

Much less upgradable than you’d count on from Framework

Right into a small, 4.5-liter case, Framework packed a tiny mini-ITX motherboard that is virtually solely coated by the CPU cooler. Wedged alongside is a really small energy provide, all framed right into a steel skeleton and a principally plastic exterior. 

Even with its cramped inside, there are nonetheless some growth choices. There’s an open PCIe 4.0×4 slot simply south of the cooling fan, although it will require a really skinny add-in card that does not lengthen out the again of the case. The motherboard has two M.2 slots, one on the entrance and one on the again. Every has a built-in warmth protect. That is it for future growth, although. This virtually units the Framework Desktop at odds with Framework’s ethos up to now. Its laptops are upgradable to a stage few laptops are. Right here we now have a desktop PC, a kind issue recognized for its modularity and upgradability, with little to improve with out shopping for a completely new mainboard. 

Getting again to the surface, the Framework Desktop feels a bit low-cost, with a lot of uninspiring plastic. You’ll be able to embellish the entrance panel with 21 small plastic tiles that give a type of Lego-like impact, however, curiously, in addition they prohibit case airflow. 

My check unit got here with a transparent facet panel, and it isn’t a $40 improve I might advocate. The clear plastic does not look nice, particularly when most of it’s drilled with air flow holes for the CPU cooler, plus a little bit part within the nook for the ability provide. It is virtually shocking the Framework Desktop runs as successfully because it does, given its airflow design is simply sucking contemporary air in via the facet panel and pushing it out each obtainable gap within the case.

The I/O assortment can also be considerably naked. I can perceive Framework wanting to incorporate its tile-based ports on its desktop, however they find yourself being reasonably limiting. You get simply two entrance ports on the case, maxing out at simply USB 3.2 Gen 2. The rear can also be surprisingly sparse, with simply two 10Gbps USB-A ports and USB4 ports. Surprisingly, there are three devoted show outputs: one HDMI 2.1 and two DisplayPort 2.1. There’s additionally a 3.5mm headphone jack and a 5Gbps Ethernet jack. The a lot smaller Minisforum AI X1 Professional supplied comparable I/O however put extra of it conveniently on the entrance of the system (to not point out its further M.2 slot and user-upgradeable reminiscence). 

Whereas the person upgradability will not be so thrilling, Framework has famous that the system can slot into server racks and a number of mainboards might be linked collectively utilizing the 5GbE or USB4 ports, although that type of factor is extra for skilled or prosumer setups. 

So total, the Framework Desktop does higher than you would possibly count on given its measurement, however that measurement additionally means it has very restricted improve/growth choices, and it might probably get dear rapidly with its varied (and sometimes probably not non-obligatory) add-ons. Nonetheless, for a tiny desktop, the efficiency is satisfyingly good.