Framework Desktop Review: Small and Mighty, but Shy of Upgrade Greatness

The Framework Desktop is an attention-grabbing machine. It gives 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. 

Nevertheless, the Desktop desktop additionally misses one thing. It is partly a pre-built Mini-ITX PC, missing not solely a number of the person upgradability that desktop PCs generally, and Framework particularly, are identified for. Integrating the CPU, GPU, NPU and reminiscence onto one bundle could have its benefits, however these benefits would possibly solely be absolutely realized in AI workloads because the Desktop’s capacity to re-allocate its reminiscence can assist 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 may show more practical, to not point out mini PCs just like the Minisforum AI X1 Pro for people who can get by with lower-end graphics at a lower cost. 

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 may stand up to 128GB of reminiscence, bringing the system worth as much as $2,459. 

These costs do not get you a ready-to-run laptop, 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. For example, 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 number of the aesthetic entrance panel tiles and the 2 growth playing cards that function entrance I/O (bringing the entire to $2,039). 

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

Sturdy for its dimension, 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 method, 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 degree that is typically reserved for beefy gaming PCs. It is 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 gives excessive efficiency. Its single-core speeds are very sturdy, rivaling current 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 cell 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 below a heavy load. As spectacular as that’s, the massive 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 degree between the cell 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 pace below sustained masses. A single cross of Cinebench R24 yielded outcomes much like a 10-minute run, and the system maintained over 99% consistency in 3DMark’s Metal Nomad Mild stress check. 

For the reason that 64GB of LPDDR5x-8000 system reminiscence is shared, it is attainable 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 wish to run an AI mannequin on could be helpful. Whereas it may be arduous to straight evaluate 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 era benchmark, the Framework Desktop held its personal towards the Minisforum AtomMan G7 Ti, which had a cell RTX 4070 Ti however was possible hampered by solely 8GB of VRAM. 

Much less upgradable than you’d anticipate from Framework

Right into a small, 4.5-liter case, Framework packed a tiny mini-ITX motherboard that is nearly solely coated by the CPU cooler. Wedged alongside is a really small energy provide, all framed right into a metallic skeleton and a largely 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 nearly units the Framework Desktop at odds with Framework’s ethos thus far. Its laptops are upgradable to a degree few laptops are. Right here we’ve a desktop PC, a kind issue identified 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 plenty of uninspiring plastic. You may enhance 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 is not a $40 improve I may advocate. The clear plastic would not look nice, particularly when most of it’s drilled with air flow holes for the CPU cooler, plus slightly part within the nook for the ability provide. It is nearly shocking the Framework Desktop runs as successfully because it does, given its airflow design is simply sucking contemporary air in by 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 somewhat 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 provided related I/O however put extra of it conveniently on the entrance of the system (to not point out its additional 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 could be linked collectively utilizing the 5GbE or USB4 ports, although that sort of factor is extra for skilled or prosumer setups. 

So total, the Framework Desktop does higher than you would possibly anticipate given its dimension, however that dimension additionally means it has very restricted improve/growth choices, and it could possibly get dear shortly with its varied (and infrequently not likely non-obligatory) add-ons. Nonetheless, for a tiny desktop, the efficiency is satisfyingly good.