Framework

Why did Framework build a desktop?

April 1, 2025

Framework laptops are known for their customizability, upgradability, and sustainability, aligning with the right to repair movement. Unlike traditional laptops, Framework devices feature easily replaceable components, including storage, RAM, battery, ports, and even the motherboard. This design allows users to upgrade their hardware over time rather than replacing the entire device, reducing electronic waste and promoting longevity.

What is Framework Desktop?

Recently, Framework introduced its first desktop PC.

The Framework Desktop is a compact 4.5L PC with prices ranging between USD 1,099 and USD 1,999. It features high-quality CPU fans made in collaboration with Cooler Master and Noctua. The desktop also includes a customizable front panel with a 3D-printed sticker, allowing users to personalize its appearance.

And here’s where things get interesting. While Framework aligns with right to repair and customization values, the Framework Desktop is not as modular as we expected.

Unlike their laptops, which allow users to easily replace most of the parts, even the motherboard, the desktop PC doesn’t offer the same level of customization. Some core components, such as CPU and RAM, are not swappable, which goes against their very own values they built their brand on.

But why??

The answer to this question is quite surprising. Framework partnered with AMD to bring their latest Ryzen AI Max “Strix Halo” mobile processors, which include Ryzen AI Max 385 and Ryzen AI Max+ 395. The Ryzen AI Max series sits at the top of AMD’s lineup of mobile chips for graphical tasks, offering exceptional performance and a massive improvement over the previous generation.

The AMD Ryzen AI Max 385 has a 8 core / 16 threads “Zen 5” CPU and 32 core “Radeon 8050S” GPU, while the top of the line AI Max+ 395 comes with 16 cores / 32 threads and a whopping 40 “Radeon 8060S” GPU cores with all the latest features from AMD.

By placing this laptop class processor into a desktop form factor, Framework can push its performance to the limit. Unlike in a laptop, where power and cooling constraints can often throttle performance, the Framework Desktop allows this chip to sustain up to 120W continuous power and 140W peak power at boot on both configurations. All while maintaining a quiet and efficient cooling system.

Who is this for?

The Framework Desktop is designed for developers, researchers, and machine learning enthusiasts looking for a powerful, local AI processing machine.

For AI tasks

Those Strix Halo processors have a pretty capable NPU (Neural Processing Unit) with up to 50 TOPS of performance. But what makes the Framework Desktop so good at AI processing is due to all those GPU cores. They are specifically well-suited to handle the massive parallel processing required for running complex tasks like training Large Language Models (LLMs) or performing AI inference locally. The more cores, the better the GPU can manage simultaneous calculations, ensuring smoother and faster processing.

Framework Desktop also supports up to 128GB of memory, with 96GB assignable to GPU tasks on Windows (more on Linux), making it ideal for heavy AI workloads. The ability to dedicate a large amount of memory to the GPU allows the system to efficiently manage massive datasets and complex computations without lag.

According to Framework, the 64GB and 128GB shared memory variants showed excellent results when tested with “Llama 3.3 70B”, a 70 billion parameter model, demonstrating the ability of those Radeon GPUs to deliver real-time performance for AI tasks.

For gaming

And for all the gamers out there, the Framework Desktop punches way above its weight. In Cyberpunk 2077 at 1080p Ultra settings with FSR (FidelityFX Super Resolution) and FG (Frame Generation) off, the Ryzen AI Max+ 395 scored 85 fps. Outpacing NVIDIA’s RTX 4070 mobile, which scored an average of 79 fps according to Notebookcheck.

What’s even more impressive is that both AI Max 385 and AI Max+ 395 show only a small performance gap in most games tested by Framework.

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Final words

While the Framework Desktop may not be as customizable as their laptops, it represents an innovative approach to local AI processing, leveraging the power of AMD Ryzen AI Max processors. Designed for users who need a high-performance, energy-efficient, and secure machine to handle demanding machine learning, AI workloads, gaming, and everything in between.