Your typical desktop PC has long been customizable and easy to fix. So, why is Framework Computer—the company best known for its ultra-upgradable laptops—expanding into this well-established market?
It’s easy to understand after you see, touch, and test out the Framework Desktop, which the company just announced. The product stands apart from a typical tower desktop PC because it’s compact, well-built, and portable enough to fit it into a backpack. And its focus on processing and graphics power, via a much-anticipated Ryzen AI chip, could put it well ahead of much of the mini PC crowd.
How the Framework Desktop Feels
The compact design is part of the appeal to the Framework Desktop, which is easy to carry with one hand. (Framework will even sell an optional handle.) It’s essentially a Mini-ITX-form-factor desktop that feels like it weighs around 10 pounds.
(Credit: Michael Kan)
The product is also sturdy, with every part carefully packed into the chassis. In fact, the enclosure is so effective at enclosing that I initially struggled to open it. The top of the case has two flip-top fasteners that you untwist, letting you access the innards of the PC. The front face itself is easy to remove; it attaches via magnets.
(Credit: Michael Kan)
“We designed the Framework Desktop to be the easiest PC you could build,” Framework’s founder and CEO, Nirav Patel, said at the Framework Desktop’s reveal event.
(Credit: Michael Kan)
Most desktop PCs are already upgradable and repairable to a greater or lesser extent, so Framework included some elements that allow you to customize the Framework beyond the norm. For one, the PC’s front panel features several small plastic tiles you can replace individually to show off different colors, symbols, and logos—almost like Jibbitz for Crocs sandals…
(Credit: Framework Computer)
The company also includes two of its Expansion Card bays along the bottom edge of the case; these accept customizable I/O modules that let you change out which ports the PC chassis has at a given moment. (Here, we’ve got twin USB-C.)
(Credit: Michael Kan)
Going Inside the Framework Desktop
On the downside, the Framework Desktop doesn’t have enough space for a dedicated graphics card. Instead, it relies on an integrated AMD Radeon 8060S GPU, which is part of its AMD Ryzen AI processor (more about that in a moment). In addition, the LPDDR5x RAM has been soldered onto the motherboard, so customers won’t be able to swap in new memory.
But outside of that, buyers can expect a PC with a standard mix of ports and some standard components. The (non-modular) port loadout on the back is two USB4 Type-C, two USB-A, two DisplayPorts, an HDMI output, and a 5Gbps Ethernet jack. The cooling for the system was developed in concert with Cooler Master and Noctua, and is anchored by an oversize 120mm CPU fan in Noctua’s signature beige and maroon. (You can see it with the side off, dominating the interior.)
(Credit: Michael Kan)
The motherboard, according to Framework, is a standard Mini-ITX design with a laptop-grade Ryzen AI Max CPU integrated. (Framework notes that it uses standard headers and will work in other Mini-ITX cases.) It has a PCI Express x4 slot (though the Framework case has no bracket for mounting any expansion cards) and two PCIe NVMe M.2 slots for up to 16TB of storage and Wi-Fi connectivity (the latter via an M.2 module).
(Credit: Framework Computer)
The power supply is unusual; it’s a semi-custom 400-watt unit in the Flex ATX, as opposed to SFX, form factor.
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Of course, the big test will be the Framework Desktop’s performance, considering the AMD Ryzen AI Max chip inside was actually designed for laptops and tablets. To try and allay this concern, Framework’s event in San Francisco had several Desktop units set up to host an old-school LAN party, and they appeared to be running smoothly.
(Credit: Michael Kan)
During the event, AMD added that its Ryzen AI Max chip is so potent that it promises to run any game you’d like at up to 1440p with high detail settings. (We’re looking forward to testing it in upcoming PCs like this one, and the 2025 Asus ROG Flow Z13.) Playing Elden Ring on a Framework Desktop on the LAN, graphics quality and frame rates held their heads surprisingly high. I’m now excited to see how the Framework Desktop fares against gaming PCs with discrete GPUs. Stay tuned for our full review of the Desktop; we’re looking forward to the Ryzen AI Max in it and in select laptops and tablets.
(Credit: Michael Kan)
The Takeaway: An Interesting Mini PC Value Proposition
In the meantime, Framework is accepting pre-orders for the Framework Desktop, with shipments scheduled for Q3. (The Framework website had a several-minutes-long queue for hours following the company’s event.) Framework will be asking $1,999 for the top Framework Desktop configuration, which includes AMD’s tip-top Ryzen AI Max+ 395 processor and 128GB of memory.
(Credit: Michael Kan)
During its unveiling, Framework pointed out that this top-end configuration is more than $2,000 cheaper than a similarly configured Apple Mac Studio. The base model, on the other hand, is priced at $1,099 for an eight-core Ryzen AI Max 385 with 32GB of RAM. Come back to PCMag for our full review of the Framework Desktop as the launch time gets closer.
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About Michael Kan
Senior Reporter
