Framework's First Desktop Is an Xbox-Sized Mini Gaming PC
The Framework Desktop is built around a mini ITX board that will fit in any PC case, but it's less upgradeable than most desktops. Framework
If you buy something using links in our stories, we may earn a commission. This helps support our journalism. Learn more. Please also consider subscribing to WIRED
The original Framework Laptop's sales pitch was that it wanted to bring some of the modularity and repairability of the desktop PC ecosystem to a functional, thin, and light laptop. For nearly half a decade, the company has made good on that promise with multiple motherboard upgrades and other tweaks for the original 13-inch Framework Laptop; with the Framework Laptop 16 and Laptop 12, the company has tried to bring the same ethos to gaming/workstation laptops and budget PCs for students.
This story originally appeared on Ars Technica, a trusted source for technology news, tech policy analysis, reviews, and more. Ars is owned by WIRED's parent company, Condé Nast.
One of Framework's announcements this week was for the company's first desktop PC. Unsurprisingly dubbed the Framework Desktop, it's aimed less at the general-purpose PC crowd and more at people who want the smallest, most powerful desktop they can build and will pay extra money to get it. Preorders for this system start now, and Framework says it should ship in Q3 of 2025.
Here was my first question: What does a company trying to build a more desktop-like laptop have to bring to the desktop ecosystem, where things are already standardized, upgradeable, and repairable?
The answer, at least for the Framework Desktop announced today: a gaming PC that takes advantage of many PC standards and offers a unique combination of small size and high performance, but which is otherwise substantially less modular and upgradeable than a mini PC you can already buy or build for yourself. Tiny but Fast This mini ITX board is based on existing PC standards—note the M.2 slot, the regular USB-C front headers, and the four-lane PCIe slot—but also comes with a soldered-down CPU and GPU and soldered-down, non-upgradeable RAM. Framework
The Framework Desktop is powered by an AMD Ryzen AI Max processor, a Radeon 8060S integrated GPU, and between 32 GB and 128 GB of soldered-in RAM. Over at Ars, we reviewed a more thermally constrained version of these chips in the Asus ROG Flow Z13 tablet—despite technically being an 'integrated' GPU built into the same silicon as the CPU, the number of compute units (up to 40, based on AMD's RDNA 3.5 architecture) plus the high-speed bank of soldered-in RAM gives it performance similar to a midrange dedicated laptop GPU.
In Framework's first-party case, the PC starts at $1,099, which gets you a Ryzen AI Max 385 (that's an 8-core CPU and 32 GPU cores) and 32 GB of RAM. A fully loaded 128 GB with a Ryzen AI Max+ 395 configuration (16 CPU cores, 40 GPU cores) will run you $1,999. There's also an in-between build with the Ryzen AI Max+ 395 chip and 64 GB of RAM for $1,599. If you just want the mini ITX board to put in a case of your choosing, that starts at $799.
None of these are impulse buys, exactly, but they're priced a bit better than a gaming-focused mini PC like the Asus ROG NUC, which starts at nearly $1,300 as of this writing and comes with half as much RAM. It's also priced well compared to what you can get out of a DIY mini ITX PC based on integrated graphics—the Ryzen 7 8700G, an AM5 ITX motherboard, and 32 GB of DDR5 can all be had for around $500 collectively before you add a case, power supply, or SSD, but for considerably slower performance.
The volume of the Framework Desktop's first-party case is just 4.5 liters—for reference, the SSUPD Meshroom S is 14.9 liters, a fairly middle-of-the-road volume for an ITX case that can fit a full-size GPU. An Xbox Series X is about 6.9 liters, and the Xbox Series S is 4.4 liters. Apple's Mac Studio is about 3.7 liters. The Framework Desktop isn't breaking records, but it's definitely tiny. Despite the non-upgradeability of the main components, Framework has tried to stick to existing standards where it can by using a flex ATX power supply, ATX headers on the motherboard, regular 120 mm fans that can be changed out, and of course the mini ITX form factor itself. Framework
So the pitch for the system is easy: You get a reasonably powerful 1440p-capable gaming and workstation PC inside a case the size of a small game console. 'If the Series S could run Windows, I'd buy it in a second' is a thought that has occurred to me, so I can see the appeal, even though it costs at least three times as much.
But it does feel like a strange fit for Framework, given that it's so much less upgradeable than most PCs. The CPU and GPU are one piece of silicon, and they're soldered to the motherboard. The RAM is also soldered down and not upgradeable once you've bought it, setting it apart from nearly every other board Framework sells.
'To enable the massive 256GB/s memory bandwidth that Ryzen AI Max delivers, the LPDDR5x is soldered,' writes Framework CEO Nirav Patel in a post about this week's announcements. 'We spent months working with AMD to explore ways around this but ultimately determined that it wasn't technically feasible to land modular memory at high throughput with the 256-bit memory bus. Because the memory is non-upgradeable, we're being deliberate in making memory pricing more reasonable than you might find with other brands.'
Patel notes that Framework 'leveraged all of the key PC standards everywhere we could.' That starts with a mini ITX board that uses standard ATX headers so it can fit into any PC case. The system's 400-W power supply is based on the established Flex ATX standard, and its 120-mm fans (made in cooperation with Cooler Master and Noctua) can be swapped out for any other fan of the same size. A front panel with customizable, 3D-printable square swatches adds a touch of personality and customization. Framework
The system also retains some modularity, with swappable black or translucent side panels, an optional carrying handle, 21 customizable tiles on the front (which can be either bought or 3D-printed), and two slots on the front for the same expansion cards used for Framework Laptops. The system also includes a PCI Express slot with four lanes of bandwidth and two M.2 2280 slots for SSDs. Rear I/O includes two USB4 ports, two DisplayPorts, an HDMI port, and a 5-gigabit Ethernet port.
Framework says the Desktop will work with not just Windows 11 and the typical Ubuntu and Fedora Linux distributions but also with more gaming-focused Linux distributions like Playtron OS and the SteamOS-based Bazzite. (We don't know whether the Framework Desktop will be supported by actual SteamOS when Valve starts distributing it on third-party PCs, but the desktop seems like a near-ideal way to resurrect the dead Steam Machine idea).
So while the non-upgradeable nature of key system components make this machine seem distinctively un-Framework-like, it is Framework-like in that it attempts to identify and address an underserved market niche with something as standards-based as possible. To those looking to put together a more fully modular system with a user-replaceable CPU, GPU, and memory, I'm sure the Framework team would be the first to point you toward the wider PC ecosystem.
This story originally appeared on Ars Technica.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
TechCrunch
17 hours ago
- TechCrunch
Why Danny Boyle shot ‘28 Years Later' with iPhones
In Brief Director Danny Boyle famously shot his post-apocalyptic classic '28 Days Later' on Canon digital cameras, making it easier for him to capture eerie scenes of an abandoned London, and giving the movie's fast-moving zombies a terrifying immediacy. To make his decades-later sequel '28 Years Later' (which opened this weekend), Boyle turned to a different piece of consumer tech — the iPhone. Boyle told Wired that by using a rig that could hold 20 iPhone Pro Max cameras, the filmmaking team created 'basically a poor man's bullet time,' capturing the brutal action scenes from a variety of angles. Even when he wasn't using the rig, Boyle (who once directed a biopic of Apple co-founder Steve Jobs) said the iPhone was the movie's 'principal camera,' albeit after disabling settings like automatic focus and adding special accessories. 'Filming with iPhones allowed us to move without huge amounts of equipment,' Boyle said, adding that the team was 'able to move quickly and lightly to areas of the countryside that we wanted to retain their lack of human imprint.'
Engadget
2 days ago
- Engadget
Engadget review recap: Switch 2, Playdate games and a Framework laptop
The Nintendo Switch 2 has been all the rage around the Engadget HQ for the last few weeks. Even the editors who didn't write the official review have had their hands glued to their new toys. Of course, we've been testing other things too, mainly a repairable laptop that's design for student use. Read on to catch up on the reviews you might've missed over the last two weeks. With the Switch 2, Nintendo improved everything we liked about the original while retaining its sleek and portable design. $449 at Walmart Nintendo Switch 2 finally made its way to gamers this month and several of us have been putting the portable console through its paces. Senior reviews reporter Sam Rutherford wrote our full review, noting that the company managed to take everything that make the original model so good and make it better. However, there's still room for improvement, especially with regards to battery life. "The Switch 2 has everything that made the original so great, but now there's more of it to enjoy," he said. "Granted, Nintendo's latest console commands a higher price, but as the successor to the iconic system that revived handheld gaming, this thing is worth it." The Switch 2 Pro controller is clearly the most refined gamepad Nintendo has ever made. It's just a shame that it's so expensive and doesn't have Hall effect sticks. $85 at Best Buy A new Switch means a new Pro Controller, so senior reviews reporter Devindra Hardawar took a deep dive on Nintendo's new accessory. Despite being "the most refined gampad" the company has ever made, he took offense to the price and the lack of advanced design features. "As much as I like the Switch 2 Pro Controller, it's undoubtedly an extravagance at $85 when 8Bitdo's Ultimate gamepad offers even more features for $50," he explained. "But if you're a dedicated Nintendo fan, or you just can't accept third-party controllers, it's also one of the best gamepads you can buy today." Framework's 12-inch laptop is an alternative to low-cost laptops, but it is too expensive to compete. $799 at Framework The Framework Laptop 12 takes the company's familiar spin on modular, repairable machines and puts it in a smaller body with students in mind. However, the price is an issue and overall performance isn't good enough. "The limited performance and battery life here gives me pause and I'm not sure a machine that, right now, needs a stretch to run Fortnite would be too popular," senior reporter Dan Cooper wrote. "My gut tells me Framework had intended to sell this for less before tariffs pushed the prices up beyond what made sense." Weekend editor Cheyenne Macdonald recently proclaimed that there haven't been any flops at the halfway point of Playdate Season Two. The two newest additions are Long Puppy and Otto's Galactic Groove!!, two games that are fun but still offer a challenge. You can also revisit her thoughts on The Whiteout and Wheelsprung or the initial column on Fulcrum Defender and Blippo+.
WIRED
2 days ago
- WIRED
Most Cheap Laptops Only Last a Few Years. The Framework Laptop 12 Could Last a Decade
Budget-friendly laptops may save you money in the near term, but if they're cheaply made and quickly outdated, you may end up needing to replace them soon after. That's why Framework's ethos is such a perfect fit for budget laptops. Being able to upgrade or replace nearly every component on the device yourself, in theory, means many more years of life for your laptop, keeping devices out of landfills. The new Framework Laptop 12 starts at just $549 for the DIY Edition, a fantastic deal for the price, but also a laptop that could potentially last much, much longer than your average machine. Plastic Please Photograph: Luke Larsen The Framework Laptop 12 is the third major product in the lineup so far. The company first launched the Framework Laptop 13 in 2022, followed by a larger (and more powerful) 16-inch model. But the 12-inch laptop is unique, however, as it's not only the smallest but also the cheapest, bringing the Framework philosophy to a whole new demographic. The Framework Laptop 12 bears a resemblance to student laptops, especially Chromebooks. These are designed to withstand some abuse, making it an appropriate fit for schools. Although it uses just a 12.2-inch screen, its overall footprint on the table is a bit bigger than you'd assume. Due to the almost comically large bezels around the display, the device is larger in some dimensions than some 13-inch laptops, like the Dell XPS 13. It's so thick (and the bezels are so chunky) that it's even taller than the 13-inch MacBook Air with the lid open, despite having over an inch less screen to work with. It's a tiny screen to work on, especially compared to how large the device feels to carry. There are a few interesting bits about the screen. It's the first Framework device to feature a 16:10 aspect ratio and a glossy touchscreen. The Framework Laptop 13 and 16 both have matte displays. But the reason for the touchscreen is that this is a 2-in-1 laptop, meaning the hinge can rotate around 360 degrees. There's even a stylus you can buy for taking notes or drawing, though mine did not come with it. That also means it can't open easily with one hand. There's no lip for your finger either, so you'll need both hands to pry it open. Thankfully, the build quality is decent. It's made out of plastic, yes, so there's some give in the keyboard and lid. But Framework says it has an 'inner metal structure' that gives it its fairly robust feel. It doesn't feel flimsy at all. Framework is also using 'overmolded, shock-absorbing' thermoplastic to reinforce the edges, ensuring it doesn't get nicked or dented. That's not unlike what you see on budget Chromebooks meant for the classroom. The quality of the display is hit or miss. The colors are the biggest detriment to the display and the laptop as a whole. It has an ugly green tint, which I confirmed with my Spyder colorimeter. It's typical for laptops of this price, but still disappointing to see. The good news is it's plenty sharp at 1,920 x 1,200-pixel resolution and quite bright, maxing out at 434 nits of brightness. That helps. While the display has its deficiencies, the Framework Laptop 12 has some strong points in its favor. The first is the keyboard, which feels fantastic to type on with its 1.5-millimeter key travel. Perhaps even more surprising is the touchpad. It's common to see unresponsive touchpads at this price that feel clunky to swipe across or have stiff, loud click mechanisms. That's even true on cheap laptops I like, such as the Asus Vivobook 14. But the Framework Laptop 12 has a high-end touchpad that's every bit as smooth and responsive to use as a MacBook or Microsoft Surface. It doesn't offer haptic feedback like those, but the click mechanism is quiet and precise. This might feel like a small reason to like the Framework Laptop 12, but as the parts of the laptop you interact with directly the most, they go a long way toward making it feel premium rather than cheap.
