7.7 / 10 Score Cnet Score CNET provides expert, unbiased reviews of products and services. When we assign a score, we use a scale of 1-10. Each product we score is evaluated by criteria specific to its category with most assessing pricing, quality, features and performance. Read more on: How we test Framework Desktop $1,139 at Framework Pros Very impressive integrated GPU
Strong, sustainable performance
Compact footprint Cons Less upgradeable than most desktop PCs
Kind of cheap-feeling case
The Framework Desktop is an interesting machine. It offers surprising performance on all fronts with even more surprising sustain for such a small, 4.5-liter footprint. The price tag starts to make sense when considering both those aspects.
However, the Desktop desktop also misses something. It's partly a pre-built Mini-ITX PC, lacking not only some of the user upgradability that desktop PCs in general, and Framework specifically, are known for. Integrating the CPU, GPU, NPU and memory onto one package may have its advantages, but those advantages might only be fully realized in AI workloads since the Desktop's ability to re-allocate its memory can help avoid the need to buy an expensive separate GPU. For everyone else, a Mini-ITX gaming PC build or even a full-size desktop could prove more effective, not to mention mini PCs like the Minisforum AI X1 Pro for folks who can get by with lower-end graphics at a lower price.
Framework Desktop Price as reviewed $1,987 Size 4.5 liter (8.1x3.8x8.9 inches; 205.5 x 96.8 x 226.1 mm) Motherboard Framework custom Mini-ITX CPU 3,000MHz AMD Ryzen AI Max Plus 395 Memory 64GB LPDDR5x-8000 Graphics Radeon 8060S (integrated) Storage 1TB NVMe M.2 PCIe Gen 4 SSD (boot) (WD_BLACK SN7100) Networking 5GbE, AMD RZ717 Wi-Fi 7 802.11be, Bluetooth 5.4 Connections USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A (x2 rear), USB4 Type-C (x2 rear), 3.5mm audio connector (x1 rear), 5Gb Ethernet, HDMI 2.1 (x1 on GPU), DisplayPort 2.1 (x2 rear, up to 10Gb/s), USB-C Expansion slots (x2 front, up to USB 3.2 Gen 2) Operating system Windows 11 Home (tested)
The Framework desktop starts at $1,139 for a model with the AMD Ryzen AI Max 385 and 32GB of memory. This bumps up to $1,639 to get to the model tested here, which includes an upgraded Ryzen AI Max Plus 395 CPU, boosted integrated graphics and 64GB of memory. You can get up to 128GB of memory, bringing the system price up to $2,459.
These prices don't get you a ready-to-run computer, though. Storage, an operating system, the CPU fan, expansion cards, front tiles and even the power cord are priced as additions. These can really add up. For instance, our test configuration's base price jumps to $1,987 to get 1TB of storage, a Windows 11 license, a power cable, the Noctua fan and the $40 clear side panel. That's before choosing some of the aesthetic front panel tiles and the two expansion cards that serve as front I/O (bringing the total to $2,039).
Framework also offers the mainboards on their own, which start at $839, indicating that the cost of the case and power supply adds $300 to the price of the system.
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