Framework Desktop review: Mini PC wrapped in a mini-ITX body

The Framework Desktop is unique in that it's a mini-ITX form factor powered by a 120 W mobile AMD Ryzen Zen 5 CPU. Smaller mini PCs with this same processor are available for similar prices including the GMK EVO-X2 or BOSGAME M5, but the Framework runs quieter, cooler, and surprisingly more efficiently by adequate margins while being easier to service or repair.

There is still room for improvement. Installing the Expansion Cards, for example, requires lifting or tilting the unit off the table. Waste heat exits from the side panel which can affect positioning. There is no support for PCIe5 SSDs, upgradeable memory, AMD PRO CPUs or ECC RAM, but these are likely limitations of the AMD processor and not the Framework design. The setbacks are otherwise minor for a solid mini PC/desktop hybrid solution.

The base configuration with the Ryzen AI Max 385 starts at $1100 while our review unit as configured starts at $1600.

Unveiled in February of this year, the Framework Desktop is the company's third major product and first Mini-ITX desktop in the Framework family. The system carries the same design philosophies as the Laptop 13.5 or Laptop 16 series including ease of repairability and compatibility with Expansion Cards as top priorities.

Our test unit is a middle configuration with the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 395 CPU, integrated Radeon 8060S GPU, and 64 GB of RAM for approximately $1600. Lower-end options ship with the Ryzen AI Max 385 and Radeon 8050S instead while the highest-end option includes 128 GB of soldered RAM.

As a mini PC and desktop hybrid, the Framework Desktop competes with models like the GMK EVO-X2, BOSGAME M5, or Beelink SER9 Pro all of which offer the same processor option as the Framework Desktop.

More Framework reviews:

• Laptop 13.5 (AMD Edition)
• Laptop 13.5 (Intel Edition)
• Laptop 16

The Framework Desktop is larger and heavier than other PCs with the exact same processor including the GMK EVO-X2, BOSGAME M5, or Beelink GTR9 Pro. Of course, this discrepancy is due to the superior serviceability and integrated PSU of the Framework design which negates the need for external AC adapters.

Notable ports include the five video-out ports along the rear plus two USB-C 3.2 Gen. 2 ports on the front. The two front ports are compatible with the same Expansion Cards that have been available since the original Framework Laptop in 2021.

The system is manufactured with 30 percent PCC plastic and 50 percent PCC aluminum while the packaging is fully recyclable and plastic-free. Nonetheless, accessories are individually packaged including each Expansion Card and Tile leading to an overuse of cardboard if ordering a handful of accessories at once.

The DIY Edition includes the CPU fan mounting kit and screwdriver for installation while the Expansion Cards, Tiles, and CPU fan are all optional. The plastic Tiles adorn the front panel of the system in a 3 x 7 grid purely for aesthetic and personalization purposes. Framework could perhaps support RGB LED Tiles in the future for an extra level of customization.

The standard one-year limited manufacturer warranty applies if purchased in the US.

We set Windows to Performance mode prior to running the benchmarks below. VRAM is set to 8 GB by default on the Framework Desktop, but we've set this to 16 GB for the purposes of this review.

Raw multi-thread performance with the Ryzen AI Max+ 395 is comparable to the Core Ultra 9 275HX otherwise known as one of Intel's fastest Arrow Lake-HX options at the moment.