Framework Desktop Review: A Powerful Yet Compact Small Form Factor PC

Framework, a brand known for creating modular, upgradable, and repairable laptops, has applied its philosophy to the desktop PC market. The Framework Desktop offers a unique take on small form factor PCs, packing powerful components in a compact 4.5-liter case. Despite being less modular than many of its desktop counterparts, the system delivers impressive performance, especially for gaming and content creation, thanks to its AMD Strix Halo APU and upgradable RAM options. The base model, priced at $1,099, comes with a Ryzen AI Max 385 chip and 32GB of RAM, while the high-end version offers up to 128GB of RAM. The build is refreshingly easy to assemble, and customization options include modular front ports and tiles. However, it has limitations: it doesn’t support traditional GPU upgrades, and there’s no PCIe x16 slot for additional graphics cards. Its performance, while strong at 2.5K gaming, falls short for 4K gaming, and some may find better value in prebuilt systems at similar prices. Overall, the Framework Desktop stands out for its user-friendly design and quiet, efficient performance, making it a great choice for light to medium gaming and productivity tasks.