Framework has just introduced its next-gen desktop and laptop solutions, powered by AMD's Ryzen AI 300 and Ryzen AI MAX lineups.
Framework's 4.5L Desktop Packs Powerful AMD Ryzen AI MAX APUs, Laptop 12 & 13 Get Upgraded With Ryzen AI 300 Chips & Intel 13th Gen
The most exciting of the launches in its 2nd Gen portfolio is definitely the Framework Desktop, which is powered by AMD's upcoming Ryzen AI MAX APUs. The Framework desktop adopts the flagship Ryzen AI MAX+ 395 APU with up to 16 cores based on the Zen 5 core architecture, the Radeon 8060S iGPU with 40 RDNA 3.5 compute units, and up to 128 GB of memory.
The whole assembly is done within a 4.5-liter chassis which has a very traditional box shape and houses within it a Mini-ITX motherboard with a pre-installed heatsink that features several fins and heat pipes over the memory and APU. This heatsink can be configured with three 120mm fans, one from Noctua and two from Cooler Master.
The board is powered by standard ATX power and uses a single 8-pin+24-pin connector interface. IO includes two M.2 SSD slots, a PCIe 4.0 x4 slot, and three 4-pin fan headers. Other interfaces include two USB Type-A ports, two USB4 Type-C ports, HDMI, dual DP, 5G Ethernet LAN, a 3.5mm audio jack, and integrated WIFI7. The PC is powered by a 3-pin connector. The PSU is a semi-custom Flex ATX design by FSP.
Framework invited AMD's Frank Azor to showcase some performance figures of the Framework Desktop within gaming. The performance was tested across various games at 1080P High and the numbers show both native and FSR3 improvements. With FSR3, you can get double the FPS for a smoother gaming experience that is generally over 100 FPS across a wide range of titles. The same is the case at 1440P, where the majority of titles still manage over 100+ FPS thanks to the Radeon 8060S graphics solution.
One interesting comparison made by Framework is showcasing their latest Desktop PC as an AI box. Here, comparisons are made against the 128 GB Mac Studio, which retails for around $4800 US, the NVIDIA DIGITS 128 GB solution, which would cost a hefty sum, and the Framework Desktop, which is going to retail at $1999 US for the same 128 GB configuration.
To take things up a notch, the Framework also showcased how four Desktops can be networked together using 5G Ethernet & USB4 for even more AI performance.
The system will be available as both a mainboard and a DIY option. The mainboard option will let you purchase the motherboard with the AMD Ryzen AI MAX+ APUs, while the DIY edition will let you decide on the storage, fan & operating system for the PC. The company claims that it takes just 5 minutes to set the whole thing up and all you require is a single screwdriver which is bundled in the package. The front of the chassis is also fully customizable and uses a tile design where you can go all LEGO on the different tiles for a unique look.
The Framework Desktop will be available for pre-orders today and will start shipping in Q3. There are three configurations to choose from. The most entry-one is the Ryzen AI MAX 385 with 32 GB memory for $1099 US. The next is the Ryzen AI MAX+ 395 with 64 GB memory for $1599 and lastly, there's the $1999 system.
Framework's Laptop 12 & 13
On the laptop side of things, Framework is introducing its two new additions, the Laptop 12 and Laptop 13. The laptop 12 is an updated 12.2" design with a touchscreen and a display that offers a resolution of up to 1920x1200 (400 nits brightness). The laptop comes with Intel's 13th Gen Core i5 and Core i3 CPUs and supports up to 48 GB of DDR5-5200 memory, 2 TB of NVMe storage, and Wi-Fi 6E. This laptop will hit pre-orders in April and first shipments are expected in the mid of 2025.
The Framework Laptop 13 is a new offering that is loaded with AMD's Ryzen AI 300 APUs and offers a brand-new motherboard that is equipped with an active fan solution and a large heatpipe that connects over the APU.
The TIM has also been changed to Honywell's PTM7958 which is a phase-change thermal interface material. Other features include support for up to 96 GB DDR5-5600 memory, up to 8 TB PCIe Gen4 SSD storage, WIFI7 connectivity (AMD RZ717), and USB4 IO.
The laptop itself starts at a base price of $899 for the DIY edition and $1099 US for pre-built PCs, while the mainboard itself can also be purchased separately for a starting price of $449 US. The new Framework 13 Laptop is available for pre-order right now.
