Framework may very well have one of the most powerful little mini PCs on the books with the Framework Desktop, a 4.5L mini PC that features the new Ryzen AI Max processor with 16 cores/32 threads, 128 GB of RAM, and RDNA 3.5 GPU. Note the options below:
- AMD Ryzen AI Max 385 – 8 cores, 32 threads, and a 32 CU RDNA 3.5 GPU
- AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 395 – 16 cores, 32 threads, and a 40 CU RDNA 3.5 GPU
You will note that one of the standout features here is also the memory. The Ryzen AI Max+ 395 model has up to 128 GB of LPDDR5x RAM which is a massive amount of memory. Although, if you have been following my channel on YouTube or recent posts we have made, Crucial released 128 GB SODIMM modules to the masses that are essentially allowing us to upgrade mini PCs with DDR5 dual channel memory to 128 GB of RAM.
It also has two PCIe Gen4 M.2 slots for storage and with the built-in graphics power, this thing is going to be a beast of a little mini PC. Many are looking at this as an effective alternative to a mac studio.
An Apple Mac Studio Competitor?
Framework is comparing this powerful little mini PC to the Apple Mac Studio and also the NVIDIA DIGITS AI workstation. Framework doesn't have the high speed networking capabilities of the DIGITS, which has 25GbE+ connections, it does have 5GbE networking and WIFI 7. I think the Framework will certainly be more home lab friendly as it is built around the AMD Ryzen MAX chip instead of the NVIDIA ARM processor.
Also, the price isn't just completely insane, although I would say the price of over $2000 will probably make most do something else for home lab instead of the high cost of the Framework Desktop. But this is still way cheaper than buying an Apple Mac Studio or an AI workstation that has discrete GPUs.
The demand for high-memory AI-focused mini PCs I think is going to become huge. Framework seems to have nailed it with a mini PC that will hit the market and fill the need for a relatively cheap AI powerhouse mini PC that can be a great alternative to a Mac Studio and is cheaper than something like the DIGITS.
You can check out the Framework Desktop here: Framework | Order a Framework Desktop with AMD Ryzen™ AI Max 300.
What about you, what do you think of the Framework Desktop? Are you thinking about splurging on one of these? 🚀