Framework has entered the desktop market with the 4.5-liter Framework Desktop, a compact, mostly pre-assembled system built around AMD’s new 16-core Ryzen AI Max+ 395 “Strix Halo” processor and its Radeon 8060S integrated graphics. The company is pitching the machine as a space-saving workstation for AI and light gaming tasks. The DIY-edition starts at $1,099 before storage, operating system and decorative front tiles; a 64 GB LPDDR5-8000 configuration lists at $1,599, while a 128 GB version approaches $1,999. Although the mini-ITX board, 400 W FlexATX power supply and dual M.2 SSD slots follow industry standards, the CPU, GPU and memory are permanently soldered. Review units have posted Geekbench 6 multi-core results of roughly 17,000 under Windows and about 25,000 on Linux, placing performance near Apple’s M4 Max on certain workloads. Reviewers from Ars Technica, Tom’s Hardware, WIRED and others praised the machine’s ease of assembly, quiet operation and strong 1080p gaming for an integrated GPU. They also highlighted its modular USB-C expansion cards and magnetically attached front-panel tiles. However, several outlets faulted the use of plastic exterior panels, the inability to upgrade core silicon, and pricing that exceeds larger desktops with discrete graphics of similar speed. Overall, initial coverage depicts the Framework Desktop as an elegant but costly option for users who prioritise size, power efficiency and abundant unified memory for AI models over long-term upgrade flexibility.