The mission of the framework is “consumer electronics, fixing a category at a time” that makes them modular, repaible and upgradable. It is the only laptop manufacturer that actually succeeds in that “upgradable” part. But Desktop PCs are already modular, so why is the framework making one?
First of all, I thought it was a cute yet a unique opportunity to make a cute little gaming PC with the unusual strics Halo processor of AMD and decided to shoot its shot. As you read below, I am excited by the result. But I also have another idea that I will share with you later.
Let’s start with the gadget part: Yes, the small 4.5-liter gaming desktop in the framework declared tomorrow is as good in the person as it was in the pictures of the framework, and yes, it can do it.
First, I was not sure that we would be able to try that last part meaningfully. Almost all the framework desktops at the company’s live event in San Francisco were running either games that do not provide a great sense of performance (Counter -attack And Street Fighter) Or were unplugged so that we could take pictures from every angle. But part through the incident, someone had fired Cyberpank 2077And I saw my opportunity.
The first benchmark was promising, but was not really running smoothly, averages just 30fps at 4K with Ray Tracing, FSR apascling and frame generation. But when we swaps at a native 1440p in ultra settings, no ray trace, and none of the fancy tricks of AMD, I saw a PS5-beating 73FPS average with a climb of 60fps! – From a box which is actually smaller than a PS5 (or a Xbox series x) in the volume.
This is because the framework desktop has a new and rather unusual AMD Resente AI Max processor, whose integrated radon 8060s graphics are powerful as an discrete mobile graphics chip – ie, Nvidia RTX 4060 laptop version – and apparently mobile Trading with RTX 4070 when it gets sufficient constant power like 120 watts If it is, it can tap here. It also shares a large amount of integrated LPDDR5X memory throughout the system, including graphics – up to 96GB VRAM for its GPU.
While an ASUS tablet and an HP laptop also have the same chip, the power of the Strike Halo can be forced by its cooling and battery, and yet, unrelated, in chip still in the chip to press today’s big gaming laptop or desktop in the chip There is not enough power for. But here, Framework has created an attractive short desktop that does not like anything currently present.
This lets you take your own front I/O port for the same expansion card on the laptop of the framework. It has magnetic front and side panels that easily pop in place, then slide below to secure. There is an alternative carry handle that I already love – when you spin each part of it, they act as a thumb to keep your case completely closed, then you together Screw two parts HandleAnd once you feel incredibly safe after you are done. (Watch my embedded video if it sounds misleading.)
Personalizing this case also seems easy to personalize: There are 21 slots for colored plastic classes on the front panel, you can print 3D (I noticed that some Lego bits connected to 3D-affected studs on one and fake fakes Grass), and if you remove the front panel first, it is incredibly easy to pop squads to make space for new people.
I am not yet easy to upgrade like other products of framework on this computer, though. Even forgetting soldered memory, not necessarily enough space here, to maneuver your parts like a large desktop; I had to arrive inside very delicately to unplug the ATX motherboard power cable and USB header. Fan, storage and Wi-Fi module is quite easy when removing the Wi-Fi module, I was told the panel hole.
But it is possible that some of it would change before its Q3 launch; Before I can remove the board completely or remove the cooler to highlight the Strike Halo chip, before telling me the framework stopped me, telling me that what I am looking below is not very final. Is.
Since the announcement of yesterday morning, I have already seen a group of appropriate people who ask whether this desktop understands – is it actually a modular desktop with an upgradable sauable CPU, GPU , Or not memory? – And given how uncommon for the structure to dive into a category, it cannot necessarily improve.
But the more I think about it, the more I wonder whether single-board computing can actually be a new direction for mini desktops. They have been at the mercy of a long time Vesticial ATX motherboard imagination for a long time, a fantasy that has long believes that you will plug your memory module and graphics card on your motherboard at an angle of 90 degrees, which is vertical Are glued in the form, which are boundaries, which are boundaries. Upgradable mini PC design size and size.
With the laptop of the framework, the reason they are doing so easily Upgrassable is that the framework manufactures an entire computer on a swapable board, just below the USB-C port, save for Other Components that you may like to upgrade easily (storage, memory and Wi-Fi / Bluetooth radio). It is only different from one component (memory), and perhaps flat-mount camemory memory can turn into future designs.
Maybe the framework can help unlock the more new sizes and shapes of mini PCs, especially if other people follow its leadership, which now feel more likely to feel that it is now on an existing standard desktop motherboard vacancy pattern Recurring, rather than boards designed to fit specific framework laptops. It may be that Intel, Nvidia and Qualcomm may prefer to get on single-board mini PCs that will also fit such computers.
Even if not, AMD is expected to be more expensive. In CES, I asked AMD Chief Gaming Solutions Architect Frank Azor whether Strike Halo was united, such as unusual Intel Chip with AMD graphics that once operated a small gaming PC, or if it is a new category Which will stick around. He said that he could not announce any new product, but noted that it was very expensive to build this new “Hello” tier. Hope is that this laptop and ultra small form factor will enab the PC to create a new category that they could not do before.
I also asked Azor whether Strix Halo was cost effective; In particular, if manufacturers can build a system with a single stricks halo instead of equally discomfort CPU and disconnected GPU, without paying more. He said that yes, they can get the benefits of fast unified memory of AMD.
I will pay attention, however, that framework did not promise that future modifications or boards would be available in the framework desktop. And there is no mention of upgrades on its product page. While Framework CEO Nirav Patel told me last April that every new product is “the first stake in the ground” for a new category, and that they will not be united, it’s a little mercury whether we have future framework Will see the desktop. Framework laptop 16 will get GPU upgrade in future.
