Head-to-head · Best AI Mini PCs for Local LLM

Beelink GTR9 Pro vs Framework Desktop (Ryzen AI Max+ 395)

Which is the better buy? Side-by-side on rating, price, strengths, and watch-outs — with the published ratings we averaged to get there.

The short answer

Framework Desktop (Ryzen AI Max+ 395) comes out ahead by a narrow margin (4.2 vs 4.4). The gap is mostly about Open-platform tinkerers who want 128 GB of local-LLM headroom on Windows or Linux — read the strengths below before deciding.

Ranked #5 in Best AI Mini PCs for Local LLM

Beelink GTR9 Pro

4.2

$3,599as of Jul 7

The Beelink GTR9 Pro is the same AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 395 / 128 GB LPDDR5X silicon as the GMKtec EVO-X2 — same 50 TOPS NPU, same 126 TOPS platform total, same memory ceiling — with two distinguishing features: dual 10GbE Intel E610 networking and an industrial-grade metal chassis. Reviewers at jasondeegan.com, starryhope, and minipcreviewer praised its workstation-class AI performance and high-bandwidth networking. Beelink released firmware updates in Nov 2025 and Q1 2026 that addressed NIC-related BSOD and mouse-lag issues, though Beelink support acknowledged a hardware-level issue with no complete software fix. Pick this over the EVO-X2 specifically if you want to cluster two boxes for distributed inference or share a 10GbE NAS at line rate. Otherwise, the EVO-X2 delivers the same LLM throughput for $300 less.

Strengths

— Dual 10GbE LAN with Intel E610 controllers — the only mini PC at this size with high-throughput networking for AI clustering and NAS
— AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 395 with 50 TOPS XDNA 2 NPU (126 TOPS platform total) and 128 GB LPDDR5X unified memory
— 2 TB PCIe 4.0 SSD and support for up to four 8K displays via HDMI 2.1, DisplayPort 2.1, and USB4

Watch-outs

— Premium price point of ~$2,000 — $300 more than the GMKtec EVO-X2 for the same Strix Halo silicon
— 3.27 kg metal chassis makes it heavy and less portable
— Beelink support acknowledged a hardware issue with no software fix available; firmware updates (Nov 2025, Q1 2026) mitigated some NIC-related BSOD but the root cause remains

$3,599 · Check Price on Amazon Full review →

Higher ratedRanked #4 in Best AI Mini PCs for Local LLM

Framework Desktop (Ryzen AI Max+ 395)

4.4

$1,959as of Jun 7

The Framework Desktop puts AMD's Strix Halo silicon into an open, repairable chassis aimed squarely at local AI. PCWorld awarded it 4.5/5 and an Editors' Choice, writing that 'it's not just for tinkering, this machine can legitimately run the latest AI models locally, something few desktops this size can do.' With 128 GB of LPDDR5X-8000 unified memory, AMD's driver can assign up to 96 GB as VRAM, enough to run GPT-OSS 120B, which AMD says runs about ten times faster than Llama 3 70B on this chip. ServeTheHome called it 'our third-favorite AMD Strix Halo mini PC so far,' and Tom's Hardware noted 'the mix of powerful graphics and plentiful RAM is why Framework is pushing this as an AI system.' It runs Windows or Linux, so the full open-source AI stack is available, unlike on the Mac Studio. Bandwidth and price are the limits.

Strengths

— 128 GB LPDDR5X-8000 unified memory lets you assign up to 96 GB as VRAM for local models
— Explicitly built and marketed for local LLM work; runs GPT-OSS 120B at usable speeds
— Framework's hallmark repairability and documentation, including a customizable front tile panel

Watch-outs

— Soldered LPDDR5X means no future memory upgrades despite Framework's repairable reputation
— 256 GB/s bandwidth trails the Mac Studio M4 Max badly, so token speed is mid-pack
— Expensive versus a gaming PC with discrete graphics if you don't use the full 128 GB

$1,959 · Buy at frame.work Full review →

How they stack up

Beelink GTR9 Pro

The Beelink GTR9 Pro shares the same AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 395 silicon and 128GB of unified memory at 256 GB/s as the GMKtec EVO-X2 and Framework Desktop, so the three deliver effectively identical local-LLM throughput (~6-8 tokens/sec on 70B Q4). It differentiates on networking and chassis: dual 10GbE ports for AI clustering plus an industrial metal case. Beelink released firmware updates in Nov 2025 and Q1 2026 that mitigated NIC-related BSOD issues, though a hardware-level issue was acknowledged as unfixable. If you do not need the 10GbE, the GMKtec EVO-X2 saves money for the same performance, and the Framework Desktop offers a more open platform. Versus the Mac mini M4 Pro it doubles memory headroom; versus the Mac Studio M4 Max it is far cheaper but much lower bandwidth.

Framework Desktop (Ryzen AI Max+ 395)

The Framework Desktop runs the same AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 395 silicon and 128GB of unified memory as the GMKtec EVO-X2 and Beelink GTR9 Pro, so it fits the same 120B-class models at the same roughly 256 GB/s bandwidth, well below the Mac Studio M4 Max. It differentiates on platform and ethos: an open, repairable chassis running Windows or Linux, which the macOS-only Mac mini M4 Pro and Mac Studio M4 Max cannot match. Versus the GMKtec EVO-X2 it trades some plug-and-play convenience for Framework's documentation and customizable tile front; versus the Beelink GTR9 Pro it gives up dual 10GbE networking. Choose it for the most open 128 GB local-LLM box.

Specs side-by-side

Spec	Beelink GTR9 Pro	Framework Desktop (Ryzen AI Max+ 395)
Processor	AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 395	AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 395 (16-core)
Graphics	Radeon 8060S iGPU (RDNA 3.5)	Radeon 8060S (RDNA 3.5)
Memory	128 GB LPDDR5X 8,000 MHz	Up to 128 GB LPDDR5X-8000 (soldered)
Storage	2 TB PCIe 4.0 SSD	Up to 8 TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe
NPU Performance	XDNA 2, 50 TOPS (126 TOPS platform total)	XDNA 2, 50 TOPS
Connectivity	Dual 10GbE (Intel E610), Wi-Fi 7	2x USB4 40Gbps, HDMI 2.1, 2x DP 2.1, 5GbE
Memory Bandwidth	—	256 GB/s

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