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.
- — 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
- — 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
