The Framework Desktop takes the Ryzen AI Max+ 395 in a very different direction from the sealed boxes elsewhere in this roundup. Built around a 4.5-litre Mini-ITX chassis with a standard FlexATX power supply and support for standard 120mm CPU fans, it’s the machine for creatives who want to open it up, upgrade it, and — crucially — run it on Linux. For open-source and repair-minded photographers and editors, it’s the obvious pick. See it at Framework.
That standard-parts, Linux-friendly design shapes which software suits it best, and it happens to be a superb home for the open-source creative stack. darktable, the open-source RAW developer that leans on OpenCL GPU acceleration, runs beautifully on the Radeon 8060S; RawTherapee offers another powerful, free RAW path; GIMP covers pixel editing; and Krita gives digital painters a GPU-accelerated canvas. None of these ties you to a subscription, and all run natively on Linux — which is where this machine is most at home. For video, DaVinci Resolve is one of the few professional NLEs with a proper Linux build, and it pairs naturally with the Framework’s GPU and memory.
The compute is the class standard — 16 Zen 5 cores, the Radeon 8060S, and 128GB of LPDDR5X-8000 on the wide ~256GB/s bus (soldered here too; even Framework can’t make this generation’s memory socketed). But the rest is unusually open: standard PC power supply and fans, a PCIe slot, and dual M.2 storage, so the SSD is replaceable and the whole machine is far more serviceable than its rivals. Networking sits at 5GbE, a useful step above the 2.5GbE crowd if not quite the 10GbE of the Beelink and Minisforum.
For local AI it’s a natural fit: AMD’s ROCm stack is best supported on Linux, so this is one of the stronger platforms here for running models and building your own AI agents on open tooling. If your instinct is to own and understand your hardware rather than have it sealed shut, the Framework Desktop is made for you.
Framework Desktop: Specifications
Processor: AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 395 (16C/32T). Graphics: Radeon 8060S (40 RDNA 3.5 CUs); up to 96GB assignable as VRAM. Memory: 128GB LPDDR5X-8000, soldered, ~256GB/s. Storage: dual M.2 slots (replaceable). Form factor: 4.5L Mini-ITX, standard FlexATX PSU, standard 120mm fan support, PCIe slot. Networking: 5GbE, Wi-Fi 7. OS: Windows or Linux (strong ROCm support on Linux).
Framework Desktop: Price and availability
The Framework Desktop is available now as a prebuilt system or DIY mainboard/kit in various configurations. UK pricing varies by configuration — check current pricing before purchase.
