Framework’s Revised Desktop Could Be the Modular Mac Studio of PCs

Framework Desktop with AMD Ryzen Max+ Pro 495

It's one of very few PCs that now sport AMD's biggest, baddest chip with a RAM spec to make wallets cry.

Just in time for Apple to detail its ludicrously powerful Mac Studio and for Nvidia to launch its RTX Spark PCs, AMD is finally getting ready to give computer geeks the chance to plug away its own ultra-powered chip. Surprise, surprise: it's from the humble modular PC maker Framework-one of the first to opt for AMD's Gorgon Halo processor inside its wee Framework Desktop. Framework says it will soon open preorders for its new Framework Desktop, this time built in with an AMD Ryzen Max+ Pro 495.

New Chip Specifications

The new Framework Desktop is built around the AMD Ryzen Max+ Pro 495, an open-end x4 PCIe slot, and includes several notable features:

• Unified memory: Up to 192GB of unified memory (shared memory pool; unlike most other Framework devices, this RAM cannot be replaced).
• GPU acceleration: Designed primarily for AI workloads.
• Pre-installed components: A pre-installed Noctua fan and an optional pre-built config with Fedora pre-loaded.
• Open-source availability: The chip is described as an "open-end" x4 PCIe slot.

Previous Generation Context

The framework was previously configured around the last-gen Strix Halo processor, specifically the Ryzen Max+ 395. This earlier chip was already capable of handling heavy CPU tasks with a GPU that could run games well at resolutions above 1080p.

Pre-Order Details

Framework is opening pre-orders for the 192GB Framework Desktop this Wednesday morning Pacific Time. The new design retains the core architecture: a mini-ITX motherboard with a single open x4 PCIe slot, while the CPU module remains fixed with a large Noctua fan.

Memory Limitations

A key clarification: the new Framework Desktop does not offer configurations with less than 192GB of memory. The company currently sells a version with the Ryzen Max+ 395 and 128GB of unified memory starting at $3,450, without selecting storage options. The new Framework Desktop will ship with the preconfigured 192GB of memory paired with the new higher-end CPU.

Related AMD Products

• HP ZBook Ultra G3a ("Sundae"): A thin mobile workstation laptop explicitly designed for AI work, based on the same Ryzen Max+ Pro 495 chipset.
• GMKtec EVO-X5 Pro: An absurd $6,800 ($6,600 with early bird sale) mini PC featuring 192GB of RAM and 2TB of storage.

Competitive Pricing Landscape

Product	Key Specs	Starting Price
Framework Desktop (new)	Ryzen Max+ Pro 495, 192GB unified memory	TBD (pre-order)
HP ZBook Ultra G3a ("Sundae")	Ryzen Max+ Pro 495, AI-focused workstation	TBD
GMKtec EVO-X5 Pro	192GB RAM, 2TB storage	$6,800
Lenovo ThinkCentre X Ultra	AMD's most-powerful APU	~$3,669 (launch Nov.)
Apple Mac Studio	AMD's biggest chip, high-performance single-chip desktop	Starts at $5,500

Performance Comparison

The small desktop packed with an M5 Ultra chip (the Mac Studio) has been recognized as one of the most powerful single-chip desktops available, starting at $5,500 for the higher-end chip and reaching up to $6,800 or more with additional GPU cores and memory. Running local AI on such hardware demands significant resources-depending on the whims of the ongoing "RAMpocalypse," it may require an arm, leg, kidney (or two), and potentially your firstborn son.