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Review: Framework Desktop is a mash-up of a regular desktop PC and the Mac Studio


Size matters most for Framework’s first stab at a desktop workstation/gaming PC.

Even for the DIY Edition, the bulk of it is already assembled: the motherboard is in the case, a large black heatsink is already perched atop the SoC, and both the power supply and front I/O ports are already hooked up. It's usually a little slower than the last-generation Radeon RX 7600 XT, a card that cost $329 when it launched in early 2024—and with a performance hit that's slightly more pronounced in games with ray-tracing effects on. Andrew is a Senior Technology Reporter at Ars Technica, with a focus on consumer tech including computer hardware and in-depth reviews of operating systems like Windows and macOS.

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