Isn't the point of desktops to already be modular?
this post was submitted on 27 Feb 2025
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The funny thing about this new framework is that it isnt
Jup, soldered in RAM. They're less modular than most laptops
Right. Of all the products the company known for repairability and upgradability could have developed, they went into a class of products that didn't need it and removed it.
In their defense though, this was a product class that was missing. If you're an idiot and care at all about AI, this will be an excellent product for that with the 256GBPS RAM bandwidth at half the price of an Apple product.
So maybe they're like Lambo and Porsche who sell giant SUVs to fund the development of their sports cars.
No one should buy this but as long as they keep selling repairable laptops, it's ok I guess.
Yeah finally watched the review. Weird, but also, this is actually a really exciting chip.
If you do any kind of work with ml, this might just about be your only option for breaking 16gb vram, which is the floor for many models. Very few of us ever even get to experiment with something above 40. With these, you could take it to 128, and it seems, at a pretty price competitive standpoint.
I'm looking at it pretty seriously, because I was really excited about these chips, but almost completely disinterested in them as far as a laptop chip. But for a desktop chip? I mean if its at 128gb vram, the fuck else can I ask for?
I'm also super interested in that 2:1. For mobile computing thats pretty much my go-to these days, is a thin and light 2:1 that I just use to get access to where-ever my compute is actually happening.
Maximum allocation of 96GB to VRAM on the 128GB configuration, but your point still stands. This desktop was absolutely designed almost specifically for ML-enthusiasts, and if you wanna run a game on it you can too. Describing it as a "gaming PC" is totally missing the mark.
EDIT: it has been pointed out that the 96GB limit is a Windows limitation, so wouldn't affect any serious ML-enthusiast
96GB on Windows, configurable to more on Linux.
I wouldn't necessarily say it was designed specifically for ML people though the 128GB spec will definitely draw in that crowd, the 32GB model is $1,099 and competes well in the small but very real "Gaming NUC" space that's been dominated by Intel/Nvidia laptop gear in tiny desktop cases. Asus took over the NUC line, and the gaming models are priced way above this without the same ML draw of unified RAM.
Oh, interesting! That's the first I'm hearing of being able to configure more in Linux, seems like anyone taking ML seriously would be using Linux anyway.
The 96GB limit is just for Windows. It can be taken higher on Linux.
Yeah to me this is like SGI marketing their computers as gaming PCs
Thanks for that correction.
96gb of VRAM? Even most ML professionals have never seen that much vram in their life.
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Its also not a gaming device, as it doesnt have a dedicated gpu. It only has an APU and some AI core bullshit. Its worthless e waste and not really fit for this community imo.
iTs AlSo NoT a GaMiNg DeViCe
That is some acrobatic gatekeeping of a GPU that is similar to the PS5 in terms of performance.
That is some acrobatic gatekeeping of a GPU that is similar to the PS5 in terms of performance.
The top model should be far more powerful than a PS5.
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It only has an APU
Like every somewhat modern game console.
and some AI core bullshit.
Yeah, why would frame generation have anything to do with gaming...
Edit: typo
If integrated graphics counts as a "gaming PC" then every PC and laptop made in the past 15 years, including Chromebooks count as a "Gaming PC".
If integrated graphics counts as a “gaming PC” then every PC and laptop made in the past 15 years, including Chromebooks count as a “Gaming PC”.
Yeah, why would an iGPU so beefy, it's in the same league as a GeForce 4060 be called a gaming GPU? OUTRAGEOUS!
Also, Unexposedhazard used the term "gaming device".
Point is, we have had comparable systems for years that you can buy for less money, and are actually repairable and upgradable. Here's one in a similar form factor (with a 4060) that was built a year ago: https://youtu.be/P2CUi9W2DI0
Point is, we have had comparable systems for years that you can buy for less money, and are actually repairable and upgradable.
Actually, it's not a point to the part I've replied to. The statement was solely that this APU-using PC must not be called a gaming device and I've pointed out the flaw in that claim. I did not make a comment regarding upgadability.
It's extremely gaming-capable and it is a PC. You can argue it's not in the traditional mould of gaming PC's if you want, but it's by any reasonable definition a "Gaming PC".
So, by that metric, the Steam Deck, Lenovo Legion Go and ROG Ally are laptops I guess.
Yeah I am a huge Framework fan (have one of their laptops and love it) but I at first had a hard time figuring out who this was for. Some other people in this thread have had some good comments about it, but for me personally this is completely useless.
As one of the people with a different viewpoint that is a completely fair and sensible take.
It's for me. I guess since I pre-ordered. Why because I want to mess with llms in it and the 96 gigs of vram seem nice.
Looking at the others in the ultra-SFFPC market segment they're targeting (e.g. Mac Mini, Intel NUC, Nvidia DIGITS) this is a solid first outing.
It's a standard ITX mainboard that happens to have soldered ram. It will fit in any ITX-compatible case and even has dedicated PCI-e slot in case you do use a case with space for a PCI-e device like an SFP+ card.
On the upside, the unified ram means the GPU can use it, and so you could run 70b-size models on it.
On the upside, the unified ram means the GPU can use it, and so you could run 70b-size models on it.
The version with 128GB ram is $1999.
Nvidia's equivalent (DIGITS) is $2,999.
How do you know that it is equivalent? Or what the price is?
Equivalent as in 128gb of unified RAM targeting casual ML workloads. The price should be on any news article about it.
I mean there's more to a computer than how much RAM it has.
I only see 3rd party sources for pricing, nothing directly from Nvidia. And indeed Framework did say in their presentation that there was no price.
I mean there's more to a computer than how much RAM it has.
Ok bro
I only see 3rd party sources for pricing, nothing directly from Nvidia. And indeed Framework did say in their presentation that there was no price.
Terrible mobile website asking to turn off the adblocker making the entire thing unusable. Can't be bothered to go through archive.is to make it readable....
I bought a Lenovo thinkpad x1 carbon from a business closeout dealer or whatever for $150 is the greatest computer purchase I have ever made. It's running Linux now, and I upgraded it with a 2tb ssd, and its tiny and fast, 16gb ram, hd display and fantastic keyboard.
I love the idea of the framework and they seem awesome, but when such a cheap option exists it is hard to justify to insane price tag. Desktop will only be worse I would imagine.
I have a x1 carbon gen 9. Be very careful with the USB-C ports. I leave mine on my desk and my hub kept cutting in and out while using it and its gotten worse over time. I've seen others with similar issues and it seems like the fix is to solder on a new port. Its a work laptop so I just deal with it.
Ah, yes, the one with the checks notes soldered on RAM.
Yes the one with 128GB of ram usable by the graphics card with every other component down the the usb slots modularised and swappable. Its a deliberate trade off that makes it very attractive for people doing ML work, its just with that level of grunt it's also good for games.
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