Framework is officially launching pre-orders for its most powerful workstation yet, the Gorgon Halo-powered Framework Desktop, on Wednesday morning, September 30, Pacific Time. First unveiled in July at AMD’s Advancing AI event, the compact desktop brings significant hardware upgrades over its predecessor, though pricing details remain unannounced ahead of the launch.
AMD Ryzen AI Max+ Pro 495 Processor Specs
The compact workstation runs on AMD’s Ryzen AI Max+ Pro 495 processor. According to Framework, the chip features a 16-core and 32-thread configuration alongside a maximum boost frequency reaching 5.2 GHz. The integrated Radeon 8065S graphics processor packs 40 RDNA 3.5 compute units, while the onboard NPU delivers up to 55 TOPS. Framework notes that the entire system provides a combined AI computing capability of 131 TOPS.
Upgraded LPDDR5X Unified Memory and Noctua Cooling
Framework equips this new configuration with 192 GB of LPDDR5X unified memory operating at a 273 GB/s bandwidth. Users can allocate up to 160 GB of that pool directly to the graphics processor. By comparison, the existing Ryzen AI Max+ 395 version maxes out at 128 GB of total memory, with the GPU allocation capped at 96 GB. Framework states that the 192 GB model ships with a pre-installed Noctua fan. Pre-built versions will be available with Fedora pre-installed, joining existing platform support for Windows and other Linux distributions.
Open-Ended PCIe Slot and Multi-System Networking
The desktop’s physical design introduces a notable hardware modification to its expansion capabilities. Framework has updated the PCIe x4 slot with an open-ended design. This change allows users to install physically larger PCIe cards despite the electrical x4 connection limit. For instance, operators can install 50 GbE adapters across two separate systems and link them via RDMA-over-Ethernet. This configuration pools the resources to yield a combined 384 GB of memory across both units.
Pre-order timing, AMD processor specs, memory limits, and operating system support
When can I pre-order the new Framework Desktop?
Pre-orders open on Wednesday morning, September 30, Pacific Time.
https://x.com/FrameworkPuter/status/2104604039845752868
What processor powers the upgraded Framework Desktop?
The system runs on the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ Pro 495 processor with 16 cores and 32 threads.
What is the maximum memory capacity available?
The new configuration supports up to 192 GB of LPDDR5X unified memory, with 160 GB allocatable to the GPU.
Which operating systems are supported out of the box?
Framework offers a pre-built version with Fedora pre-installed, alongside existing support for Windows and other Linux distributions.
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