Why Framework Is Raising Desktop And Mainboard Prices
Framework, the company known for its modular and repairable laptops and desktops, has officially increased prices on its Desktop and Mainboard products. If you are into building compact systems with Framework boards or using them as the heart of a custom rig, this price change matters.
The core issue is simple. Memory has become a lot more expensive. Framework says that prices from its RAM suppliers continue to rise rapidly, especially for higher density memory chips. The most affected are 128 Gbit chips, which are used to build high capacity 128 GB memory configurations.
Framework had previously raised memory pricing for its laptops but managed to keep Desktop and Mainboard pricing stable for a while. That buffer has now gone. As RAM costs keep climbing, the company says it can no longer absorb the increases without passing some of it on to customers.
New Pricing For Framework Desktop Mainboards
The biggest changes hit users who want large amounts of memory or the higher tier AMD chips. Framework’s Desktop Mainboards, which can be used inside the Framework Desktop shell or mounted in custom cases, all see some increase, but the impact is not the same across the lineup.
Here is how the new pricing breaks down for the AMD Ryzen AI Max powered options:
-
32 GB Desktop Mainboard with AMD Ryzen AI Max 385
Previously: $799 / £799
Now: $839 / £839
-
64 GB Desktop Mainboard with AMD Ryzen AI Max 395
Previously: $1,299 / £1,299
Now: $1,339 / £1,339
-
128 GB Desktop Mainboard with AMD Ryzen AI Max 395
Previously: $1,699 / £1,699
Now: $2,159 / £2,159
The lower capacity boards see relatively modest bumps. Another forty dollars or so on the 32 GB and 64 GB models is noticeable but not brutal, especially when you consider the performance level of AMD’s Ryzen AI Max chips.
The real shock is at 128 GB. That configuration jumps by around $460 or £460. If you were eyeing a maxed out Framework Desktop Mainboard for heavy multitasking, content creation, virtual machines, or AI workloads alongside gaming, that top tier option just became significantly more expensive.
Framework stresses that it will honor the original pricing for any existing pre orders. In other words, if you already locked in a 128 GB board at the older price, you are safe. The rises only apply to new orders going forward.
The Bigger Picture: RAMpocalypse And What It Means For PC Builders
This is not just a Framework story. It is part of a broader trend in the PC hardware market. Back in December, Framework raised memory prices for its laptops by around 50 percent and warned that more updates might be coming. At the time, the company was already warning that DDR5, LPDDR5X, and GDDR used in GPUs were all under pressure from rising costs.
Current Framework 13 laptop pricing shows exactly how this plays out for regular buyers. If you configure a Framework 13 today, typical memory options look like this:
16 GB in 2 x 8 GB dual channel: around $160
32 GB in 2 x 16 GB dual channel: around $320
Those prices mirror what many PC gamers and builders are feeling across the market. RAM and storage are simply more expensive than they were not long ago.
Framework has been vocal about memory pricing practices in the wider industry. It previously called out Dell and Apple for what it described as gouging customers on memory upgrades, especially on systems where RAM is soldered and cannot be upgraded later. At the same time, Framework has been upfront that it cannot fully escape the same market forces and would likely need to push prices up again, which is what we are seeing now.
To manage volatility, the company says it is using a Weighted Average Cost approach on its inventory. In plain terms, that means Framework is trying to smooth out rapid price swings from suppliers rather than spike its own pricing every time the wholesale market jumps. The latest increases, it claims, are just enough to cover actual higher costs rather than to pad margins.
None of this changes the fact that if you are a gamer or PC enthusiast planning a new build around Framework hardware, memory will cost you more than it did a few months ago. The pain is especially real if you want 64 GB or 128 GB for heavy multitasking or creator workloads on top of gaming.
The outlook is not encouraging either. Framework says that based on meetings at CES with its suppliers, distributors, and partners, the memory situation heading into 2026 looks worse, not better. The company describes the coming period as potentially a challenging year and possibly years for consumers.
This lines up with broader reports about a so called RAMpocalypse in the hardware world, driven in part by exploding demand from AI data centers and other high performance workloads. The same memory technologies that gamers rely on in DDR5 modules and GDDR on GPUs are also in high demand for servers and AI accelerators. When large buyers compete for limited production, prices go up for everyone, including regular PC builders.
If you are planning a new system or an upgrade, especially one built around modular platforms like Framework’s laptops and desktops, this is a good time to think strategically about how much memory you actually need. For gaming alone, 16 GB to 32 GB is still the sweet spot for most users, though 32 GB is becoming increasingly comfortable for modern AAA titles and background tasks. The extreme 128 GB configurations now carry a serious cost premium and make the most sense for niche heavy duty workflows.
The bottom line is clear. Modular and upgradable designs like Framework still offer long term flexibility compared to soldered memory systems, but they are not immune to global RAM price swings. As you plan your next gaming PC or portable rig, keep an eye on memory pricing and be ready to adjust your build to stay within budget.
Original article and image: https://www.pcgamer.com/hardware/memory/framework-held-off-as-long-as-we-could-but-just-cranked-up-prices-of-its-desktops-and-mainboards/
