When you purchase through links in our articles, we may earn a small commission. PCWorld built a self-hosted AI system with an MSI mini PC, a Framework Desktop, and Telegram -- making a local AI agent accessible from almost anywhere. There are many good reasons to avoid interacting with "AI" services. They're expensive, they're destructive, they're a privacy nightmare, they're morally dubious, and they're often controlled by people who are shall we say, unconcerned about the effects of their actions on others. But a lot of these problems can be solved if you decide to roll your own LLM.

The Framework Desktop DIY Edition is a thoughtfully engineered small-form-factor desktop PC that is both an entry point into enthusiast computing as well as a powerful AI desktop in its own right. The Framework Desktop DIY Edition is unique: a do-it-yourself desktop without the complexity of building from scratch, forming a compact, personalized "AI workstation." If you're nervous about a less-familiar brand, don't be. Multiple photos show how to tighten a thumbscrew–that's how comfortable they want you to be. I can point to a few things that I thought needed improvement: soldered memory, a beta driver bundle that should be finalized by the time you buy it, and a top panel which didn't clip in as easily as I would have liked. Inserting the SSD stressed me out a bit, too. But Framework's eye for customization (colored tiles you can design and install yourself, plus your choice of I/O) lends itself to fun and productivity. The AMD Ryzen AI Max (Strix Halo) chip inside is slightly out of the ordinary, with its do-everything design. I have high praise for the Framework Desktop, and think you will too.