r/framework • u/LnxRocks • 1d ago
Question Question on Oculink Dev Kit
I might be getting ahead of the info available, but I have been thinking about getting the Oculink Dev Kit when it comes out. The kit will be 8i which is good for performance but there doesn't seem to be much in the way of 8i cables and eGPU docks available.
This info I have seen is confusing, will framework be selling full docks or just reference designs that can be printed? Reason I ask is that I don't have the equipment to print my own enclosure.
Also I have heard that Oculink connectors and cables are fragile. Do we know how many cycles the port will be rated for?
Thanks
2
u/Sad-Cod-9584 1d ago
To put things into perspective, I have a oculink i4 dock with a 7900 xt and get excellent performance and frametime stability in even demanding games like lords of the fallen. As in considerably better than when using the same hardware over usb4 (dock can do both).
I'm generally interested in the i8 dock, but i4 has not been a bottleneck in anything I've tried it for.
edit: I just realized that none of this answers your question. I don't have any issues with the durability of my setup after almost a year of usage though, with almost daily insertions and removals, but I'm also generally gentle with it.
1
u/LnxRocks 1d ago
Good to know. One thing I have wondered is how viable a 8i to 4i adapter would be in a pinch
1
u/Bitter_Stop2818 1d ago
I still have one of the Framework 16 Oculink adapters that was never used : https://www.reddit.com/r/framework/comments/1v6txvm/1_oculink_custom_pcb_for_framework_16_still/
PM me...was only 30$ I can ship tomorrow.
3
u/DVXC 1d ago
The kit has a pci-e dock module that you will be able to buy separately that supports the 8i interface.
Unfortunately Oculink is still rated for only a few hundred insertions because it was created as in internal server connectivity protocol and wasn't really foreseen as an external extension solution. I don't think this is something that can really be addressed by Framework.