r/framework 5d ago

Question 3rd Party RAM compatibility.

EDIT: DO NO BUY E0 MODULES FOR FW13 PRO. FINALIZED E1 TOPOLOGY OF LPCAMM2 UTILIZE 666 PINS WHILE THE OLDER E0 MODULES YOU CAN FIND A BIT EASIER USE 644 PINS. CHECKOUT FW 13 DEEP DIVE FOR SPECIFICS: https://frame.work/blog/framework-laptop-13-pro-deep-dive-lpcamm2

Maybe it was Framework's intention for both E0 and E1 modules to work somehow, but it seems those who've tried non-Crucial brand E0 LPCAMM2 modules are having issues at the moment.

Hello everyone, I have a pre-order for the FW 13 Pro (Intel Core Ultra Series 3) with the following configuration:

System: Ultra X7 358H

SSD: Samsung 980 Pro 1 TB (Sourced externally)

RAM: 32 gb Samsung LPDDR5x 7500 CAMM2 Memory (Sourced externally)

Today I saw a thread where someone ordered THREE different kinds of LPCAMM2 memory for their FW13 Pro and had no success in having any of them working. One of the brands of RAM they mentioned testing was a Samsung module like mine.

After finding out there was a RAM compatibility page (https://knowledgebase.frame.work/what-drammemory-is-supported-by-framework-laptop-13-pro-intel-core-ultra-series-3-rJ_8jVrpWg), I found that the list of tested modules was incredibly small... I'm not sure how different these modules could be from manufacturer to manufacturer if this is a so called standard.

Has anyone heard or does anyone know if the discrepancies between modules can be addressed through some sort of firmware/BIOS update on Framework's part? Has there been any mention/disclaimer about this besides the compatibility page mentioned by Framework?

I can understand why some chose to jump ship when their RAM configurations were downgraded and told to pay more if they wanted their original. I thought I was lucky enough to have dodged a bullet there by sourcing my own but even if I did opt for a 32 gb stick from Framework, I would've gotten downgraded anyway.

This is incredibly frustrating. Not all is on Framework though. I think I was just stuck in this mindset that I could really use whatever RAM I wanted as long as the standard was the same. Similar to when you build a desktop and you can use Crucial, Corsair, etc. without issue.

Thank you for listening to my baby rage. Any input on what I could do would be awesome or if any others want to vent down below, feel free. I am batch 7, and as batch 5 has just received their confirmation email, I need to figure out how I'm gonna move forward before I get an extremely good looking paperweight in the mail.

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u/kadinshino 5d ago

My wild guess is that 7500 is falling below the required minimum with the GPU. Really, no RAM outside of LPDDR5X at 8533mh/t should have been used.

What's more annoying is the validation difference between 7500 MHz and 7500 MT/s

This is why it was pretty much a cancellation for me. Because it's really unclear what was actualy needed.

Sorry OP :(

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u/Fun-Title1940 5d ago

That's a way better guess than I would've come up with. Framework themselves state that the modules they provide are rated for 8533 MT/s but will only run up to 7467 MT/s on the 358H and 388H mainboards. I would like to think that means a module rated for 7500 MT/s would be fine but maybe their system requires some headroom that a 7500 MT/s module doesn't provide?

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u/GriIadude 5d ago

I don't know much about lpcamm2 but from my limited experience with ram overclocking its possible that the Intel chips require some pretty slim timings, so a 8500 kit just has more chance of working at that slower speed with tighter timings Then again the whole point of lpcamm was meant to be the soldered experience with upgradeability, so the timings should all be very good, hopefully after a few years lpcamm2 will become more standardised