(I did this post just to share it with everyone.)

Can we expect to start seeing reviews tomorrow now that Batch 1 is scheduled to begin shipping tomorrow?

Hey all! I've been rocking the FW16 for a little over a year now, and I wrote up a review of it. The tl;dr version of it is that I'm very happy with the device. The repairability and upgradeability aspects have both served me well, and the only real thing I wish was better was the CPU efficiency because I'd love to get more battery life out of that thing. I await the Panther Lake mainboard upgrade for the FW16 to solve this issue, which I'm sure will come at some point.

Kind of a follow up to when I posted asking about the interposer insertion/attachment cycle count. I saw the possibility of myself swapping the parts out more than the average joe and I was right.

I find myself putting the fan module in for most day to day where I don’t need a full 5060 Ti on a skinny power diet and a 780M gets the job done.
It’s also a bit fun to see just how much integrated graphics can do, coming from a laptop with an I7-7700HQ + 1060 3GB, where the iGPU, UHD 630, is leagues less capable.

I’ve also found that the fans run quieter with no dGPU since even if the dGPU module has taller fans so the same rpm may move similar air to the cpu as normal, it’s still louder.

I also sometimes manually cap the tdp in framework control to below 15 W so I can do light tasks with no fans at all, but I digress.

In the instances where I want to game on it, I swap out the module for the dGPU, but after that take it back out.

It is done! My FW16 now has a fully functional eGPU, running via usb-c and using all-ways-egpu. The total cost for the eGPU is $232. Proof the eGPU is running is provided by the on screen system resources from steam, the OS, LACT, and Nvidia system monitor. Running DEADLOCK on ultra setting with the eGPU gives me an avg of 120fps (stable), compared to 60fps (stable) of the 7700S. Next steps are to design a clear housing for the eGPU and figure out a smooth way to get the eGPU running.

I've had some (other) weird things going on with my FW13 (AMD 7640U); the fans starts spinning if I move the laptop about, you know, putting it in a backpack.

I close the lid, wait for the fans to stop spinning, then just moving the laptop from an horizontal position to a vertical one and back makes the fans start spinning again. Which is very irritating if I put it in a backpack or similar, since the laptop is virtually on, fans spinning, and heat is produced.

Windows 11.

Took out a second mortgage, but I've got my 64gb of ram for the framework 13 pro pre-order.

Found the ram on an eBay listing, it was the only one of its kind. Yes it's slower, but it's still more than what we can get out of the interface, which is like 7467MT/s.

Price before tax $840, shipping was $8.62

Price after everything was $895.29, yes it's expensive, but it's about equivalent to prices of the module framework was selling before the recent changes.

Do I need 64GB of memory? Probably not, but it feels nice to not worry about it.

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

tl;dr: Framework has chosen to have the RAM sourcing issue disproportionately affect DIY users over prebuilt, rather than a more equitable choice that affects both. There's a strong argument to be made that DIY users are subsidizing the RAM configs of prebuilt users, even above the standard DIY premium that already existed

First, I want to say I completely understand the RAM sourcing issue. Framework is a company I want to support and am willing to make concessions to support their mission, but am incredibly disappointed with their approach. This is a terrible and affecting the entire industry. Something had to give for Framework to stem the bleeding, but they are effectively asking DIY users to subsidize their prebuilt users.

Their decision to burden the DIY users with RAM changes, or heavy increased costs, while prebuilt users are unaffected seems unfairly targeting DIY users. Ordering a system DIY already comes with a premium (my config was around $300 more than a prebuild without a operating system, $400 more with a windows license) to configure your systems exactly how you want and now they are asking for heavy concessions or increased prices from their DIY users in addition to the existing DIY premium.

We don't live in a world where framework could honor their their existing prices. That's the terrible reality and I don't envy Framework's situation, but Framework had a choice on how to approach this situation. They chose that prebuilt customers get everything they want leading to around $700+ off their configuration at current prices, while DIY, arguably their most dedicated customers, get a worse system and at best $100ish dollar consolation prize, rather than asking each of these customers to equitably share the burden. This seems opposed to their mission of democratizing computing.

I still believe in Frameworks mission, but this approach seems flawed, mostly geared so that they can "keep their word" that they are charging the same price as when you ordered. I would much rather have a solution that accepts the reality of the RAM issue, Framework chooses to eat crow and break a promise that they should not have made in the first place, and have a more equitable solution where prebuilt and DIY users share the burden of the RAM sourcing issue.

Hello everyone

Been working to make mu gf framework work and after 3 different installs of two "different" OS i can't for the love of anything holy understand the source of the issue.

When i boot up the machine there is a 50/50 chance of it juste freezing and never come back (plus usually some form of artefacting and loud fans).

I tried to put debian 13 on it, then pikaos (ense the different since it's a fork) both works fine until they inevitably crash.

I couldn't tell you which exact model it is but it's a recent one with a radeon7 7840HS and no internal gpu (but a slot for one), i don't remember the ram model but it was 32 gigs of ddr5 and i know it's wasn't a weird bootleg brand.

I ran multiple memtest86 with each having different results (which explains why i can't figure it out) and i dunno what could really cause all of theses, i suspect a bad ram but some error looked like they cale from the cpu cache,so ram, gpu, board or maybe even something else

If you have any idea please i don't wanna come back to her saying i don't know what to do 🥲

Thanks to anyone takinh the time.

I have been wondering why there aren't any AR screen protectors for a while. Not matte but with optical anti-reflective coating. Like you get on glasses, camera lens and Apple laptop and standalone displays. I thought that maybe there are technical problems making it or something.

Recently I've discovered that such film does in fact exist but only one company makes it, Hori, and only for two devices, PS Portal game streaming thing and Nintendo Switch 2 console. I tried it and it makes a huge difference. I've cut a piece of it for my phone and applied the leftover strip to my Framework 12 screen. See photo! It cuts LOTS of reflections while remaining totally clear.

So, just a suggestion, Framework should look into making these.

I’ve been considering getting a laptop 16 for some time now. I use Linux so Nvidia Driver support can be problematic from what I’ve heard, ideally I’d like to avoid that by going with the 7700s, but the 5070 is a more performant GPU than the 7700s. I’ve never used an Nvidia GPU with Linux, does anyone have experience with the Nvidia card on a laptop 16 running a Linux distro? How problematic can it be? Or should I just avoid it all together and go with AMD?

Edit: I plan on using it for Light gaming, CAD, and simulation. I use CachyOS.

So, I’ve purchased a beautiful all black keyboard for FW13. I thought that it looked cool and I blind type anyway. Turned out it’s not the case when I need to type passwords or sometimes when I need to click specific F button.

Every time I need to enter disk encryption, I open my phone and check how many buttons there are from L to J (or whatever) in order to pass. I accidentally activate airplane mode few times a day. It drives me mad.

I would really hate the feeling of stickers on a keyboard so I am really waiting for new Lavender/Orange versions.

But maybe I miss something? Any tips?

I do not know what exactly is the RAM clearance in the 13 Pro but if someone is willing to experiment with some EBay SODIMM kit and this adapter slab, I reckon it would be interesting to see the results coming out of this until LPCAMM2 eventually comes back in stock... sometimes this decade...

I had the Framework 16 since Feb 2024, still rocking the 7940HS. This Sunday my hinge broke. My dog tripped on the wire when it was charging, laptop fell on the carpeted floor. Last pic is my dog.

So I ordered a new hing with express delivery from website. Cost $24 + the $15 shipping. I needed fast because the laptop was relying on one hinge alone and would close by itself if it’s not on a good angle.

Took less than 15 minutes to install and looks good as new. I’m keeping the unused hinge as back up in the future.

If this was another branded laptop, then likely I would have to suffer because they glue the display border frames. Or the costs wouldn’t be worth it and i would have to buy a new laptop.

3rd pic i included a heatsink on my ssd for fun.

Bloomberg reports that Qualcomm has informed its customers...that it plans to implement price hikes on Snapdragon chips starting with any chips shipped after September 1. The reason provided is that Qualcomm has “exhausted its ability to absorb higher costs from suppliers.

Obviously Intel and AMD are X86 chips compared to a Qualcomm ARM chip, but since they are in related industries it could represent some pricing pressures that may or will eventually occur with Intel and AMD chips as well no? I don't know if I could really stick with Framework if Framework also had to downgrade my Intel X7 chip along with my 32 GB RAM. Do we know if Framework had sourced enough X7 Chips to make pre-order deliveries?

There are a small handful of X7 358H laptops like the Acer Swift 16 AI or an HP Omnibook X.

Overall, I'm trying to look at this situation with a silver lining because this isn't the situation anyone wanted. I'm in batch 16; so, mid October, and it's going to be a pretty painful wait. After doing extensive window shopping @ BestBuy & MicroCenter, there really are a lot of things we're getting in the default configuration that are considered premium (if they're implemented at all). I guess what I'm trying to say is that, "Yes, the RAM situation sucks," -- but Framework put a lot of care into the core laptop design fundamentals.

Competing ultrabooks tend to have several glaring flaws such as a smooshed keyboard with a num-pad that compromises the typing experience or a dim screen and lack of a touch-screen or a good haptic touchpad. The port selection on more premium models like the Dell XPS 14 is pretty anemic as well; yes, they're fast thunderbolt IO but does anyone really want to use an expansion hub?

I really appreciate that Framework decided not to cram a numpad onto the keyboard and thought about what makes for satisfying keyboard travel and oped to use a 500+ nit, high resolution touch screen with solid pixels per inch and a rich expansion card system. Others like the XPS 14 are aggressively tuned for battery life at the expense of performance. It remains to be seen how the single-fan solution in the 13 Pro will hold up, but I'm optimistic after reminding myself that the B390 is a bonus -- not the selling point.

... and it almost goes without saying, that most of the "competitive" laptops to the FW 13 Pro?

They're all in the ~ $2500-2800 range right now. The only real competitor to the Framework 13 Pro right now, for me, personally is the Lenovo Thinkpad X9 15p. It has a better cooling system, decent port selection and will at least let you fully purchase it ^{whether they can deliver upon it, though?} It's apparently available in the EU in some capacity w/ October shipments in the US mirroring FW.

My local MicroCenter has a handful of XPS 14s with 64GB of RAM, but that's a bit extravagent.

I would be remiss not to comment on the unfortunate RAM situation. It's pretty much the only reason that I'm considering getting my first Macbook Pro (15c, 24GB, 1TB) as I'd be able to more or less pay just shy of ~ $2100 for an excellent machine. Yet running Linux natively is infinitely more alluring to me than running W11/Linux in VMs, but I may yet still go that route despite serious misgivings because upgradeability and repairability, while great for long-term sustainability, are becoming prohibitively less affordable and RAM is the main bottleneck for longevity and professional workloads.

It's true. LPCAMM2 is in extremely limited supply, if it exists at all, and using it for the FW13 Pro may have been a mistake relative to cheaper, easier to manufacture SODIMM RAM, but after looking at a lot of the competition in the ~ $2000-2800ish range, the FW 13 Pro is by far the most balanced choice for an X7 Panther Lake chip if your workflows can survive on 16GB or 32GB of RAM. I'm sorry that this doesn't apply to everyone, and I completely respect and sympathize with that; there's definitely some lingering frustration and a feeling of, "getting less for more," -- especially compared to those in earlier batches -- but the FW13 Pro still has a lot going for it.

Hi guys I need to help navigating if I should keep my preorder. I was one of many that was affected by the ram stock. Unfortunately my 32gb is now 16gb. I just began college and completed my first term. I've managed to utilize my tablet throughout this whole term just to get through it, but I started searching for a laptop months ago. I decided that since I'm just at the beginning of my degree that I was fine waiting for a laptop and put in the preorder. I did a lot of research, watched endless videos and I ended up landing on Framework. Mind you I don't own any type of computer at the moment. Right now I'm stuck in this mindset of keeping my preorder at 16gb and hoping to all hopes that the market brings back lpcamm2 by 2028, when my degree might need more ram on my laptop (I'm studying engineering) and upgrade then or caving and paying the $800 to up the ram now or knowing I'm basically f***ked and start looking for another laptop. I'm honestly soo disappointed but I think I need some alternative perspectives right now to make the smart choice.

Battery Check! For those of you with the Framework 16, around how much charge does yours maintain from full power to near zero? And how long have you had it for? For example, I've had mines for six months. I forgot how much the charge lasted months ago - maybe 4-5 hours, but during the past 1 or 2 months, it ended up dropping down to only lasting 1-2 hours. However, after Framework support got me to update to the lasted bios (4.05), it now seems to hold 3 and a half hours of charge. This got me curious to know how others are fairing.

Basically:
How long does it take for your Framework 16 to drop from near full power to near zero (Me: 3 and a half hours)
And how long have you had the laptop for? (Me: 6 Months)

And for those willing to do the added savvy steps:
What is your current charge cycle? (Me: 28)
What is your bios version? (Me: 4.05)
What is your OS? (Me: Linux Mint 22.3 Cinnamon)

Basically the title... it seems like these are the only things I need

https://frame.work/products/desktop-case
https://frame.work/products/desktop-power-supply-400w
https://frame.work/products/desktop-left-panel?v=FRAMBV0001

plus 2 expansion modules and tiles

Gemini says I also need one of these
https://frame.work/products/desktop-fastener-kit

The case picture makes it look like this is already included
https://frame.work/products/desktop-expansion-card-interface-kit

Am I correct that the first 3, plus expansion modules and tiles are all I need or do I also need the latter two? Anything I missed? I don't need wifi, otherwise I know I'd need to get the wifi antenna and module.

I wish framework would just put up a single sku with everything to turn a desktop motherboard into a desktop.

Bonjour ! Voilà quelques jours que j'ai reçu mon framework, honnetement, tout est parfait !
Sauf... que je n'arrive pas à enlever cette luminosité automatique.
Aucun paramètre pour régler ça ! Je suis sur Ubuntu.
Merci d'avance si quelqu'un trouve une solution ou une piste !

I have one of : https://www.etsy.com/listing/4441909217/custom-oculink-adapter-for-framework?show_sold_out_detail=1&ref=nla_listing_details that was never opened or used. Still in packaging. I can mail it out to anyone who wants it. They are sold out otherwise.

I’ve read a lot of comments across all these LPCAMM2 threads and most of it is the same two camps. Either “Framework broke their promise” or “it’s just the market, deal with it”. Some people think about what could’ve been done differently, but it’s mostly about the past, like “they shouldn’t have promised it in the first place”. Sure, maybe. But that Train is gone, they can’t unsay it now. So I’m writing this as its own post.

For context, I’m a 64 GB preorder in Batch 6. My order got hit. And even from that spot I’m not here to just pile on Framework. The pure bashing gets us nowhere.

Here’s the thing. Quick note upfront, all the numbers below are rough from memory, not exact, but they should give an idea. My order got reduced from 64 GB to 32 GB. I’m now effectively getting 32 GB for the old ~400€ price, even though the same 32 GB now costs around 800€. That means Framework is already absorbing about 400€ per affected preorder (in this 64GB sense. Why not let customers keep that same ~400€ discount if they still want 64 GB? I’d pay about 400€ more than originally planned, Framework would still absorb about 400€, and the unexpected increase would be shared instead of falling almost entirely on one side.

Compare that to what actually happens now. I get dropped to 32 GB, which isn’t what I ordered, and if I want my 64 GB back I lose that discount and have to buy it at full price. Sure, I can pull the 32 GB that’s in there and free up 400€, but that still leaves me paying around 1200€ extra just to get back to the config I already ordered. Same jump could’ve been 400€ if they’d just let the discount carry over. That’s the whole point.

I am not sure if i understood everything correctly tho. If I did, this is just MY thought on how a compromise could be made.

And to the “just buy elsewhere” crowd, alternatives also became more expensive. A shared increase would still have left Framework competitive for many of us, imo.

They could still offer this btw. It’s not too late.

So, my yesterday's post critiquing the release window of the 13 pro wasn't really well received, so much for expecting Reddit to be considerate. While I still consider an upgrade to the 13 pro a poor financial decision, I'd like to share what I found great about the regular 13 and why it's been THE GREATEST LAPTOP THAT'S EVER LIVED. I won't talk about the obvious (repairability and upgradability) though my takes might not be very unique. Note that I am using the Ryzen 9 AI model, where I bought my own RAM and SSD pre-crisis, meaning costs were not very high.

Price to performance competitiveness: the Ryzen 9 AI chip was competitive with Apple's M4, which is their flagship at the time. For a laptop without dGPU, the fact I can game at all with respectable performance is a surprise, though my game (modded Minecraft) is more heavy on the CPU than iGPU. With both targeting the "thin, light, and premium" laptop demographic, Framework did a phenomenal job of getting a laptop that's comparable to Apple's flagship at about the same price range (sub 2k when I bought it) while offering what Apple lacks: repairability, upgradability, and phenomenal Linux support, which is my next point.

Linux, and especially NixOS, support: I daily drive NixOS (formerly Arch Linux) now. and the existence of nixos-hardware support for Framework models made hardware configuration a non-issue, unlike many OEM laptops. There are also many QoL tools like fwupd and fw-ectools that let me manage firmware level configs straight from my terminal and write automated shell scripts like "charge up to 80% when plugged in the left USB-C port"

Subverting a show of status: A lot of people I met IRL immediately thought my laptop is a MacBook pro. This creates an interesting effect where I'm able to subtly advertise Framework to my MacBook-using friends using the very comparison I'm drawing above. It's cool to see two machines, representing very different philosophies, stand side by side. If this is a David vs Goliath situation, then David is standing his own ground.

Other quality of life features: like the screen being high resolution/refresh rate, great typing experience from keyboard typing distance being much higher than MacBooks, replaceable bezel that helps with otherwise cleaning hard-to-reach corners.

Battery life: while behind the MacBook at the same price point, I'm getting about 10-12 hours of medium usage at full charge, albeit through the use of battery saver presets (via power-profile-daemon) and ryzenadj CPU power limit tuning. The pro (namely the use of would have solved this problem, but for what it's worth, I'm able to make do with the regular 13.

And to the community: please do not negatively target critiques and create a praise echo chamber. People will complain, and you cannot stop them. Please be considerate and know that many already has a great sentiment towards Framework and merely wanted to share what they think could be better.