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Framework Dives Deep into Desktop's Power Supply Design - Collaborated with FSP

We're close to the finish line on Framework Desktop development. We're now at the end of the DVT2 phase where we complete validation and finalize firmware and drivers. With that, we're continuing our deep dive series, this time digging into the semi-custom 400 W Power Supply we integrated into the product. This may sound mundane, but it's one of the more complex parts of the product. To align to our product philosophy, we used a standard FlexATX form factor. That means both that you can bring your own compatible power supply or re-use the one we designed in the future with any other ATX-compatible system. If you're bringing your own, make sure to pick one that can handle at least 32.5 A on the 12 V rail.

Although the "peak" power demand of the AMD Ryzen AI Max processor is 140 W, it can actually pull hundreds of watts in millisecond-level bursts. Because there is no battery in the Framework Desktop to absorb this, we sized up the Power Supply to handle it and maximize performance. We worked with FSP, one of the biggest power supply makers in Taiwan and the manufacturer behind many other brands, to build a compact, high-efficiency, quiet design. We actually started with one of their higher wattage off the shelf power supplies, down-rated it to 400 W to focus on efficiency while allowing higher peak load, and customized it from there. We modified a few areas to optimize it for the core Framework Desktop use cases.

Framework Presents AI Mini PC Cluster and Customizable Laptops at Computex 2025

At Computex 2025 in Taipei, Framework Computer highlighted the growing importance of compact, serviceable hardware by unveiling an AI cluster built entirely from its new Framework Desktop mini PCs. Each 4.5-liter unit is equipped with an AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 395 processor, which combines 16 Zen 5 cores running up to 5.1 GHz and a Radeon 8060S graphics engine with up to 128 GB of unified LPDDR5x memory. In a striking demonstration, four of these desktops were mounted side by side in a 10-inch half-rack enclosure, creating a scalable cluster that delivers up to 200 TOPS of on-device AI performance from the XDNA 2 NPUs alone, before the 8060S comes into play. The rack features integrated Wi-Fi 7 and 5 GbE networking, while its modular expansion card slots allow users to tailor ports to their exact needs. By packaging powerful inference capability into a compact, repairable chassis with efficient cooling and low power draw, Framework is making it simpler for research labs, small businesses, and edge-computing enthusiasts to deploy AI solutions outside traditional data centers.

DeepComputing Announces Availability of Its DC-ROMA RISC-V AI PC

DeepComputing has just unveiled "the world's first" RISC-V AI PC, available now for the developer community. This machine, called the DC-ROMA RISC-V AI PC, is built on Framework's modular laptop platform and powered by ESWIN Computing's advanced EIC7702X SoC with 8 SiFive P550 CPU cores. The system comes pre-installed with Ubuntu Desktop 24.04 LTS and beside the RISC-V CPU it sports a powerful 40 TOPS NPU, vector processing cluster (12-bit-wide vector 8-core), support for 8K @50 FPS video encoding, and capacity for up to 64 GB LPDDR5 memory and NVMe storage (up to 1 TB). All this makes it suitable for serious development work and AI experimentation.

According to DeepComputing's CEO Yuning Liang, the AI PC was created "to empower developers who believe in local-first AI, open innovation, and sustainable computing" and represents "a foundational step toward a more open and privacy-respecting digital future."

US to Implement Bilateral Licensing Framework for AI Chips

The Trump administration is preparing substantial changes to the Biden-era Framework for AI Diffusion controlling advanced semiconductor exports. Sources close to the Reuters indicate officials will replace the current three-tier country classification with a unified government-to-government licensing system requiring bilateral approval for US chip acquisitions. The existing framework, implemented in January 2025, permits unrestricted exports to 17 allied nations plus Taiwan, imposes volume caps on roughly 120 countries and blocks shipments to China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea. Current regulations exempt orders below 1,700 NVIDIA H100 equivalent units from full licensing requirements, needing only a notification.

Former Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, acting as an informal adviser, verified that bilateral government agreements are under review. Officials are also considering reducing the notification threshold from 1,700 to approximately 500 H100 equivalents to address circumvention concerns. The proposal has drawn criticism from industry figures, including Oracle Executive VP Ken Glueck and a coalition of seven Republican senators who have urged Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick to withdraw the existing framework entirely. The administration faces pressure to finalize regulations before the May 15 compliance deadline, balancing security objectives with trade considerations. An announcement is expected before the month's end.

Canonical Releases Ubuntu 25.04 Plucky Puffin

Today Canonical announced the release of Ubuntu 25.04, codenamed "Plucky Puffin. Ubuntu 25.04 delivers the latest GNOME 48 with support for triple buffering and an improved install and boot experience. The introduction of a "devpack" for Spring expands toolchain availability in Ubuntu. Advancements in silicon enablement with Canonical's partners deliver performance improvements for AI workloads on Intel GPUs, and support for confidential computing on AMD SEV-SNP.

"Plucky Puffin combines the very latest in open source desktop technology with a focus on making high quality developer tooling readily available on Ubuntu. Ubuntu 25.04 delivers performance improvements across Intel GPUs, and a new purpose-built ISO for ARM64 hardware enthusiasts. Our increasing support for confidential computing with AMD SEV-SNP makes Ubuntu the target platform to deploy AI workloads securely and at scale on both public clouds and private data centers.", Jon Seager, VP of Ubuntu Engineering at Canonical

Framework Laptop 12 Now Available for Pre-Order

Framework Laptop 12 pre-orders are now open, with first shipments in June! We're pricing Framework Laptop 12 as low as we can to bring the Framework mission to as many people as possible. DIY Edition starts at €569/£499/$719 CAD and is available in five colorways: Black, Gray, Lavender, Bubblegum, and Sage. If you prefer not to assemble your laptop, we also have pre-built options in Black in some keyboard languages, starting at €849/£749/$1,079 CAD. Pre-orders are open today in all countries we ship to, with the temporary exception of the US. We shared a blog post earlier today detailing how we're handling the impact of tariffs for US customers.

Framework Laptop 12 is a 12.2", 13th Gen Intel Core-powered notebook that is designed to last. We have robust compatibility with both Linux and Windows 11, i3 and i5 Intel Core processor options, support for up to 48 GB of DDR5 and 2 TB of storage, Wi-Fi 6E, an excellent full-size keyboard, a 50Wh battery, a bright 1920x1200 touchscreen, a 1080p webcam, and USB 3.2, DisplayPort, and power input on all four Expansion Card slots. You can check out the full specs on our website. Even though this product is small and fun, it's also a real computer!

Framework Halts Sales of Select Laptops in the US Amid Tariff Changes

Framework, the maker of modular laptops, has temporarily halted sales of specific models in the US due to newly imposed tariffs. The move affects the Laptop 13 configurations. The company shared its decision through the official X account: "Due to the new tariffs that came into effect on April 5th, we're temporarily pausing US sales on a few base Framework Laptop 13 systems (Ultra 5 125H and Ryzen 5 7640U). For now, these models will be removed from our US site. We will continue to provide updates as we have them." The tariff adjustment, which raises import duties on goods from Taiwan to 10 percent, directly impacts Framework's cost structure. Originally priced assuming a zero percent tariff rate, the affected devices would now incur losses if sold at current pricing due to the zero-tariff situation in the past. In a detailed follow-up, Framework noted that other consumer electronics firms have undertaken similar recalculations, though few have publicly acknowledged their course of action.

Currently, the Ultra 5 125H model has already been removed from Framework's online store. Other models, such as the Ultra 7 155H and Ultra 7 165H, are for now discounted by up to eight percent, suggesting a temporary price adjustment strategy rather than a complete market withdrawal. Higher end AMD Ryzen 7 7840U SKUs are discounted by 10% and 12%, which is interesting. Framework's situation is just a part of the shift happening across industries triggered by the US administration's recent tariff changes. While Framework's statement leaves the possibility of resumed US sales open, no timeline has been provided. The consequences of the tariff shift are still unfolding across global supply chains.

Framework Laptop 12 Pre-orders Open Next Week

At the end of our launch livestream last month, we teased Framework Laptop 12, a colorful little laptop that is the ultimate expression of our product philosophy. We received a ton of interest around this product, and we have a lot more to share on Framework Laptop 12… in exactly a week! We're opening pre-orders on April 9th at 8am Pacific. That's also when we'll share the full specifications, pricing, and shipment timing. We have a hunch that the early batches are going to go very quickly, so you may want to set up your Framework account ahead of time. In the meantime, you can check out the hands-on video we just posted on our YouTube channel where we go deeper on the design decisions we made.

We know that a lot of you are eager for updates on Framework Laptop 13 and Framework Desktop too. We're happy to share that we've started manufacturing ramp on the new Ryzen AI 300 Series-powered Framework Laptop 13, along with the new translucent Bezels and Expansion Cards. We expect first shipments to go out and press reviews to go live in mid-April. We have a lot of manufacturing capacity ready to work through the pre-order batches quickly.

Compal's "Adapt X" Modular Laptop Could Arrive Soon, Competition to Framework is Coming

Compal is preparing "Adapt X" modular laptop design, which appears scheduled for actual market release according to its listing in the 2025 IF Design Awards catalog. The currently conceptual design features two display variants—14-inch and 16-inch models—that integrate with a specialized HUB system, enabling expanded I/O capabilities and modular AI units, most likely a dedicated NPU module for offloading smaller AI tasks from the CPU/GPU. The modular architecture utilizes USB connectivity between expansion components, with current renders showcasing speaker modules, I/O expansion options, and a primary keyboard unit presumably housing the CPU. Unlike Framework's granular approach, which allows for the choice of individual ports, Compal has opted for a more component-based system. The company claims that components can be used independently or combined, offering multiple usage modes at lower costs and reduced upgrade frequency.

Earlier this month, the company revealed a Hybrid AIO desktop that transforms between desktop, laptop, and tablet configurations and the "Infinite Laptop" featuring an expandable display stretching 14 inches to 18 inches through horizontal extension mechanisms. Compal's direct market entry would be a welcome addition as a significant ODM (Original Design Manufacturer) that typically produces hardware for other brands rather than selling under its own label. The modular laptop segment remains niche but potentially lucrative, with Compal likely targeting consumers already looking at Framework solutions. No official announcements regarding specifications, pricing, or release dates have been made by Compal, with the Adapt X currently only visible through IF Design Award documentation. We could see more prototypes being presented in the coming months, and the coming Computex show is the right time for Compal to showcase its concept. Nonetheless, we are looking for more details about it.

Google Making Vulkan the Official Graphics API on Android

We're stepping up our multiplatform gaming offering with exciting news dropping at this year's Game Developers Conference (GDC). We're bringing users more games, more ways to play your games across devices, and improved gameplay. You can read all about the updates for users from The Keyword. At GDC, we'll be diving into all of the latest games coming to Play, plus new developer tools that'll help improve gameplay across the Android ecosystem.

We're sharing a closer look at what's new from Android. We're making Vulkan the official graphics API on Android, enabling you to build immersive visuals, and we're enhancing the Android Dynamic Performance Framework (ADPF) to help you deliver longer, more stable gameplays. Check out our video, or keep reading below.

Framework Dives Deep into Desktop Model's Deployment of Ryzen AI Max

We dedicated a lot of our launch presentation of Framework Desktop to the Ryzen AI Max processor it uses, and for a good reason. These truly unique, ultra-high-performance parts are the culmination of decades of technology and architecture investments that AMD has made, going all the way back to their acquisition of ATI in 2006. For our first technical deep dive on Framework Desktop, we're going to go even deeper into Ryzen AI Max and what makes it a killer processor for gaming, workstation, and AI workloads.

What makes Ryzen AI Max special is a combination of three elements: full desktop-class Zen 5 CPU cores, a massive 40-CU Radeon RDNA 3.5 GPU, and a giant 256-bit LPDDR5x memory bus to feed the two, supporting up to 128 GB of memory. Chips and Cheese did an excellent technical overview of the processor with AMD that goes even deeper on this, and we'll pull out some of the highlights along with our own insights. We'll start with the CPUs. Ryzen AI Max supports up to 16 CPU cores split across two 4 nm FinFET dies that AMD calls CCDs. These dies are connected together using an extremely wide, low power, low latency bus across the package substrate. The CPUs are full Zen 5 cores with 512-bit FPUs and support for AVX-512, a vector processing instruction set otherwise only available on Intel's top end server CPUs. We're excited for you to see the multicore performance numbers these CPUs can do in our upcoming press review cycle!

iFixit Documents Early Teardown of Framework's Modular Mini Desktop PC

Shahram Mokhtari and Elizabeth Chamberlain—members of the iFixit Teardown Team—spent hands-on time with Framework's freshly introduced 4.5 liter Mini-ITX "Desktop" PC system. Official press material revealed cooling solution partnerships with Cooler Master and Noctua, but only a minority of "2nd Gen event" attendees were allowed to handle these pre-release modular parts. iFixit employees did not perform a full evaluation of Framework's new desktop model, since they were dealing with a prototype unit. A "repairability score" will be awarded once finalized hardware is delivered to iFixit's base of operations. In the meantime, their video team was hosted at Framework's Northern California office.

According to a follow-up report, Mokhtari and Chamberlain enjoyed their visit: "it's teardown time. Framework has been a beacon of repairability in the laptop space, and now they're bringing that ethos to desktops...Taking this thing apart was exactly as easy as we've come to expect from Framework. They brought us to their HQ to rip into it, and from the very first step, it was clear: this desktop was designed to be opened." Potential buyers—of Framework Desktop—are faced with many configurations, but a crucial choice will focus on available APU options. The highest-end builds will feature AMD's 16-core Ryzen AI Max+ 395 "Strix Halo" processor—iFixit's teardown did not reveal any major revelations in terms of the APU's physical appearance. Even Framework's own press release contains an exposed shot—hardcore processor design enthusiasts are better catered to with a more in-depth analysis of "Strix Halo."

Strix Point-Powered Framework Laptop 13 Introduced With Prices Starting From $899

Framework has finally introduced its next-generation Framework Laptop 13, now powered by the extremely potent Ryzen AI 300 "Strix Point" APUs. The product is already available for pre-order on Framework's website, with prices starting from $899 for the Do-It-Yourself variant, and $1,099 for the fully assembled variant. From the outside, the design of the product has been left mostly unchanged, which may appear somewhat disappointing at first, although an unaltered design likely indicates compatibility of components between the two laptops, which is undoubtedly one of the primary selling points for the Framework Laptop.

As mentioned, the biggest upgrade that the new Framework Laptop brings to the table is the new selection of processors, with the Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 APU sitting at the highest-end. Unsurprisingly, the Strix Point APUs allow for excellent performance improvements to both CPU and GPU side of things. With 12 cores (4 Zen 5 + 8 Zen 5c) and 24 threads, the highest-end Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 APU performs admirably well in benchmarks as well as real-life workloads. The Radeon 890M iGPU is among the fastest available on the market, trading blows with the Arc 140T iGPU in synthetic benchmarks. Of course, the 50 TOPS NPU allows for CoPilot functionality, for those who care. The Windows variant ships with a dedicated CoPilot key as well, while the DIY variant does not.

Framework Announces New Gaming Mini Desktop

Today, we introduced the Framework Desktop, a tiny 4.5L Mini-ITX desktop powered by AMD's massive new Ryzen AI Max processors. Pre-orders are open now, with first shipments in early Q3 2025. When AMD shared the Ryzen AI Max with us, we immediately knew we had to use it. It has up to 16 CPU cores at 5.1 GHz boost clock, discrete-level Radeon 8060S graphics, and support for up to an insane 128 GB of unified LPDDR5x. That enables 1440p or higher gaming on the heaviest titles, big creative and workstation workloads, and true local AI use cases. This is an absolute monster of a processor, and we shifted our roadmap a year ago to make space for it. In a desktop form factor, we get to unlock every bit of its performance with 120 W sustained power and 140 W boost while staying quiet and cool.

You may still be wondering, why does Framework need to build a desktop? Aren't desktops already modular and upgradeable? They are. In fact, the desktop PC ethos is part of what inspired the Framework Laptop to begin with. The desktop world is amazing. There is a broad, long-lived, interoperable ecosystem with hundreds of brands and hundreds of millions of consumers participating. You can build, upgrade, repair, and personalize to the limits of your imagination (and budget, and desk space), and share your amazing creations with all of the other true believers. We want to make this space as accessible as we possibly can by building a desktop that is simultaneously small and simple and incredibly powerful and customizable. Everyone should have the opportunity to experience the culture around PCs and PC gaming first-hand.

Framework (2nd Gen) Event Goes Live on February 25

We've been hinting that this year is going to be huge, and we're ready to share why… in two weeks on Feb 25th, at our Framework (2nd Gen) Event! We're holding this launch event live in San Francisco and streaming to our YouTube channel at 10:30am Pacific that day. You can sign up now to get notified when the stream starts. The last time we held a live launch event was in March 2023, when we unveiled Framework Laptop 16 and two new versions of Framework Laptop 13. It's been amazing seeing the interest in these products and the incredible ways the community has been using and extending on them. We've been heads down working for the last two years on an even bigger set of announcements.

For this event, in addition to bringing in press and partners, we're opening a pool of invites to the Framework Community to attend the event in person, meet the team, and get hands on with our newest products. If you're a current Framework fan and are in the San Francisco area (or are able to handle your own travel to us), you can apply to attend in this sign-up form. We expect we'll see a lot more interest than we have available seats in our venue, so we'll likely need to downselect from applicants.

FFmpeg Gets AMD AMF Accelerated Decoding Support, FSR Video Super Resolution Upscaler

FFmpeg, the popular open-source multimedia library for compressed video and audio formats, just introduced a component to libavcodec that integrates AMD Accelerated Media Framework (AMF) SDK. This component is called AMFDEC, and it allows libavcodec to utilize hardware-accelerated decoding features on AMD Radeon RX GPUs and the integrated graphics of AMD Ryzen processors. On machines with compatible hardware, AMFDEC provides libavcodec with hardware acceleration for decoding of H.264, H.265 or HEVC, and AV1. FFmpeg also introduced filters that implement AMD FSR Video Super Resolution. This lets applications that use FFmpeg to take advantage of VSR features on Radeon RX GPUs to provide superior upscaling quality. The filter is labelled "ar_amf." The commit can be accessed here.

Framework Releases RISC-V Mainboard for Framework Laptop 13

We're happy to share that DeepComputing's DC-ROMA RISC-V Mainboard for Framework Laptop 13 is now in stock and shipping in the Framework Marketplace. This is very much a developer-focused board to help accelerate maturing the software ecosystem around RISC-V, so we recommend waiting for future RISC-V products if you're looking for a consumer-ready experience. We shared more detail on the Mainboard in an earlier blog post and video, but as a quick summary, this is powered by a StarFive JH7110 processor that uses the open source RISC-V ISA. The team at DeepComputing designed it to drop directly into a Framework Laptop 13 chassis or Cooler Master Mainboard Case. They have published setup guides for the hardware and for installing Ubuntu and Fedora.

To make it easier to jump into using a new partner-developed Mainboard or reusing an old one, we're also introducing the Framework Laptop 13 Shell today. This is a complete Framework Laptop 13 chassis with everything except for the Mainboard, memory, storage, and Wi-Fi. We're eager to continue making Framework products excellent platforms to extend on. Modularity and open source documentation is good for everyone!

Framework Laptops Announces Further Expansion for Framework 16 Gaming Laptop

Framework, the company known for making consumer-friendly, repairable, upgradeable laptops, has officially announced the first expansion bay for the Framework 16, its AMD-powered gaming laptop. The new storage module, which slots into the Expansion Bay, has dual M.2 slots for up to 16 TB total additional storage for the Framework 16. Part of the idea behind the storage expansion seems to be turning what is essentially a gaming laptop into a capable workstation. Crucially, upgrading the storage with the expansion bay requires removing the discrete Radeon 7700s GPU, although the Framework 16 already has dual M.2 slots on the motherboard, so this expansion isn't really intended for gamers, anyway.

One of the major selling points for the Framework 16 was that it offered PCIe expansion via a modular interface, and this is Framework's first real foray into expanding that ecosystem for its largest laptop. In addition to the storage expansion, Framework also announced a new Mystery Box system for its US and Canada Outlets to offload spare parts, like returned modules and components that it doesn't want to relegate to the e-waste pile but also cannot financially justify sorting through and refurbishing. These Mystery Boxes each contain at least three items and come with a warning that reads "Note that these don't come with a warranty and are non-returnable, so only get it if you want random scrap to play with!"

DDN Unveils Next-Generation Data Intelligence Platform for HPC and AI

DDN, a leading force in AI data intelligence, today set a new standard in AI and HPC data management with the launch of trailblazing upgrades to its data intelligence platform at Supercomputing 2024 in Atlanta. Built in close collaboration with NVIDIA, these advancements give organizations unmatched power to scale and optimize AI data operations—delivering efficiency, seamless scalability, and the kind of ROI that fuels business growth and innovation.

At the core of this innovation is DDN's deep integration with NVIDIA, bringing unparalleled performance enhancements to AI and HPC workloads. With the debut of DDN's next-generation A³I data platform, the AI400X3 organizations can now achieve a staggering 60 percent performance boost over previous generations. This boost translates to faster AI training, real-time insights, and smoother data processing, giving enterprises the agility to make rapid decisions and gain a competitive edge in today's data-driven landscape.

Intel Updates XTU to Version 10, Exclusive to Core Ultra 200S Series "Arrow Lake"

Intel has released an updated version of its eXtreme Tuning Utility (XTU). The newest version, officially carrying the v10.0.0.76 moniker, is available to download. However, this version is designed exclusively for Intel's upcoming Core Ultra 200S series "Arrow Lake" processors. There are now two versions of Intel XTU: version 7.14.2.14, which supports unlocked Intel 14th Core and older processors, and version 10.x, which supports unlocked Intel Core Ultra Processors (Series 2) and newer. The XTU clocking utility only works on high-end Z-series boards like Z690, Z790, and the upcoming Z890 for "Arrow Lake-S." Below is a list of changes with XTU drivers now being replaced with Intel Innovation Platform Framework (IPF), which we are still trying to figure out what it is supposed to do. Many more features are listed below. However, we cannot decipher them until "Arrow Lake" reviews appear.

Framework Reveals $499 B-stock Laptop 13 Barebones Configuration

We're happy to share that Framework Laptop 16's are now in customer hands. It's been an excellent journey over the last two years designing and building an ultra-upgradeable, high-performance machine, and we're excited to see the early feedback. As always with Framework products, the first shipment is just the beginning, and we're looking forward to continuing to deliver on longevity, upgradeability, and repairability as we go. We've seen more press reviews go live as well, including by far the most thorough one, a deep dive from Jarrod's Tech that includes both a broad range of benchmarks and subjective evaluation of the overall experience. Framework Laptop 16 pre-orders are still open as we continue to manufacture our way through the pre-order batches. Most of our factory capacity, which we doubled last year, is now allocated to getting you Framework Laptop 16's as quickly as we can.

We recently uploaded the first set of developer documentation around Framework Laptop 16 internals on GitHub, adding to the existing material we have for the Expansion Bay and Input Module systems. The new release includes drawings and connector part numbers for the Mainboard to enable re-use. We'll continue to build out this documentation over time, like we have for Framework Laptop 13.

Reviewers Evaluate Framework's Laptop 16

The first press reviews of Framework Laptop 16 are now live. Check out some of the early feedback. This is the largest batch of review units we've ever shipped, and we expect more reviews to trickle in over the next week. For context on our press units, many companies ramp into production, manufacture a large quantity to fill retail channels, and cherry pick some golden units from that as review samples. For us, because we're entirely direct to consumer, our ramp is extremely fast, and units go to customers' hands immediately. That means to get press units out weeks ahead of time to provide a sufficiently long review period, we send out production-intent qualification units. The "intent" part of that is that these are usually functionally identical to what ships to consumers.

With Framework Laptop 16 though, the product is complex enough that we identified issues during manufacturing qualification that we've since fixed. Changes and improvements we've made on all customer systems include resolving some instances of audible electrical noise in the Mainboard and the Graphics Module, reducing sliding friction on the Touchpad Module, optimizing the thermal resistance of the CPU heatsink, making improvements to the liquid metal application process, fixing a couple of instances where a firmware bug could result in a blue screen on Windows, resolving an issue where the left or right speaker channel could be attenuated in Windows, improving the fan control algorithm on the Graphics Module, and a number of smaller fit and finish refinements related to the Bezel and Input Modules. In retrospect, we would have loved to get these improvements into the units we sent to reviewers, but it's most important that our customers have a system that works smoothly.

Framework Demonstrates Laptop 16 Customization and Expansion Modules at CES 2024

Modularity takes center stage in Framework's latest laptop innovation—the Laptop 16—showcased at their CES 2024 booth. The TechPowerUp team was there to look at the modules that the company showed. As a bigger brother to their popular Laptop 13, the 16-inch model amps up the modularity with new expansion systems for unrivaled customizability. The showstopper is the laptop's graphics modularity, realizing the long-sought dream of upgradeable discrete GPUs in a laptop. Gamers and creators can swap graphics modules to keep up with the latest technology. The laptop also introduces a modular keyboard deck with interchangeable parts for full input flexibility. Framework's expansive modularity translates to sustainability. Components can be reused, reducing e-waste. The company is open-sourcing designs and engaging partners to participate in the ecosystem.

Starting at $1399 for the DIY edition, the choice is either AMD Ryzen 7 7840HS or Ryzen 9 7940HS CPUs, along with Radeon RX 7700S graphics configured at 100 Watt TGP. A variety of modules and various keyboard positions can be seen in the pictures below, including the configuration with LED matrix spacer, color shifting spacer, different color screen bezels, and much more. Additional modules like SD Card expansion module are coming soon as well.

Framework Laptop 16 Liquid Metal Cooling Solution Explored

The Ryzen 7040 Series processor in Framework Laptop 16 is capable of running at a sustained 45 W TDP (Thermal Design Power) and we put together an excellent thermal solution to ensure it can do that while keeping CPU temperature, touch temperatures, and fan noise to a minimum. That 45 watts of CPU power needs to be efficiently conducted into the vapor chamber, heatpipes, and fins to be carried away through airflow from the fans.

Since neither the CPU die nor the vapor chamber surface are perfectly flat, a thermal interface material is needed to fill in gaps to avoid comparatively insulative air taking up that space. Traditionally, most computers use a thermal grease that has thermally conductive particles suspended in silicone. This works reasonably well, but the silicone itself isn't especially thermally conductive, and the paste can pump out or dry out over time, making it less effective.

Framework Dives Deep into Laptop 16 Connectors

This is likely our last Framework Laptop 16 Deep Dive before we start shipping, and those of you who ordered one can dive deep on your own. We began mass production of Mainboards last week, which we'll hold onto as we resolve the last few remaining open items to begin full system manufacturing. You may be thinking, do we really need a deep dive on connectors? The answer is a resounding "Yes!"—as connectors are surprisingly among the most complex and critical parts of building a product that is slim, durable, high performance, and easy to repair. Connectors are the electrical and mechanical interfaces between modules in the system.

They are what actually makes the product modular! Each connector needs to be easy to engage, hard to accidentally disengage during vibration or drop, robust across repeated re-connections, thin enough to fit within a tiny space, electrically sound from a signal integrity and power perspective, readily manufacturable, and cheap. Our most complicated connectors are made up of dozens of tiny formed metal parts in plastic or metal shells. Given the complexity, our preference is always to find well-proven off-the-shelf connectors. However, occasionally we run into unique interconnect scenarios that don't match anything out there. In these instances, we're forced to customize our own solutions. With Framework Laptop 16, we developed two of these to enable our new module ecosystems.
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