I'll buy a framework when they finally add the Coreboot support they promised.
this post was submitted on 15 Nov 2023
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I did a Passmark compare against their Intel offering - the i7-1360P (offered at the same price), and the difference is incredible - 24% better performance overall, at only a 1% higher TDP (and only a 0.5% lower single thread).
https://www.cpubenchmark.net/compare/5322vs5198/AMD-Ryzen-7-7840U-vs-Intel-i7-1360P
Both mainboards are in stock and being sold for $699.
1% higher rated TDP, but real world power consumption is a much different world.
What are your PL1 and PL2s set to? My 11th Gen. i9 has a “TDP” of 45 watts, but really it’s 109. Same for any modern CPU from Intel. Intels website says base power is 28 watts, but “maximum turbo power” is 64.
AMDs website says the 7840 has an AMD Configurable TDP of 35-54W, and they’re kinda falling down the same trap that Intel pioneered. But their power consumption in all loads but balls out is still typically much better, and IMO that’s much more important in a laptop than balls out performance.
Framework ~~13 With AMD Ryzen 7040 Series~~ Makes For A Great Linux Laptop
ftfy
Great machines
I'm rocking this right now with Ubuntu and it's really nice. I've actually run into a lot of weirdness but it's entirely the fault of Ubuntu (keyring doesn't recognize fingerprint reader?) and I'll probably switch to something else soon. That said, the build quality is top notch and I can't believe how fast the 7040u is, especially considering it fits in a laptop.
I'll probably put Windows on a usb drive for photoshop and a few other things but I don't think I'm ever going back to it as a daily driver.
This is the best summary I could come up with:
I've been testing out the Framework Laptop 13 the past month and after a BIOS update has been working out wonderfully on Linux.
Another pleasant change since looking at the original Framework laptop in 2021 has been the company providing even better Linux support.
The only notable Linux support caveat for the current hardware is possible fingerprint reader issues if not running on the latest firmware.
The embedded controller is based on the Google Chromebook EC and making use of Zephyr.
One step further it would be great if the Framework 13 AMD laptop made use of Coreboot, but alas that's not the case.
Hopefully though that will become more of a reality as AMD OpenSIL hits production in ~2026 and that we continue seeing more open-source firmware efforts invested by Framework.
The original article contains 638 words, the summary contains 132 words. Saved 79%. I'm a bot and I'm open source!
DIY Edition Build it yourself and bring your OS, including Linux. Starting at $1,399.00
I hate to crap on a project like framework too much, but I fail to see the value it brings to the table compared to other options. 900$ for a Chromebook, 1.4k for a "DIY" laptop, 1.7k for the same laptop but assembled.
300-400$ used gaming laptops can be found on eBay, are repairable, and run Linux just as easily (minus maybe switching to official Nvidia drivers, but it's still only a couple commands a way). For 1k I'm sure you can get a variety of very premium laptops.
Edit: by repairable meant they're easy to repair if they break, not that they come pre-broken.
It pretty much comes down to three things, all driven by their system's modularity:
- Repairability and upgradeability. You get officially supported spare parts for everything and they intend to keep selling compatible parts for the foreseeable future. Due to them internally standardizing their form factors, all parts are intended to be upgradable, even the logic board.
- Swappable ports. Being able to reconfigure every port into whatever you need reduces the need for docks and adapters. Since the specs are open, third parties can make their own ports or offer compatible slots in their devices.
- Reuse of components. At least some components like the logic boards are fully intended to be used outside their laptops, e.g. after an upgrade. I'm not sure if they offer detailed enough specs on stuff like the fingerprint sensor to use that for your own projects.
Whether this is worth it is up to you. Anecdotally, I have to replace my current laptop because the keyboard is dying. The rest is still fine, it's just the keyboard. In hindsight, paying more upfront and being able to just order a new keyboard for fifty bucks would've saved me some money.
Definitely look into keyboard replacement. I've replaced so many laptop keyboards and flipped the laptop or used it for myself from people too lazy to learn how to replace the keyboard. I have yet to run into a model that doesn't have one you can buy on eBay.
Fair enough, although I'm using the opportunity to upgrade and attempt to switch to Linux. And probably replace an older desktop computer with the old laptop (with a USB keyboard attached).
But yeah, under different circumstances it would make sense to buy a keyboard from eBay and attempt a repair.
I agree with your points, but aren't most laptop keyboards replacable?
Many are, true. There's a few other factors involved as well (I'm using the opportunity to upgrade, for instance). Most manufacturers won't commit to selling you first-party components right from their own store, though. That still remains a bonus.
The big thing you get with frameworks is super simple repairability. This means service manuals, parts availability, easy access to components like the battery, RAM, ssd, etc. Customizable ports are also a nice feature. You can even upgrade the motherboard later down the line instead of buying a whole new laptop.
I recently upgraded my 12th gen Intel with a new gorgeous matte screen and the process didn't take more than 5 minutes, despite one of my arms being in a cast!
Curious as I want to also make this change. We're you able to sell your old display? Or did you repurpose it.
Ehh I should do one of those two but it's just sitting in storage as a spare.
Good point but the upgradability is important to
Can't wait for the reviews of the 16 model
I have an AMD 13 (upgraded from 11thgen)
While I am so glad I can actually suspend the notebook now, overall power consumption is much higher than I was hoping for.
I understand it'll be higher than AMDs references, however it's significantly higher. Hoping continued AMD drm and Framework firmware improvements can bring this more closely in line.