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Framework Laptop 16. Upgraded!

Framework Laptop 16. Upgraded!

56 comments

·August 26, 2025

vzaliva

The idea of Framework laptops sounds great! But I’m wondering: has anyone done an economic analysis comparing buying a Framework laptop a few years ago and gradually upgrading it, versus buying a similar popular brand laptop and just upgrading by getting a new model? I’m not trolling, I’m genuinely considering Framework as my next laptop.

miloignis

Another consideration that has really come true for me is repairs - I accidentally spilled a bottle of gin over my framework and was able to only replace the main board for under half the cost of a brand new machine.

I'm very happy with my framework!

moelf

I think a large economic value also comes from repair-ability. If nothing ever breaks (until battery dies), I don't think anyone can compete with entry level MacBook in terms of experience/price.

opengears

I am wondering about the RAM extensibility. The 7040 can be extended to have 128GB RAM (for example Crucial CT2K64G56C46S5) - anyone knows if the same still works?

nrp

I'm happy to answer questions around the new product.

needlesslygrim

I'm very impressed you managed to get nvidia to give you access to the 5070! I have one queetion though, is the 5070 limited to 100W because of the docking connector, or for cooling reasons?

nrp

Primarily for thermal reasons.

Deuter8

I literally just want a touchpad with buttons. These new 'clickpads' are the bane of my existence. They are so much slower, and certain workflows are impossible. I must use an external mouse now with modern laptops.

Why can no laptop manufacturer even make this an option?

soperj

Thinkpads still have buttons. I don't ever use the trackpad, just the nub and buttons.

iknowstuff

I’ve never missed having buttons on the macbook trackpad lol

How are they slower/impossible?

jayd16

I assume some gestures are simply not possible. Like click-to-drag and scroll simultaneously. Not every app handles gutter-hover-to-scroll in a usable way. On a mouse or a pad with buttons, you can keep the left click held down and scroll with the wheel or gesture. Uni-pads make this impossible.

ksec

Problem is none of the trackpad on PC are as good as the Apple trackpad

aaomidi

Because the macbook trackpad is good.

criddell

What workflows are impossible with a trackpad but possible with a mouse?

diggan

With the trackpads that have built-in clicks in the pad itself, I've always found it really difficult to drag-and-drop stuff if it has to be pulled longer than a few pixels. Just moving and pressing against a surface seems to not be a super accurate movement in general.

dismalaf

ThinkPads still have buttons, or do you require buttons specifically under the touchpad?

layer8

Why no full-height arrow keys and Esc/function key row? There would be enough space.

juujian

You knew the question was coming. ThinkPad style trackpoint keyboard!

christiangenco

Hah, I'm curious if this is legally possible. I've never seen that on any non-ThinkPad laptop.

soperj

I used a toshiba that only had the nub and no trackpad previously.

noooooooph

I recall Dell had laptops in the past at some point that had blue trackpoint-like nubs

yjftsjthsd-h

I have multiple Dell laptops that have a mouse nub in the middle of the keyboard

evolve2k

Would love to hear ur take on the impact of tariffs and how u folks have navigated that.

Would u consider setting up an assembly plant outside the US to sell to to customers internationally? I’m in Australia.

nrp

We manufacture our systems and many of our modules in Taiwan, and have had less tariff impact than other electronics companies as a result. Currently, laptops are also exempt from some tariffs.

nileshtrivedi

ETA on launching in India?

vishnugupta

Came here to ask exactly this.

mixmastamyk

Will we ever have ECC RAM as an option?

kmeisthax

Not a question about the Framework Laptop 16 specifically, but why are the upgrade kits[0] for the Laptop 13 still marked as "register interest" on the Framework Marketplace? The Ryzen AI 300 motherboards, RAM, and Wi-fi cards are all available separately already.

[0] https://frame.work/products/framework-laptop-13-mainboard-ki...

digdugdirk

Random question for framework owners - my 1st gen Framework 13 recently started screaming it's fans all day, every day, even when it's asleep.

Where's the best places to go for troubleshooting, user guides, etc? I've played with all the bios and framework settings I can find, so I'm guessing it's hardware related, if that changes the resource recommendations.

diggan

> Where's the best places to go for troubleshooting, user guides, etc?

I guess general "laptop maintenance" guides should be good enough? Guides that mention things like "Clean out all the dust/vent-junk once every X months/years" (if you have pets, you can't do this often enough it seems) and "redoing the thermal paste each X year".

archvile

Do you have a way to test the temps? It could just need a simple repaste.

nrp

Repaste is a likely solution, since that generation was before we switched to Honeywell phase change thermal interface material. Traditional thermal paste will slowly pump out over time. We do have Honeywell material in our Marketplace. You can also reach out to our support team for help.

mixmastamyk

Clean the air intakes, disable all startup tasks, reboot.

Bolwin

[dead]

kurtoid

I just bought a Framework 16 7840HS last week and now it's 7% off. Guess I should have waited a little longer. Glad to see they're committing to upgrades for it, though, so I guess it was still a good investment

diggan

> I just bought a 7840HS and now it's 7% off

Write them and ask if you could get the rebate. The times I've had this happened to me when shopping from small/medium-sized businesses they've been nice enough to either give me a refund for the difference, or at least a coupon for future purchases.

rjzzleep

That is really cool. One thing I have to ask though. Does the Framework have the same problem as other bottom intake fans that collect dust inside the fan?

nrp

It really depends on your usage environment, but one good thing is that its probably easier to clean the fans on a Framework Laptop than on most other laptops!

criddell

Still hoping for a fanless model one day.

OnionBlender

Why did provide a link that defaults to Romanian prices?

daemonologist

Presumably OP is Romanian/in Romania.

Here is the default link (US): https://frame.work/laptop16?tab=whats-new

aaomidi

Because its /ro/

dismalaf

Very nice. Glad Framework finally updated the CPU/APU on this because I really want the Ryzen AI APU in a 16 inch form factor (I don't care about dedicated GPUs though).

andrewmcwatters

Will Framework ever ship high-end laptops, or is the niche always going to be low-to-mid spec repairable?

The specification targets on them are always chronically low.

adgjlsfhk1

What do you mean by high end? The Framework 13 can be configured with an AMD AI 370 (12 cores/24 threads zen5), a 2.8k 120 hz display, 96GB of ram and an 8TB SSD. That seems pretty high end to me?

miloignis

What does high-end mean to you/what specs do you find to be too low? I've found them plenty powerful for a dev machine.

DiabloD3

Kinda wish you guys didn't have an Nvidia product at all. It's only really useful for Windows users, but openly hostile and offensive to Linux desktop users.

kurtoid

Choice is good, IMO. I've had good experience w/ Nvidia cards with the new open drivers on wayland

nrp

We continue to have our AMD Radeon RX 7700S Graphics Module as an option on the new generation.

umanwizard

Virtually all AI training is done on Linux with Nvidia hardware. In the desktop space, I've run Linux with Nvidia for many, many years. It's utter nonsense to claim that Nvidia isn't useful on Linux.

adgjlsfhk1

no it's not. Nvidia works on linux too. Not all linux gamers want to use AMD.

Night_Thastus

Like it or not, Nvidia is the dominant player in the GPU space. They have objectively the most powerful GPUs and the best support for development (CUDA).

It would be cutting out a massive chunk of Framework's potential customers to not even offer Nvidia GPUs.

I don't like Nvidia at all, they're a scummy company. But just offering their products as an option is not "openly hostile and offensive" to Linux users. That's a bizarre take.

gjsman-1000

Framework purchasers != Linux users

andrewmcwatters

And the Nvidia option is a 5070 with no better options, so while I’d love to support Framework, there’s no point when MSI regularly ships better products.