I posted this in a related thread on Reddit, but for more detail:
We’re certainly committed to making sure Framework Laptop 16 is a solid product. For the total list of issues that we’ve resolved on customer units since the press units we manufactured in December:
- High frequency noise from Mainboard - We identified an incorrect capacitor value that results in a high pitched noise during high load while using a 28V or 36V power adapter. This is resolved on customer units.
- Buzzing or chirping noise from Graphics Module - We identified a scenario where the inductors on the Graphics Module can buzz under high variations in load. We’ve updated the Graphics Module inductor assembly on customer units to resolve this.
- CPU thermal module performance - Our thermal module supplier improved their vapor chamber soldering process, which reduced thermal resistance. While this was only intended to improve manufacturing yield, it actually ended up improving thermal performance too. All press units passed the same pass/fail criteria that we use for CPU performance on customer units though, so we consider press unit CPU benchmarking to be a fair representation of what customers will receive.
- Liquid metal barrier adjustments - We made some adjustments to the liquid metal application process to prevent any leakage risk on customer units.
- Cold GPU performance - For GPU benchmarks, on a cold first run the scores may be lower than subsequent warm runs. We resolved this through a BIOS update that we provided to reviewers partway through the review cycle, which some reviewers may have benchmarked on older BIOS. We know that LTT was on the newer BIOS in their benchmarking.
- DPC_Watchdog_Violation blue screen - There was a system stability issue that occurred primarily when scrolling the touchpad that could result in a blue screen. This was the issue that The Verge ran into, and we’ve since resolved it in the BIOS that is on customer systems.
- Speaker weighted to left or right channel - There is a bug in the smart amp DSP in which the left or right channel may be attenuated at certain times. We saw a reviewer specifically call out that audio sounded shifted. We’ve found the root cause of this, and we’ve resolved it in the driver on customer systems.
- Touchpad Module sliding friction - The mechanical structure that the Touchpad Module slides into is slightly deformed on some press units, resulting in higher sliding friction. This is resolved on customer systems.
- Display alignment - On some press units, the display was slightly misaligned in a way that resulted in the bezel covering the edge of the active area. We bypassed screening for this during press unit manufacturing, but are checking this during production of all customer units.
- Minor fit and finish in the Input Modules - There are some mechanical alignment refinements in customer systems that improve the alignment of the pins in the Mid Plate to the alignment holes in the Input Modules, as well as reduce visible gaps along the top edges of Spacer Modules. There are also minor improvements in the flatness of the Touchpad Module and Touchpad Spacers in customer systems.
Remaining open questions:
- Keyboard deflection - This is an unusual one, because we’ve seen pretty consistently positive feedback on the input deck feel from most of the reviewers, but also specifically saw LTT’s video and the workaround they applied. We’re investigating whether there could have been either an issue on that unit, or a scenario that can result in the mid plate not being flat. In either scenario, if we find that there is an improvement we can apply on this, we will do so, and ship out any parts necessary for that to customers.