AMD CPUs please

[Jieren_Zheng]

I suddenly wonder is there a way to kinda use the Steam Deck Mainboard in the Framework as an AMD system. But the drivers for the custom hardware the Steam Deck uses can be very annoying even for Linux I think.

Not to mention how to tie in daughterboards and fit into the Framework body.

[GhostLegion]

@Jieren_Zheng

Not to mention how to tie in daughterboards and fit into the Framework body.

Super glue solves all problems lol. Although connecting the Deck’s board to the expansion slot and the laptop display would be tricky.

[Jieren_Zheng]

@GhostLegion

Super glue solves all problems lol. Although connecting the Deck’s board to the expansion slot and the laptop display would be tricky.

That’s gonna make replacement hard man.

Yea, might require more daughter boards and perhaps even reduced IO, I assume Valve’s custom Zen 2 with RDNA2 would have some what reduced PCIe lanes for cost.

[Second_Coming]

@Jieren_Zheng

That’s gonna make replacement hard man.

Duct tape is the answer.

[GhostLegion]

@Second_Coming

Duct tape is the answer.

Damn, you’ve seen my super glue and raised me the most versatile substance known to man.

[Geert_Schuring]

Biggest push anyone can do now is buying a current framework laptop and ask for AMD mainboard upgrade. That’s what I did, support the company and let them know your wishes for the future.

[agentcrm]

@Jieren_Zheng

Yea, might require more daughter boards and perhaps even reduced IO, I assume Valve’s custom Zen 2 with RDNA2 would have some what reduced PCIe lanes for cost.

The Steam Deck is a closed hardware system, it has no need for extra PCIe lanes.

[Jieren_Zheng]

@agentcrm

The Steam Deck is a closed hardware system, it has no need for extra PCIe lanes.

Linus Tech Tips ran an eGPU with it I think. I figured it could be a hacky solution to those who wants an AMD CPU while waiting for Framework.

[agentcrm]

@Jieren_Zheng

Linus Tech Tips ran an eGPU with it I think. I figured it could be a hacky solution to those who wants an AMD CPU while waiting for Framework.

There’s a few people who have done eGPU setups.
It’s not officially supported, though clearly it works.

[Jieren_Zheng]

@agentcrm

There’s a few people who have done eGPU setups.
It’s not officially supported, though clearly it works.

As in, Linus ran an eGPU with the Steam Deck, there are Steam Deck docks that can add an additional NVMe drive too. I assumed that the PCIe lanes and bandwidth should be somehow sufficient for a huge number of people.

[NM64]

…and it looks like Mendocino has Pluton:

AMD’s first Ryzen 7000 mobile CPU is a mix of old and new for midrange laptops

The processors also include Microsoft Pluton security hardware.

This does however mean that it’s looking more and more likely that desktop Zen4/Ryzen 7000 does indeed lack Pluton and that it’s looking to be a mobile-focused sort of thing from AMD.

Of course, unless Framework could somehow simply piggy-back off of, say, whatever chip Valve uses for the Steam Deck (or future variants), then Framework’s large focus on Linux means that AMD’s normal mobile-focused processors might be questionable…

One unknown however are AMD’s Chromebook-specific CPUs which have separate SKUs from the normal mobile variants but still use the same CPU architecture, but I say “unknown” because the newest Chromebook-specific SKUs are using the older Zen3 & Vega APU design that predates Pluton. That being said, Pluton inherently seems to be incompatible with CoreBoot which is something that ChromeOS uses (and CoreBoot is obviously something that lines up very well with Framework’s ethos).

[lhl]

@NM64

One unknown however are AMD’s Chromebook-specific CPUs which have separate SKUs from the normal mobile variants but still use the same CPU architecture, but I say “unknown” because the newest Chromebook-specific SKUs are using the older Zen3+Vega APU design that predates Pluton.

Since it’s a bit confusing, here’s a summary of AMD’s 2022 7000 mobile lineup (most of this was announced with their new naming scheme, but some info like the 7020 Mendocino info just got announced yesterday), and I made most of a list already:

• 7020 Series is Mendocino (Zen2 + RDNA2; TSMC N6)
  • <15W lowest end chips (Sabrina was the codename for the Chromebook chip, but it’s been confirmed as an alias for/the same as Mendocino). The new announcement linked specifically mentions that it has Pluton and adds a few new features like LPDDR5 and everyone’s favorite, Modern Standby - the aim is for 12h+ battery life in $400 laptops.
• 7030 is Barcelo-R (Zen3 + Vega Enhanced; TSMC N7)
  • Presumably this is just to give OEMs the ability to refresh their FP6/DDR4 designs and sell them as 2022 models. I’d expect these to be basically the same as Ryzen 56xxU and 58xxU - fine for basic office productivity, >Alder Lake U/P perf and perf/watt).
• 7035 is Rembrandt-R (Zen3+ + RDNA2; TSMC N6)
  • w/ 6000U laptops designs just now coming out, I’m going to guess that anything that doesn’t release before December is just going to get this rebrand slapped on it. Considering how outclassed Intel is at <30W (I don’t expect Raptor Lake to be much more efficient) I guess this is fine, but not so exciting.
• 7040 is Phoenix (Zen4 + RDNA3; TSMC N4)
  • The thing mobile enthusiasts should actually be excited about since it’s the proper next-gen/latest and greatest thin-and-light APU. This will probably be my next laptop upgrade, whether its a Framework motherboard refresh or not.
• 7045 is Dragon Range (Zen4 + RDNA2; TSMC N5)
  • Desktop Zen4 brought down to compete w/ Intel in the high-wattage H/H(K|X) segment since the mobile APU designs don’t scale well with additional power. Exciting I suppose if you’re a gamer/workstation person using your laptop as a desktop replacement. Chiplet based and a minimal iGPU.

[NM64]

I just realized that, due to the existence of Zen3+, saying “Zen3+Vega” could be confusing, so I’ve edited my previous post to instead say “Zen3 & Vega”.

So for similar reasons you might want to consider replacing all of the + signs with & as well (other than the one used for the “Zen3-plus” architecture first seen with Ryzen 6000 of course!)

Oh and of course, if desktop Ryzen 7000/Zen4 lacks Pluton then one would similarly expect Dragon Range to also lack it, but that’s much higher-wattage than Framework is (currently?) focused on.

[NM64]

Apologies for the double-post, but…

@NM64

One unknown however are AMD’s Chromebook-specific CPUs
…
CoreBoot which is something that ChromeOS uses (and CoreBoot is obviously something that lines up very well with Framework’s ethos).

Do I get a medal or something? It’s not exactly what I was referring to but, boy, the timing is uncanny:

Introducing the Framework Laptop Chromebook Edition

…though it has made me aware of the “Titan C” chip which basically just sounds like Google’s equivalent of Pluton. That’s… not exactly ideal either, but it’s interesting that it’s present even with coreboot.

[NM64]

Apologies for the triple post but, if Anandtech is to be believed, then even desktop Ryzen 7000 has pluton:

AMD Zen 4 Ryzen 9 7950X and Ryzen 5 7600X Review: Retaking The High-End

I guess I’m out then since I’m a Linux user that needs proper aspect-ratio control on external monitors - something only easily achieved with AMD graphics (unless you use an HDTV or a monitor with its own aspect-ratio controls), and the whole idea of Pluton with Linux is not a combination that I’m comfortable with (though open source firmware could possibly help alleviate such things).

Now the question is, what about those rumored Zen4 chips for a future “Steam Deck 2”? Pluton would make absolutely no sense for such a device and could subsequently make for an ideal Linux-focused processor if the design happens to be made available for others and not just Valve (I mean, even PS5’s APU has been sold on a sort of all-in-one PC motherboard, and the Steam Deck is more of a PC than the PS5 is).

[J_Lee_Hughes]

When will AMD be option
Be available

[CO1]

Linus Tech Tips - My Investment is in TROUBLE

Linus recently covered the HP 845 G9 repairable laptop that has an AMD Ryzen 6000 series CPU. I’m hoping we can see future iterations of the Framework laptops offer AMD processors.

[Jieren_Zheng]

@NM64

(I mean, even PS5’s APU has been sold on a sort of all-in-one PC motherboard, and the Steam Deck is more of a PC than the PS5 is).

The PS5 one is very rare and sadly with huge amounts of cut down I/O and bandwidth, they disabled the GPU too. Even if it was made available, it would be horrible for PC.

@CO1

I’m hoping we can see future iterations of the Framework laptops offer AMD processors.

Maybe with the silicon oversupply, AMD might decide to give some silicon allocation here but really doubtful.

[Petr_Kisselev]

Hello !

Do you have any plans of selling mainboards equipped with AMD CPUs ?

Thanks for the info !

[GhostLegion]

Please see the various threads for AMD mainboards

AMD CPUs please

Intel tigerlake processors are great. But Ryzen processors still beat the Intel ones when it comes to multi-core workload. Not having AMD option in Framework seem to be a deal breaker.

AMD CPU's, An Open Letter to the Framework Team

Dear Framework, Right now, it should be apparent from the community’s response that a Framework laptop with an AMD CPU is desirable by many people, myself included. To be clear, we know that you’ve essentially confirmed that you want to release laptops with alternate CPU options in the future, however, the statement is rather vague and no other official statements (that I could find) have been made since. On one hand, I want to support the company by buying the product, especially this earl…