Are 2nd gen fans actually better?

Framework Laptop 16
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1

Getting tired of these whiny fans. Are the 2nd gen fans actually that much better? Enough that the 5070 module won’t emulate tinnitus?

2

Doesn’t the 5070 module come with the 2nd gen fans?

3

Yes. I’m trying to figure out if it makes sense to buy that or an eGPU.

4

Upgraded from 7700S (1st gen) to 5070.

Buy it only if you’re interested in the performance increase. The noise level with fans at 100% is lower, especially in the high range, but don’t expect miracles. It is still “gaming laptop like” in that sense.

Note: this is personal experience, I did not measure a thing.

2 Likes
5

You can buy the second gen fans for the 7700s. You don’t have to get the 5070 for just the fans.

6

I upgraded to 5070, it’s still not a quiet laptop however it’s much better and the tone is different. Much less anoying.

7

The short answer is yes, but specifically for the “whistle.” Framework redesigned the fans for the 2025/2026 refresh (found in the RTX 5070 and the “Gen 2” 7700S modules) to address exactly what you’re describing: that high-pitched, 5-6kHz “tinnitus” whine.

The “Gen 2” Difference

  • The Pitch Fix: The original fans had a specific blade geometry that caused air turbulence to resonate at a piercing frequency. The Gen 2 fans use re-optimized blade geometry and a new controller IC that smooths out the fan curve. Reviewers and users report it shifts the noise from a “whistle” to a more neutral “whoosh.”

  • Thermals vs. Noise: The RTX 5070 module is 30-40% faster than the old 7700S but runs at the same 100W TGP. Because it’s more efficient and uses updated Honeywell PTM phase-change material, the fans don’t have to work as hard to maintain the same temps.

  • The “Mylar” Mod: The Gen 2 shells also have updated mylar taping inside the vents to prevent “air leaks” that contributed to the whistling on the 1st gen modules.

Bottom

If the volume of air moving bothers you, it’s still a gaming laptop—it’s going to be audible. But if the frequency (the high-pitched drilling sound) is what’s killing you, the $60 fan upgrade or the new 5070 module is the documented fix.

If you want to save money, some users have had success “modding” the 1st gen module by applying Kapton tape to the gap between the fan housing and the heatsink to stop the whistle.

okay……..