Can I remove my graphics module?

Community Support
,
21

As far as i know, the FW16 cannot boot without the graphics expansion bay or the expansion bay shell.
There are checks done on the presence of the fans and interposer connector being connected, before it boots.
I guess you will just have to wait for the spare parts to arrive.

1 Like
22

Yes, but the laptop used to work, mostly, except for the noise, until recently… and now it does not work at all. Hopefully it is just the graphics module that is boinkers, and everything starts working again as soon as I get my spare parts!

23

Well, I was previously only trying to answer the first question in this thread. I.e. the Title.
Now that you have other problems, I would probably follow any instructions that FW support give you.

  1. I would probably remove the GPU expansion module, give it a once over, check no dust on the connections etc. Put it back in, and see if anything improves.
  2. If you are using Linux, you could blacklist the dGPU so that the driver never powers it on.
  3. You could manually control the fans with “ectool” so see if the problem sound was related to fan speed.
  4. The problems with graphics / display while in the BIOS could also be caused by other things.

It would be easier for people to comment if:

  1. You recorded the sound of the problem and posted a link to the recording here.
  2. You videoed the display problems and posted a link to the recording here.

From your limited description above, there could be multiple different problems.

24

I didn’t intend for this thread to evolve into a general support issue for all my laptop problems, but people are so helpful :slight_smile:

The official Framework support has been both quick and supportive, and a new graphics module is on its way. Hopefully all my other current issues (not getting any visual output at all, on laptop screen or external displays) will go away as well, once I get that. (I also ordered an extension bay shell so that I can use the laptop without the graphics module)

I can’t document the display problems anymore, since the screen is simply not showing anything anymore. I don’t know whether the BIOS is even started at all.

In case anyone is interested, here are link to videos of the noise (and pictures of the graphics module):

https://photos.app.goo.gl/G74LQ21qKUWEX5vr6

I really like the potential of the FW16, so I do hope it works out in the end!

1 Like