Feature Request Megathread - Expansion Bay modules
Hi, I’d like to propose an iteration on the design offered by Compal Veneno:
Compal Veneno Gaming Laptop Concept
Their concept is intriguing but I suggest it would make a better integrated solution as an expansion module for the Framework laptops instead of assigning that lid part to the mainboard…
In a way, the CV concept is like a tablet with modularity. So instead of having just one module for the mainboard, why not have two? The second module could then be used for a graphics card or another solution. This would keep the advantage of the stand-up position for cooling both the mainboard and the expansion/graphics module.
2 Likes
Maybe they would be more willing to support you with developing an intel ARC 7[5|7]0 GPU expansion bay module?
2 Likes
They need to add ReBAR support to the UEFI first.
Signed,
An Intel A770 eGPU user.
2 Likes
The card would have 4 external ports
â—Ź 1 for a battery under the laptop
â—Ź 1 Expansion Bay
â—Ź 2 Expansion Card slots (compatible with frameworks Expansion Card slots*)
It would also have some internal expansion NVME or 3.5" drives etc
it would probably be 2 or 3 times as thick as the FW 16 and as wide as it and 3 or 4 times the the with of a standard Expansion Card
â—Ź* the Expansion Card slots would support standard height width and depth plus any combination of
â—Ź double height
â—Ź 1.5 width on both sides (2.0 total)
â—Ź any depth in-between 1.0 and 2.0 (with the use of some spring mechanism)
2 Likes
My job requires a lot of physical ethernet connections.
I had wierd ethernet behaviours arcoss Industrial network system and software compatibility issues with Realtek ethernet chips across multiple brands of laptops utilizing Realtek ethernet chips from both my own and my colleagues’ experience.
From our experience in industrial controls and networking devices, Intel chip are still the most solid option.
I love the idea of Framwork laptop. I love the design of Framework 16. Previously when we only have the expansion cards, it’s hard to fit a full fat intel chip ethernet port in that thing. The new expansion bay shell seemed to have a lot more room to accomadate a ethernet board and a standard RJ45 port.
In the very early days of my career I used to do simple PCB layouts up to 4 layer with some limited differential traces, complete Amerture level. I don’t think I can handle the design and development of a intel based ethernet module. But one of you smart guys must have the skills and experience to do that.
Would any one want to develop a intel base ethernet module that could fit into the expansion bay shell? Or maybe someone out there can help make the electronics side of things happened?
I have good machining resources that I can help contribute in getting a custom expansion bay shell done. I could also help get electronics prototyping and small batch produced. I could potencially fund the prototyping stage of the project (Although TBH, I don’t have a good idea of the budget yet ). Anyway, Let’s discuss!
2 Likes
Anyone with more knowledge of the expansion bay system know if it gets us closer to connecting desktop gpu’s without a thunderbolt-level bottleneck? I’d love to replace my desktop with a Framework 16 + some sort of desktop gpu enclosure. With the announcement of the expansion bay system it seems like that would be an awesome application. Get desktop level performance at home, have a portable laptop when needed on the go.
3 Likes
You should be able to, you’d just need to convert the pin-outs and have an external PSU for it to work. We don’t know what generation the connector is, but either way there will be more performance than thunderbolt.
The connector is PCIe Gen4x8
4 Likes
Imagine if we could power the GPU from battery, so you don’t need external PSU. Let’s say Expansion bay with full size pci-e slot and 8 pin power connector. Those desktop mid-range GPU typically are almost the same as laptop ones and draw 120-150W. Than we could be able to mount some ITX desktop version of a GPU inside the Expansion Bay. Fitting everything would probably also require some modifications to the GPU cooling, but it can be done. I think that Framework’s dedicated GPUs options may be limited and expensive so this solution may help.
1 Like
Why do you want to do the battery like that, what has it done to you to deserve that XD
The expansion bay connector has limited wattage between the system and the module, iirc a bit over 100w in whatever direction you want.
1 Like
According to the Github documentation the theoretical max is 20V@10.5A, or 210W
Nice, sub half hour batterly life let’s gooooo
1 Like
With bifurcation support on the expansion bay connection I hope.
PCI-E is limited to 75W via the slot, that’s why gpus need supplementary power connectors.
The expansion bay isn’t a pcie slot, it has pcie lanes among other stuff.
1 Like
It will have bifurcation support given they demoed a multi-SSD expansion for the bay.
1 Like
you sure there wasn’t a plx chip in there, I hope there wasn’t but not sure it was confirmed.
Fully configurable bifurcation would be super neat, like 1 4x an 4 1x slots from the back, could hook up so much stuff.
2 Likes
@Adrian_Joachim Not sure at all, I just assumed bifurcation tbh. That would be the proper way of doing things in my mind. Plus the investment in firmware would reduce hardware costs.
2 Likes
Massively so, those damn plx chips just keep getting more expensive.
1 Like