Framework Desktop 128 GB Model suddenly died and will not turn back on

Framework Desktop
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Hey guys, sadly my Framework desktop that I have been using as my daily driver died on monday. I stepped away while it was idle (no heavy tasks running, just in the middle of watching a movie on my jellyfin server) to make coffee and returned to the PC being powered down.

I first just tried to turn it back on, but the only reaction I got was a very short whirring of the fan in the PSU before turning back off. I tried a different cable first, then I assumed the PSU was dead and connected a different known good PSU just to check, but that failed as well.

I then removed all possible components (SSDs, WIFI, USB expansion cards, even tried unplugging the fan) with no new findings. I also tried resetting the BIOS with the button on the motherboard, but that didn’t do anything at all.

I opened a support ticket already, but while I wait, I thought I might ask here if anyone has any other ideas I can try to help troubleshoot the issue.

2

Hi,
Interesting you should post this, I was about to make a post about my issue which sounds VERY similar.
OS: Ubuntu 25.10 (mostly), Debian Trixie (a little bit), (Windows 11, tried it and then ditched it)
System: Framework Desktop 128GB
Storage: None (Originally network booted)
Power supply: HDPlex DC-ATX 500W running from 20-25V 6S 200Wh UPS+600W 25V power supply. (My whole setup is portable/battery powered when required)

I got my Framework Desktop in late November/early December and ran it without issues for several months. It was perfectly stable running everything including some pretty heaving gaming (at least for me, HellDivers 2) and never once shutdown on its own.

After the May Bank holiday weekend(+heatwave? UK) I used my desktop for 3-4 hours at which point it just poweroff’d. The power LED just turned off with no apparrent shutdown reason, no kernel panic, no system logs.
Since then I’ve rarely managed to keep the system alive for >10 minutes before the same happens. I’ve had it happening while in the OS as well as when in the UEFI boot menu, so I don’t think it is an OS issue.
To rule out the power supply being the problem I have tested:

  • With a 650W Corsair power supply (to rule out HDPlex DC-ATX+batteries+25v PSU)
  • HDPlex+Battery only (to rule out the 25v PSU)
  • HDPlex+25v PSU (to rule out the batteries)
    All of these yielded the exact same result.

If I attempt to power it back on within a few seconds, the power button does nothing at all (while the orange LED on the board stays on?).
If I attempt to power it back on a few seconds later, it normally turns on briefly (for about 2 seconds), then turns off again.
I think I’ve had it blink a post/error code one time, but reproducing it in a timely manner is just too inconsistent and time consuming. If I miss it and leave it off for a few minutes it takes several minutes to reproduce again.

I’ve been back and forth with support several times, and it’s always ended with “we don’t have enough information”, but I just don’t have the time to spend constantly diagnosing. I haven’t been able to use it for nearly 3 months now.

The only thing I changed right before it first happened was adding a system fan. I’ve tried adding and removing storage, fans, etc. I already run it with literally no additional hardware to blame, so my only conclusion is that the mainboard is faulty???

Note:
I genuinely believe I am cursed by Tech.
I’m a proud owner of a FW13 Intel (can’t remember which gen, 11-13) but that also had power issues (very different power issues). It wasn’t until the CPU died and could no longer boot most OSes (except in “safe” modes) that it got replaced and I realised that the “normal” behaviour I had tried to report to Support several times was actually an issue. My laptop actually went to sleep for the first time in ~2y.
I love framework and their products, but diagnosing issues with support is not a great experience.

1 Like
FW Desktop randomly shuts off in "Best Performance" but seems much more stable in "Best Efficiency"
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I went through the support process, and it appears I will be getting a replacement motherboard.

It seems my motherboard has an issue in the power delivery or something of the sort, so that the overcharge protection triggers as soon as I try to power it on.

My thanks to the customer support. Thankfully, no data was lost on my hard drives either, so once I get the replacement board, I should be golden.