Framework Laptop 13 Pro Intel® Core™ Ultra Series 3 BIOS 3.04 Release STABLE

Framework Laptop 13
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This version has now been promoted to Stable. If you already updated to this build during the beta phase, no further action is required.

Highlights

  1. Update PD firmware to 1.0.0.B.
  2. Updated Secure Boot screen prompt behavior when an unsigned Linux boot media is detected.
  3. Updated Power Limit tables and raised Psys Max threshold to 218W.
  4. Integrated checksum validation into the BIOS Crisis Recovery flow.
  5. Standardized F1–F12 function key handling to ignore Fn-Lock settings during BIOS POST phase.
  6. Fixed CPU throttling bug where core frequency remains stuck at LFM (400 MHz).
  7. Fixed DP Alt Mode fallback negotiation for link partners rejecting SVDM 2.1 protocol structures (PD 1.0.0.B).
  8. Fixed restricted BIOS boot paths when the “USB Boot” policy is set to Disabled.
  9. Resolved an issue where corrupted or malformed PD payload data caused the EC to crash.

You can check your current BIOS version following the steps here to determine if you are on the latest release.

Subscribing to release notifications

If you want to subscribe to new release notifications you can now opt in through this link to receive an email when we release a new BIOS or driver update for your Framework Laptop.

Downloads

Windows

Download Link SHA256
Framework_Laptop_13_Intel_Core_Ultra_S3_BIOS_3.04.exe 5EB4318950E6C2E629DC17CE36DAD61D24C6BE48A77C9014EF70677EF5F45DCD

Instructions for Windows Installer:

  1. Run the .exe.
  2. Click yes to reboot.
  3. Wait for the firmware progress bar to complete, and then the system will reboot.
  4. If you are updating a system in standalone mode, please pay careful attention to the standalone update process below.

Please note that you must update with a charger attached.

Please note that the windows update does not support updating retimer firmware. There is not a functional impact to port functionality if you do not choose to update your retimer firmware.

Windows retimer updates

Please note that retimer updates only need to be done one time. So this is only necessary to do one time. This is optional.

Download Link SHA256
Framework_Laptop_13_Intel_Core_Ultra_S3_Retimer01_534530.exe DAAA8585748950FF944C874C06FC1904170743DC16E45ADF75FD15C1A244F37A
Framework_Laptop_13_Intel_Core_Ultra_S3_Retimer23_534530.exe B2DD9CD149F829708182993168EBF965E170695FABAB8C96D60A3F0B3B3CC91A

There are 2 retimers on the system. Please follow the instructions to do twice with different executable files.

Retimer update instructions.

  1. Update the BIOS first.
  2. Boot into Windows after BIOS update.
  3. Run the .exe and wait for the firmware update tool to stage the update.
  4. After initialization, the system will restart and update the retimer firmware.
  5. Repeat step 3 after rebooting to update the second set of retimers.

Please note that you must update with a charger attached.

Linux/LVFS

Please note that for this platform LVFS supports the updated CSME and Retimer firmware.

Please note that you must update with a charger attached, then run:

fwupdmgr refresh --force

then

fwupdmgr get-updates

then

fwupdmgr update

Please note that you must update with a charger attached.

LVFS may not update if the battery is 100% charged. LVFS uses the battery status to determine if it is safe to apply updates. However if our battery is at 100% and the charger is off, we set the battery charging status to false. In this case you can discharge your battery a few percent, then plug in AC again and run fwupdmgr update.

Linux/Other/UEFI Shell update

Download Link SHA256
Framework_Laptop_13_Intel_Core_Ultra_S3_BIOS_3.04_EFI.zip 05670C849D83990D2D725589FF937F7EA3CA21DE0D36564116245D3B737651ED

Note that if you use the EFI shell update with Windows, you should suspend Bitlocker if enabled before updating using the EFI updater.

Instructions for EFI shell update:

  1. Extract contents of zip folder to a FAT32 formatted USB drive. Cleanly unmount the drive before physically removing it, otherwise the BIOS update may not function correctly.
  2. Attach a charger to your device while updating.
  3. Boot your system while pressing F12 and boot from the thumb drive.
  4. Let startup.nsh run automatically.
  5. Follow the instructions to install the update.

Security Fixes

N/A

Enhancements

  1. Update PD firmware to 1.0.0.B.
  2. Updated Secure Boot screen prompt behavior when an unsigned Linux boot media is detected.
  3. Updated Power Limit tables and raised Psys Max threshold to 218W.
  4. Integrated checksum validation into the BIOS Crisis Recovery flow.
  5. Standardized F1–F12 function key handling to ignore Fn-Lock settings during BIOS POST phase.

Fixes

  1. Fixed CPU throttling bug where core frequency remains stuck at LFM (400 MHz).
  2. Fixed DP Alt Mode fallback negotiation for link partners rejecting SVDM 2.1 protocol structures (PD 1.0.0.B).
  3. Fixed restricted BIOS boot paths when the “USB Boot” policy is set to Disabled.
  4. Resolved an issue where corrupted or malformed PD payload data caused the EC to crash.

Component Versions

This BIOS update is a bundle of updates to multiple embedded components in the system.

Not all of them use the same version number.

BIOS 3.04 Updated
Intel CSME 21.0.6.1503 Same
MCU 0x11A Same
GOP 26.0.63 Same
EC ec_304_34ebc93 Updated
PD 1.0.0.B Updated
Retimer 8282 Same

Reporting Issues

To report issues we have created a public issue tracker on github. Issues · FrameworkComputer/SoftwareFirmwareIssueTracker · GitHub

We hope that this is a better way to track issues with community involvement moving forward as we have found it difficult to both gather relevant information about issues people are reporting on the forums, and track the issues through their lifecycle in a transparent way.

If you do experience an issue with the update that is related to your system firmware, please post as complete a description as you can, including relevant system information, and external peripherals. Please note that we do not currently have a SLA for responding to issues on github, but we will be reviewing them through the bios release process, and will review them for future updates as well.

If you have an issue regarding hardware, broken devices, returns, etc, this is not the place, please contact Framework Support.

Known Issues

N/A

5 Likes
400MHz core lock bug
Or Framework 13 12th Gen Intel i7-1280P sometimes running slow - suggestions for fixing the 400 MHz bug
2

Is it worth adding a note to this about the FW warranty position if the update bricks the machine? I recall that the wording of the existing assurances only apply to stable updates, so presently a beta like this would be specifically excluded.

2 Likes
3

Can the retimer updates be also done from Linux via LVFS? Do they need to be done or is that just a Windows related driver update? EDIT: (It does get shipped with the LVFS updates too)

4

Does this firmware address the known issue with Intel Core Ultra 300 series mainboards that prevents the 1 terabyte expansion module from being a bootable device upon cold startup?

5

he two retimer firmwares are also on LVFS, but there are no version changes this round, so no need to update your device.

6

This BIOS and retimer update worked with no issues for me. :+1:

7

Thank you very much! Very smooth update experience via fwupdmgr!

Already tested it on my AC only system. Getting 3w extra and the gpu is sitting at 2050mhz up from 1900mhz in BG3. Even though the gains are ever so marginal, the stuttering lag disappeared in heavily loaded scenes and that was bothering me the most.

After some additional testing I will move to closing the issue here: [Laptop 13 Pro] Core Ultra Series 3: EC power table sets PL4 = 80 W in all modes, clamping the Arc B390 at 1900 MHz · Issue #263 · FrameworkComputer/SoftwareFirmwareIssueTracker · GitHub

1 Like
8

I also updated the BIOS to the latest version (3.04), which resolved the previous 400 MHz CPU issue. Everything seemed fine until I updated both USB-C retimers.

After updating the retimers, both USB-C ports on the left side stopped working. The only way to restore them was to perform a BIOS Battery Disconnect.

Could this be related to the retimer firmware, EC firmware, or a power management issue? Has anyone experienced the same behaviour?

9

Thank you, updating Batch 14 X7 in Cachy went smoothly.

10

I had experienced the frequency sticking, it would happen when waking from sleep and I would notice terrible performance. Update went without event. Will report back if I see the frequency re-occurrence.

11

BIOS and retimer updates installed successfully on windows 11. All ports still working.

Can confirm it has not fixed the 1 terabyte expansion module from showing up in the boot device list. The module itself still shows up as attached in windows.

12

Wow, this is quicker than usual… BETA → STABLE in 6 days.

13

Ooh, first new BIOS only a week or two ahead of the actual laptop’s arrival. Might as well install that along with the OS when it comes.

Edit after reading the posts below: you know what, I’m not updating to this beta just because it got pushed to production. Been in software QA too long to want to be the customer on the receiving end of a high or critical priority defect that didn’t get ironed out despite being found in testing. And I have to imagine a thing like this was found in testing. Unless BIOS updates get tested strictly through happy path, in which case please tell us precisely that happy path so our expensive boards don’t get messed up from something that carries the stamp of approval from its maker.

14

Updated yesterday and all good so far.

15

Update went smoothly. But seems the update to Secure Boot un-did my tmp / autounlock config I had set up with Limine. I hope just re-doing all the steps will enable it again.

16

Same issue here. After the update, both USB ports on the left are dead. They were already not working before I updated the retimers. During the BIOS update process, I noticed some unusual values for PD2, and it didn’t show a green check mark after the update completed. Tried to perform the retimers. First one failed with error code 66 and second succeed.

EDIT: Also disabled Battery in BIOS. After bootup left USB-C ports were alive again. I did a rerun of the BIOS update file. All got a green check mark now. Performed 1 and 2 retimers updates, all succeed without any errors.

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20261109_191723957×617 85 KB

1 Like
17

I had the same issue with my USB ports not working. I installed the update through LVFS without issue and was able to boot fine. I didn’t realize anything was up until I got to work and my TB dock wasn’t working. Going into the BIOS, disabling the internal battery, and reconnecting my laptop to my dock made everything work again. My laptop re-trained its memory and I had to reset the clock once I was booted back into my OS, but everything works fine now. I did not need to reinstall the update.

18

Is this update now stable ?

19

The OP renamed the title to include STABLE, so I think it we can take that as an official Framework position.

1 Like
20

Sure seems to be. Full disclosure, the specific thing I did to update exactly was I put BIOS update 3.04 for the Intel Core Ultra 3 series on an exFAT USB, inserted it into my left rear USB-A port, plugged in and powered on the Framework and hammered F12 to make it boot from that, and then when the animated Framework logo and progress bar came up I just plain did nothing until Kubuntu came back up at the end of several restarts. A few times it said “Update Complete” but it apparently meant only the specific thing it was updating was complete and had more to do.

Hope that’s walkthrough enough to be reassuring- all’s well and updated. I am glad to report that my initial fears of BIOS update failure messing with my brand-new motherboard were unfounded.

2 Likes