Framework Laptop 16 Deep Dive - Memory and Storage

Very nice to see a double M.2 slots!!

I have a question about RAM: will it still be possible to use RAM from other makers, or will it be dependent on those in-house custom-made Framework DDR5 RAM DIMMs?

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I am hoping the 2nd m.2 slot can be used for a 5g modem like https://uk.rs-online.com/web/p/rf-modules/2069154?cm_mmc=UK-PLA-DS3A-_-google-_-CSS_UK_EN_Semiconductors_Whoop-_-RF+Modules_Whoop+(2)_OMNISerpNov-_-2069154&matchtype=&pla-301075924720&gclid=CjwKCAjw-vmkBhBMEiwAlrMeF345f0t9cPOCJpr_16eZtkq7KDL_lfYMjm2yWO5z-F2lNrw6D5grTxoC7ncQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

It is somewhat disappointing about not having enough space for 4 DIMMS.

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My brother in christ that’s ancient and mini pcie not m.2.

Unfortunately m.2 celular modems tend to be bigger than a 2230 m.2 slot and use a different key. It would also require an additional set of antennas.

Disappointed but I am not too surprised.

On the bright side there is a good chance much bigger ddr5 sodimms will become available during the ddr5 lifecycle since that theoretical upper limit for ddr5 is quite high amd since there aren’t really quad channel mobile platforms you don’t loose any performance from having just 2 slots.

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hah woops i googled m.2 5g modem and that’s what came up and didn’t read the details! Sounds like all round it’s not a viable approach.

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A post was merged into an existing topic: Guess the features!

There’s at least one thread on this topic: ECC support?
At the moment we have no official statement of Framework - neither yes nor no.

I did not find any DDR5 ECC SO-DIMM on the website of ADATA but the Framework branded RAM looks very much the same like ADATA non-ECC RAM so my personal guess is that there is almost none chance of ECC support.

I wanted to leave a comment to consider some way to implement (LP)DDR5-7500 and eventually higher speeds for Ryzen 7040 and later - I wouldn’t mind soldered memory mainboards either - anyways you should be running dual/quad channel and you can upgrade the mainboard as a whole when the time comes

And another comment regarding the battery; it was stated in the Q&A that the reason for not larger batteries (at least in the 13") was that no larger exist - the ROG Flow X13 uses a ~70Whr battery (while also having a dGPU) and the older pre 2016 13" Macbooks have been using batteries around that size 10 years ago (though admittedly they are custom)

I would also like to see 1000-nit displays like the ones used in business HP laptops (saves battery even if you’re at lower brightness) and LTE support

By larger you mean more Watts, not physical size.

  • Clearly both batteries of a larger size and hence more watts exist but
  • given the design and following physical restraints then I’m sure Framework
    have the optimum battery ~ given cost

So did you check it’s dimensions ??

Note a modular laptop will require more space than a soldered old standard blob.

ECC. It’s what we want. !!!

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They are both 13" laptops

If you want to be pedantic about it:

Flow X13: 29.9x21.3x1.875/1000 = 1.194 Liter (at thickest point)

29.9x21.3x1.675/1000 = 1.066 Liter (at thinnest point)

FW 13: 29.663x22.898x1.585/1000 = 1.076 Liter

Measurements courtesy of Ultrabookreview and Notebookcheck, respectively

It is heavier by 10% though

Off topic, so bye :wave: this is about Memory and storage.

Space is all there is.

So much storage! I’m probably not going to go all out at first since prices are not cheap for larger NVMes

It is hoped that ECC memory can be supported.

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@Mapleleaf

I have a question about RAM: will it still be possible to use RAM from other makers, or will it be dependent on those in-house custom-made Framework DDR5 RAM DIMMs?

That’s answered in the first paragraph:

on DIY Edition, you can choose any of the modules we offer in the Marketplace or bring your own

(emphasis mine)

Also I think it’s fair to say that it would run counter to the company’s core ideology if they only allowed their own memory modules to be used. The credo of Framework is that consumers should have freedom to repair and customise their electronics without being bound by the manufacturer’s artificially contrived constraints.

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@Igby Thanks! Right, I don’t know why I thought that but I found it ambiguous why they had to design in-house RAM in the first place… hence my concern that it was somehow out of technical necessity…
Much relieved that it is not the case!

2230 for the second mainboard SSD slot feels like a bad compromise.

Yes, you can use 1 TB storage expansion cards but they are bespoke and slow.
Yes, you can use a m.2 expansion bay module but then you lose discrete graphics support.

Having two 2280 slots isn’t even necessarily about trying to get 16 TB of total storage in the laptop. It’s more about having cheaper ways to get 4 TB of storage as 2 + 2 TB or to get 8 TB of storage as 4 + 4 TB, and having a cheap way to have a secondary SSD for dual booting.

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Personally I am very happy with those two M.2 slots!
There was a lot of discussion in another thread about how they could create a M.2 2280 slot convertible into two 2230 slots (this was proposed by a community member, not by Framework)… and in the end they did much better than that!

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What I got was that “OEM” RAM modules intended for laptop manufacturers are not also available for retail sale. Framework wanted to offer the exact same RAM modules, both pre-installed and sold separately.

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I’m READY to BUY Framework Laptop 16 !!! Please tell me it sells/ships this week!!! LOL

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What exactly are the measures of the FW Laptop 16?
From the previous blog article on the “enclosure”, we only get to know that it is 18/21 mm thick. But how wide and deep/high is it?