Is it a standard mini itx case?
I was thinking of getting one since I also have an external gpu. Another option was to buy the motherboard and use my mini tx case although I love the frame case and it’s smaller.
But I’m not sure if it’s a standard case (which would be in keeping with the modular nature of the company) or if it’s a proprietary system (which would be disappointing).
I could also fit my current mini tx motherboard in a standard case.
From everything they said, any standard Mini-ITX board should bolt into the case, no problem. However, you may or may not be able to get a standard power supply to fit. They designed their power supply to use the standard connectors and pinouts, so their power supply should also be compatible with other Mini-ITX boards. So if you can’t find anything else to fit, you may just have to use their power supply as well.
Edit: Honestly, I’m not sure about the rear IO. I know they insisted that their board was a standard, Mini-ITX size, mounting, and power standard, and it could be used in any Mini-ITX case. I assumed that would also mean any Mini-ITX board would fit in their case, but I guess there’s always a chance that’s not true.
The framwork case does not support expansion cards. If you intend to connect an dgpu you will have to use a diffrent case, as well as a raiser as the pci-e slot on the mother board is not full length.
/Zoe
Looking at the rear of the case, it seems to have a standard IO shield size and placement. So my bet is that any Mini-ITX board would work in the case.
It’s a standard mini-ITX case with the standard mainboard io cutout thing, but it doesn’t have room for PCIe cards. You could put other mini ITX board into the Framework case, but you’d probably need to use the buildin GPU as connecting an external one would be difficult.
If you want to use the front expansion card ports, you’d also need a mainboard with 2 internal USB headers for USB-C front panel. Often, mainboards only have one slot like that, or even zero.
Hi, I have an egpu that I would connect externally. Although the integrated igpu is already very powerful.
In the future I could simply change the motherboard with a new integrated igpu.
Size is important, I live in a small place.
What do you think? Do you see it possible?
How would you connect the egpu to the PCIe slot? There’s definitely not enough room to install a PCIe→oculink adapter card and other options seem wonky. I think the Framework case is purely useful if you want to use the iGPU on the Framework mainboard (which is already very powerful) and you don’t require other PCIe cards. Otherwise, I’d choose another mini ITX case.
I would assume via USB4, or, with future boards, maybe with Thunderbolt 5? I always thought utilizing the PCIe lanes made available in the USB-C port was how it was done. Maybe I’m wrong.
The Framework Desktop has two USB4 ports in the back. No thunderbolt, as that’s an Intel trademark.
But I guess usb 4 would work. Obviously the bandwidth would be limited somewhat and I’m not sure how much better such a limited eGPU would be compared to the iGPU.