Laptop 16 HDMI expansion module not working

Framework Laptop 16 Linux
1

Hi all,

I’m on a Framework Laptop 16 (AMD 7840HS) running Ubuntu 24.04.2 and I’m struggling to get the HDMI expansion card working.

The HDMI expansion card is FRACCHBZ01-3 (3rd Gen)

I’ve been trying to connect to my Samsung TV through HDMI.

What I’ve tried:

  • Plugging the HDMI card into expansion slots 1, 2, and 4 which are documented here as supporting external displays
  • plugging it in with the HDMI cable already connected, and with the HDMI cable not connected
  • Turning it off and on again :slight_smile:
  • A 3rd party USB-C to HDMI adapter in the same ports – this works!

Observable symptoms:

When the cable is connected to the TV, the HDMI card appears to disconnect from USB after 3-4 seconds, then it comes back, and the whole disconnect/reconnect loop goes on forever. Here’s an example of 2 cycles from /var/log/syslog:

2025-05-24T13:11:00.519474-04:00 jframework kernel: ucsi_acpi USBC000:00: unknown error 0
2025-05-24T13:11:00.519501-04:00 jframework kernel: ucsi_acpi USBC000:00: GET_CABLE_PROPERTY failed (-5)
2025-05-24T13:11:01.368063-04:00 jframework boltd[1502]: probing: timeout, done: [2995902] (2000000)
2025-05-24T13:11:01.581502-04:00 jframework kernel: usb 5-1: new full-speed USB device number 4 using xhci_hcd
2025-05-24T13:11:01.742447-04:00 jframework kernel: usb 5-1: New USB device found, idVendor=32ac, idProduct=0002, bcdDevice= 0.00
2025-05-24T13:11:01.742468-04:00 jframework kernel: usb 5-1: New USB device strings: Mfr=1, Product=2, SerialNumber=3
2025-05-24T13:11:01.742470-04:00 jframework kernel: usb 5-1: Product: HDMI Expansion Card
2025-05-24T13:11:01.742472-04:00 jframework kernel: usb 5-1: Manufacturer: Framework
2025-05-24T13:11:01.742474-04:00 jframework kernel: usb 5-1: SerialNumber: 11AD1D00D7CE40161E260B00
2025-05-24T13:11:01.814488-04:00 jframework kernel: hid-generic 0003:32AC:0002.008C: hiddev0,hidraw2: USB HID v1.11 Device [Framework HDMI Expansion Card] on usb-0000:c3:00.3-1/input1
2025-05-24T13:11:01.819132-04:00 jframework mtp-probe: checking bus 5, device 4: "/sys/devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:08.3/0000:c3:00.3/usb5/5-1"
2025-05-24T13:11:01.819243-04:00 jframework mtp-probe: bus: 5, device: 4 was not an MTP device
2025-05-24T13:11:01.820646-04:00 jframework boltd[1502]: probing: started [1000]
2025-05-24T13:11:01.833576-04:00 jframework mtp-probe: checking bus 5, device 4: "/sys/devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:08.3/0000:c3:00.3/usb5/5-1"
2025-05-24T13:11:01.833635-04:00 jframework mtp-probe: bus: 5, device: 4 was not an MTP device
2025-05-24T13:11:02.551419-04:00 jframework kernel: usb 5-1: USB disconnect, device number 4
2025-05-24T13:11:03.974557-04:00 jframework kernel: ucsi_acpi USBC000:00: unknown error 0
2025-05-24T13:11:03.974580-04:00 jframework kernel: ucsi_acpi USBC000:00: GET_CABLE_PROPERTY failed (-5)
2025-05-24T13:11:04.001032-04:00 jframework systemd[1]: Starting systemd-tmpfiles-clean.service - Cleanup of Temporary Directories...
2025-05-24T13:11:04.026931-04:00 jframework systemd[1]: systemd-tmpfiles-clean.service: Deactivated successfully.
2025-05-24T13:11:04.027160-04:00 jframework systemd[1]: Finished systemd-tmpfiles-clean.service - Cleanup of Temporary Directories.
2025-05-24T13:11:04.823592-04:00 jframework boltd[1502]: probing: timeout, done: [2994430] (2000000)
2025-05-24T13:11:05.045475-04:00 jframework kernel: usb 5-1: new full-speed USB device number 5 using xhci_hcd
2025-05-24T13:11:05.206454-04:00 jframework kernel: usb 5-1: New USB device found, idVendor=32ac, idProduct=0002, bcdDevice= 0.00
2025-05-24T13:11:05.206470-04:00 jframework kernel: usb 5-1: New USB device strings: Mfr=1, Product=2, SerialNumber=3
2025-05-24T13:11:05.206471-04:00 jframework kernel: usb 5-1: Product: HDMI Expansion Card
2025-05-24T13:11:05.206473-04:00 jframework kernel: usb 5-1: Manufacturer: Framework
2025-05-24T13:11:05.206473-04:00 jframework kernel: usb 5-1: SerialNumber: 11AD1D00D7CE40161E260B00
2025-05-24T13:11:05.276475-04:00 jframework kernel: hid-generic 0003:32AC:0002.008D: hiddev0,hidraw2: USB HID v1.11 Device [Framework HDMI Expansion Card] on usb-0000:c3:00.3-1/input1
2025-05-24T13:11:05.281094-04:00 jframework mtp-probe: checking bus 5, device 5: "/sys/devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:08.3/0000:c3:00.3/usb5/5-1"
2025-05-24T13:11:05.281903-04:00 jframework mtp-probe: bus: 5, device: 5 was not an MTP device
2025-05-24T13:11:05.283685-04:00 jframework boltd[1502]: probing: started [1000]
2025-05-24T13:11:05.294863-04:00 jframework mtp-probe: checking bus 5, device 5: "/sys/devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:08.3/0000:c3:00.3/usb5/5-1"
2025-05-24T13:11:05.294936-04:00 jframework mtp-probe: bus: 5, device: 5 was not an MTP device
2025-05-24T13:11:06.012445-04:00 jframework kernel: usb 5-1: USB disconnect, device number 5

This appears to be the same issue as described in this thread from 2023. That thread didn’t come to a final resolution.

Has anyone else run into this? Any solutions?

1 Like
2

Just a note from the guy who started the other thread. I’m using external USB-C to HDMI adapters for a while now, without problems. The internal HDMI cards simply do not work in most of the setups at my work. Checked that yesterday again: HDMI card does not work, external adapter works.

1 Like
3

I’m experiencing the same issue as of this evening. The HDMI adapter has worked for over a year until today–and it still works on my Framework 13. Any chance you found a resolution?

4

Turns out port 4 isn’t working but port 1 is.

5

Does anyone have a solid fix for this? On my Laptop 16 the HDMI module was working, but now isn’t. I have a USB C to hdmi and this won’t work either…

Thanks,

Dave

6

So after some testing, the hdmi module only works in the port closest to the screen on either side…

Is that intentional?

Thanks,

Dave

7

Yes, only three of the six ports can output video. See this reference for the full story on port compatibility: Expansion Card Slot functionality on Framework Laptop 16 (AMD Ryzen™ 7040 Series)

My issue was/is that the HDMI adapter doesn’t work on several displays I own. I did find an older 1080p display that it works with, so I’m guessing it’s a compatibility issue and the adapter itself isn’t completely broken.