Looking for some first-hand Framework 16 accounts and recommendations

Framework Laptop 16
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Hey all, I’m looking for some perspective and recommendations. I’m going to break it down into two sections because I feel like some context is important here and I’d rather over than under-communicate.

The TL:DR is: does the FW16 have solid triple monitor support with VRR? Is power drain an issue on balanced mode?

My Needs and Current Setup

I’m a long-time Linux geek, but like many of us have slowly floated back to Windows out of convenience. I still run a few Linux servers at home so I stay pretty up to date on stuff, but my two primary gaming machines are Windows-based. I have, use, and love my Steam Deck but sometimes I’m running bigger, more demanding games and need a beefier machine.

Last year I was in need of a new laptop to replace my aging desktop (which has retired as a media center PC on my living room TV), and the Framework 16 had just launched. The idea of it was very exciting, but reviews were super early and tentative so I went with a Lenovo to get a “sure thing” instead of an unknown. The exact model I went with was a Legion Pro 7 16IRX8H.

Specs are as follow:

CPU: 13th Gen Intel(R) Core™ i9-13900HX
RAM: 32GB (2x16)
GPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 Laptop GPU

Honestly, this is more power than I need about 90% of the time, but I had a larger budget than usual and figured I’d go big.

Most of what I do is audio editing (I run a podcast), batch file manipulations, and gaming. I’m not hitting every AAA game that comes out, but when I do I want good performance with VRR. I run this machine in “balanced” mode most of the time because it’s not too loud and performs quite well. I will occasionally use the “performance” mode to crank out some audio edits a few seconds faster when I’m being impatient.

About 60% of the time it’s docked to a Cable Matters 107054 Thunderbolt 4 dock. I have an external G-Sync monitor that has a separate DisplayPort to USB-C connector that’s independently hooked up to the GPU out on the back. The dock itself is just for a hard drive, KBM, and a low-end third Dell monitor (1080p 60hz).

Issues With Current Machine

My issues with my Legion Pro 7 16IRX8H started when I tried to setup a Linux dual boot. The specific hardware in this machine just flat out isn’t playing nice with Linux. I’ve been through five distros and tons of troubleshooting (and kernels) and after chatting with a few different people the consensus finally ended up being that I’m just sort of stuck waiting on kernel updates that will add the support that I need.

In Linux I have to go through specific workarounds to get sound working at all, my Thunderbolt dock doesn’t want to play nice, VRR is inconsistent on my main external monitor, and each distro had one or two other things that simply didn’t work. Gaming performance was abysmal even on the proprietary drivers.

I finally gave up and slinked back to Windows and just resigned myself to this being a Windows machine for at least another year or two while I waited on hardware support to hit the components that I have.

But then my wife had a need for a laptop. She uses Windows for work and prefers it, so we’re considering giving her this very nice, very capable Lenovo and getting a Framework 16 for me.

Concerns About the Framework 16

So this brings me to the Framework 16! Reparability and full Linux support are assumed, which are the two most exciting aspects to me. I also realize that the fit and finish of a repairable laptop isn’t going to be quite as nice as the Lenovo I’m sitting on right now, which is fine.

But my concerns are related to external G-Sync, USB-C dock support, and power drain. Is anyone else using an external VRR monitor? I see that the dgpu model has a DisplayPort by way of USB-C, which is what I’ll be using.

I also see that there are lists of officially supported docks, but mine isn’t on the list. Since it’s not Thunderbolt due to being AMD I know that some capabilities will be limited, but will it still successfully drive a display and peripherals?

I’m targeting the DIY 7840 with the dGPU since the performance difference between that and the 7940 seems negligible.

My biggest concern is power drain. I’m not marathon gaming on AAA content very often, but it does occasionally happen. Every now and then I’ll get the bug and want to play something like Returnal and spend a whole Saturday doing so. Is the power drain going to be a problem for me on balanced mode? Also how is gaming performance in general for those of us who consider 60FPS and VRR to be the minimum?

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First of all, if your monitor supports G-Sync only, you won’t be happy with a FW, because while FreeSync monitors might get an G-Sync compatible cert and work with Nvidia GPUs and variable refresh rate, AMD GPUs won’t be able to use G-Sync and therefore only run fixed refresh rates, with either tearing or old Vsync enabled. If you are willing to switch to a FreeSync Monitor, it will run just fine.

Second: The CPU is somewhat slower than the 13900HX, while not so much in singlecore applications (like 10-15% slower), but more in multithreading (about 50%).

And third: The internal 780M graphics wipes the floor with the Intel UHD Graphics, but you intent to use the 7700S dGPU, which is surely faster than the internal 780M, but not even half as fast as the 4080M.

So overall you would exchange compatibility with Linux for, depending on use-case and application, 10-60% less performance.

I’d say, depending on what your wife needs the laptop for, get the FW for her and keep the Lenovo for yourself.

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In my original post I did refer to my monitor as a G-Sync monitor but it does also support Freesync. I just use it as G-Sync since I have an Nvidia card, so I forgot that detail.

10%-60% performance is a pretty big differential! I know it’s hard to pin down anything more without exacting details and benchmarks, but that gives me something to go off of. Honestly I’d be okay with the lower half of that range as a tradeoff for Linux compatability and repairability (I do like to tinker), but if it was on the higher end more often than not then I might find myself a little unhappy.

In any case all stuff to consider. Thanks!

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Funny you didn’t seem to state this point in your long explanation, so I’ll respond to the TLDR :wink:

Yes it has solid triple monitor support. I can only speak to Linux as I do not use Windows. I use three 2K monitors including having the laptop screen enabled (4 monitors total) attached daily for work and gaming. I haven’t messed with VRR in a while but last I did, it worked. Wayland will do it, and allow different refresh rates on each monitor. X11 will not.

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Welcome to the community @Justin_Baker!

The Framework Laptop 16 is probably the ideal portable machine from a Linux standpoint even if you only port it around 40% of the time.

Here are my comments to your questions:

  1. Buy the Delta 240W charger and you will never have to worry about battery drain (this is a very new charger and people have been getting them from Digikey, Mouser, etc.) It does do the full 240W with USBC PD 3.1.
  2. If you are going to spend the money on getting a Framework Laptop 16, get a new USBC dock that will work with the monitor setup you want. I am guessing your work and pastimes are important so do not skimp on the $300 for what is going to be a long lasting part of your setup.
  3. The 7840 is 90-95% of the performance of the 7940; save your money.
  4. If you do need some higher GPU demands, consider getting an EGPU since the bulk of the time it will sit stationed on the desk.
  5. If I were in your situation, I would use the expansion bay with the extra two (2) 2280 M.2 slots for more storage/redundancy.
  6. You are correct your Legion Pro 7 will handily smoke the Framework 16 anything graphics wise and even the i9 processor in that thing is more powerful than most Workstations people are using. The Achilles heel as you have seen is the Legion is Windows only track star.

Will it be all Tea & Roses? No, but it will always scratch that itch for tinkering and reparability you have a fondness for. There is more long term future with the Framework 16 and that is what excites a lot of us going forward. Your Legion is a Ferrari compared to the James Bond “Q” Division Aston Martin you are getting with the Framework 16.

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