Mainboard update questions for 13": RAM & WiFi

Framework Laptop 13
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Okay, dumb questions:

I have an 11th gen Intel i5 13" DIYer. The RTC battery died, and though I should solder a wire to fix it, I was considering updating the mainboard.

If I want to reuse RAM, I think I can go up to 13th gen but not as far as Ultra processors, correct? No AMD options afaict. (Not saying I’m dead set against buying a board and RAM; just want to factor it into the equation.)

What do I need to do about WiFi? The 13th gen page says I can use Intel Wi-Fi 6E AX210, but all I did before was steal a WiFi card from an old, out of service laptop and got lucky. If I’m using Windows and it works with 11th mainboards, should it work with 13th? Not work? Maybe work?

The “intel self-destruct CPU” bug is just desktop procs, right?

Any other considerations or advice?

(Just for fun, here’s my current work laptop, Framework 11th i5, then 13th i5 upgrade, and, finally, the Ultra 5 upgrade at cpubenchmarks to provide one data point on performance upgrades. Yes, my work laptop is old, but it’s got a TrackPoint and a QHD screen… Both are awesome. Anybody modded a ThinkPad keyboard for Framework yet? :smiley:)

(Update: Of course someone has modded a ThinkPad keyboard, but it’s with the 16".)

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Or just buy and install a replacement ML coin cell for single digit USD …

Same memory goes into 11th and 13th Gen is confirmed from personal experience. Correct that DDR5 needed for the Ultra mainboards is not forward or backward compatible with DDR4…

As to Wifi cards, I have used all of the below in both 11th and 13th Gen Mainboards:

  • AX210
  • MT7921K
  • BE200
  • MT7925

I tested them using Arch Linux, but I did not test all of them on Windows. Windows 10 cannot do WiFi 7 at all AFAIK.

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FW give out replacement RTC batteries for free if you have an 11th Gen Intel. Just ask support.
I think what you already know about RAM options vs mainboard choice is correct.
Another way to check is go to buy a FW laptop, and it will then list the type of RAM that is compatible with it. You can use this to check which ones use DDR4 and which use DDR5.

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Soldering the wire is the easy part. Getting the circuit board into the flimsy battery holder without shattering it is the hard part. Before you attempt it, I recommend you browse this thread to see the graveyard of dead and maimed 11th gen boards.

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Soldering was not the easy part for my laptop. Fried the little connectors, but managed to solder to the main and it all works. As for the flimsy battery holder I managed not to break it. Can you say ten minutes of slowly, ever so gingerly moving it around until it got seated. Many here were not so lucky as I.

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Second to last post has one solution