Note:
This poll concerns the future of framework laptop mainboards (12, 13, & 16). I’m not concerned about the framework desktop.
Goal:
I’d like to understand how the framework community feels about a framework mainboard with soldered LPDDR RAM.
Some context for the poll:
With ARM chips becoming more popular, and soldered LPDDR RAM being necessary to squeeze the efficiency out of ARM chips, I want to get a pulse check on how open the framework community would be to a soldered RAM laptop mainboard.
The tradeoff:
CON - With soldered RAM, you lose a granular step in upgradeability. Instead of upgrading RAM whenever you see a sale on the latest speeds, you need to wait until you are ready to upgrade the entire mainboard. Additionally, we lose the “bring-your-own” option during the buying process, which leads to potential price gouging (framework has said they will avoid doing this for the framework desktop that already uses soldered RAM)
PRO - What you gain in return is the ability to use ARM processors. ARM processors have a much better trade-off between power and efficiency. Meaning longer battery life and cooler systems with the same level of performance or better (*when paired with properly calibrated firmware). This would allow the framework laptops to catch up to the others, leading the industry in battery efficiency. Which is of particular importance to the framework 12, where we would likely see an increase in processing power and battery life working within the thermal constraints of a smaller chassis
So, how do you feel about soldered LPDDR RAM vs socketed DDR RAM
- I really want soldered LPDDR RAM (and ARM CHIPS!!)
- I’m fine with soldered LPDDR RAM
- I’d prefer socketed DDR RAM
- I only want socketed DDR RAM
PS: Please let me know if I got anything wrong here!