I’m going to be buying several framework laptops and docking stations for the small business I work for, and I want to make a good purchase decisions. Two of my more technical users would like the option to use three external displays with their laptops, but they also need it to work with both Fedora Linux and Windows 11.
I understand multi-monitor support can be complicated, especially with multiple variables like switching operating systems, different dock manufacturers, and even different system chipsets.
Can anyone comment on the most reliable way to achieve reliable multi-monitor support? Should I just get them both three HDMI expansion cards (or DisplayPort)? Is there a noticeable difference between the new Intel FW13 and AMD FW16 in this area? Obviously the 16 allows for more expansion cards, but I understand that only some slots are capable of display output, and only some are capable of USB4 (for best dock compatibility). If we go with the FW13, the three HDMI expansion cards would only leave one for USB-C (which would then be used for the dock when at work, or charging when away from the desk.
I’m open to other ideas, recommendations, or suggestions. If there’s a particular dock that would reliably support 3 external displays, from both Windows 11 and Fedora Linux, on either the FW13 and FW16, that would be ideal, but if not, what’s my next best option?
All Framework laptop models have full support for DisplayPort MST (Multi Stream Transport), which allows for a single DisplayPort signal to drive up to 4 displays.
Theoretically DisplayPort MST should just work, regardless of if you are using a DisplayPort Expansion Card with an external MST hub or if you are using a USB-C card with a USB-C hub (which internally requests a DisplayPort signal from the laptop and then has an internal MST hub).
What may vary between models is USB4 multi-DisplayPort as well as DisplayPort bandwidth that is supported.
USB4 has support for carrying a single DisplayPort signal (which can drive multiple monitors using MST), or it can carry multiple distinct DisplayPort signals (which is much less common, except on docks that are marketed for support with MacOS as that doesn’t play nice with MST). Support for multiple distinct DisplayPort signals works fine on Intel based Framework laptops (on both Windows and Linux), however on AMD based Framework Laptops (as well as AMD laptops from other brands) that is spotty (often limited in resolution if it works at all).
I will note that many USB-C hub take valuable bandwidth away from monitors and allocates it to USB 3.0 bandwidth instead, which may limit support for running monitors at full resolution/refresh rate/color depth. Although others limit themselves to USB 2.0 (which still has plenty of bandwidth for peripherals like keyboard/mouse) to maximize quality for the displays.
What I personally would probably do is get this USB-C hub and pair it with a MST hub such as this (I know it says Windows only, but I think they actually mean not MacOS as I see no reason why it wouldn’t support Linux). Disclaimer: I have not tested either of those, but I see no reason why they wouldn’t work.
Plenty of other options exist, however I like that USB-C hub as it allows for full DisplayPort 1.4 HBR3 bandwidth while also having a power port and USB 2.0 ports for keyboard/mouse. That MST hub is one of the few I can find that advertises support for DSC (DSC is a “visually lossless” compression algorithm that can greatly reduce required bandwidth without hurting quality enough for human’s to detect, having DSC is helpful if all three monitors are high resolution/high refresh rate).
getting 3 expansion cards is the framework approved method, but I use a dock and it works fine. I dual boot win11 and xubuntu with 3 screens plus the laptop screen using the Lenovo thunderbolt4 dock on my framework16.
There is a whole long thread somewhere on here with details of which docks work and which do not. Worth a read.
Another thing to consider is MTTR. I.e. if the laptop breaks, how long will it take to repair it. If it takes 2 weeks for you to receive the replacement part from FW, what is your employee going to do in the mean time? You might want to retain some extra spare FW laptops to cover that eventuality so you have local spares to do repairs quicker. So if user has a broken laptop, you can swap it out and diagnose and repair the broken one in slower time.
I am glad to hear your company is seeing the value of the Framework hardware for its use. @James3 makes a great point to always have a hot spare ready to go. Possibly having two depending on the number of laptops your company is planning on deploying. Other parts to have on hand would be:
Replacement screen
Replacement Top cover
Replacement Bottom Cover (and midplate with the FW16)
Replacement Keyboards
Replacement Touchpads
Replacement Power button/Fingerprint reader
Replacement Battery
Replacement Expansion Cards
Replacement WiFi card
Replacement Memory
Replacement NMVe Drive
This might sound ridicilous, though it pales in comparison to the time/productivity if one of your key employees is down for a day or more.
When mangement asks, “Why would we want to pay for extra parts; we wouldn’t need to if we got (Dell, HP, Lenovo) machines, they have a support plan and send them out overnight”
You can inform them that the real difference is the bottom line. Nobody produces a laptop that is completely repairable like Framework. Additionally, you are already paying for that overnight support in the cost of the machine and their extended warranties. Everything has a price ; this is how you present an Apples to Apples comparison of Framework to (Dell, HP, Lenovo) in a business case.
If external displays on Linux are important to you. Don’t get an AMD CPU. Using a 7000 series AMD CPU has been a nightmare experience for me and many others, across multiple docks.
if one of your key employees is down for a day or more.
Additionally, you are already paying for that overnight support in the cost of the machine and their extended warranties. Everything has a price 
; this is how you present an Apples to Apples comparison 
of Framework to (Dell, HP, Lenovo) in a business case.