I bough my first Framework more than 1 year ago (Apr 2022), I’ve been quite happy with it until my wife stole it from me and now I need a new laptop.
I know my next laptop will be another framework (13", I’m not interested in the 16"), I’m thinking on going to the AMD one, but I’m a bit worried about a couple of things.
1- I’m a Linux user and everything works perfectly, should I count with the same perfect track record on the AMD one?
2- I have a monitor with USB-C that works as a docking station, so when I sit on my desk, I connect one single cable and that charges my laptop, sends the video to the monitor and connects all my devices (ethernet, usb speakers, headset, keyboard, mouse and a usb hub where I connect usb pens or stuff)
This is extremely convenient. With the AMD version having some limitations on the USB ports (not being Thunderbolt, not having USB4 in all ports), will I be able to use my setup?
I really want to confirm this 2 points before I place my order.
Due to the relatively new AMD hardware, you need an up to date kernel and there might be some issues at first. I expect most of these issues will be resolved with Kernel 6.6 and future updates. Otherwise AMD usually works very well on Linux (as well as Intel, if not better). I see no problem. If you order now, most issues will probably have been fixed when it will be delivered to you. (Assuming you use a Linux distribution that ships up-to-date kernels.)
That should work fine, assuming you connect the display preferably to one of the USB 4 ports (the back ones). However there can be always incompatibilities between the Laptop and certain devices, so it’s hard to give guarantees, especially as you haven’t said which docking station you want to use.
1- For many years I’ve not used intel on desktops, AMDs work perfectly for me, but if I buy this laptop as an AMD, it’s going to be my first laptop, that’s why I’m a bit cautious.
2- You asked for he docking station, the monitor PHILIPS 40B1U5600-40 works as a docking station, it’s working perfectly in my current framework (with linux) and my work laptop (a dell with windows). Connected to the monitor I have a usb hub with all the things I mentioned and some more (ethernet, speakers, headphones, microphone, webcam).
The monitor provides power, usb hub and video over the same usb-c cable.
As I said, I will buy a framework, I’m just not sure if a AMD or Intel, once I’m sure, I will place my order.
In my current framework I have 2 USB-C at the back (where I either connect the power or the docking station) and a HDMI at the front (for when I’m not home and need to connect to a display).
On AMD the front ports being USB3 I assume it doesn’t support HDMI, or does it? if it does, will it have bandwidth for 4k 60hz?
From a google search I think it won’t as HDMI will need 18Gbps, and USB3 only has 5Gbps.
I confess I’m always inclined to choose AMD over intel, but this USB situation is the biggest limitation to my decision at the moment.
Unsure. As far as I can see, Framework doesn’t publish the speed of the DP mode of the ports. The Intel models probably have faster DP modes, but a single 4K screen is probably not a problem at just 60Hz. That’s pretty standard.
The USB speed is not necessarily related to the DP speed. It’s a completely different type of data going over the same connector.
I have 2 new questions, one still related to the USB situation. I think this are my last 2 questions.
As far as I understand, video over USB is limited to USB speeds (it’s travelling within the limit of the medium), to be frank until I see any documentation showing otherwise I will assume this, after buying the laptop if things don’t work is to late to change.
4k 60Hz need 12.54 Gbit/s
1440p 60Hz need 5.63 Gbit/s
1080p 60Hz need 3.20 Gbit/s
Just to be clear about the maths, raw 3840×2160×60×24 ~= 11.4 Gbit/s, it goes to 12.54 after the overheads.
USB3 is 5 Gbit/s so it doesn’t even support 1440p 60Hz (it does 1080p or 1440p 30Hz)
So Q1 is: Can the laptop be charged from the USB3 ports on the front? (this could be a work around as I wouldn’t need to use the back doors for charging)
If not, given that when I’m not at home I’ll need to connect the charger to one USB-C, I either put the HDMI on the back and loose the only USB-C, or I can only use 1080p.
This is a really bad limitation.
I really wanted to go for the AMD one, but given this limitation I don’t know that I can.
My Q2 is not related to AMDvsIntel.
My current keyboard is International English, is there a picture of the layout of the US English?
Not with USB-C, unless we’re talking Thunderbolt or USB4, which your monitor would need to support to begin with. With non-TB/USB4 USB-C, interfaces are directly muxed onto USB-C high-speed pins for any given altmode, so DisplayPort packets will not be transported over USB3, but instead the USB-C cable will carry a direct DisplayPort connection. So, DisplayPort speed will not be limited by USB3 speed at the port, but by the speed of the DP interface that is electronically wired up to the port when you plug your monitor in.
I see no indication that Philips 40B1U5600-40 uses Thunderbolt, which means it is using the DisplayPort altmode (either 4-lane or 2-lane with USB3 on one half of the USB-C port) and the speed indeed will only be capped by the DisplayPort connection exposed onto the port by that altmode. Not that it’d matter if it were to use TB, since the USB4/TB speed cap is 40Gbps. Given that, you should be fine with any USB port that has “Display output” marked, so, all of them except number 2.
So, to sum up, there’s no indication that the limitation you’re talking about, exists, which means you should be fine with AMD! AMD is also my recommendation.
Thanks for your answer, that diagram is really cool and also makes me more ease as ultimately I can use a front port for charging and release the back ports, that mostly solves the problem.
So AMD seams to be the way to go.
From the image I found this page:
So my last question, any images of International English vs US English?
(most likely I will go with International English again)
Framework specifies a USB 3.2 port with dp alt mode. Like it was said earlier in the thread, the dp signals seem to be separate from the USB, but they also do not say exactly which version of USB 3.2 it is, so with the new confusing USB naming scheme it is unclear what speed the port will support…
I didn’t knew that, but still Gen 1 is 5Gbps, so it would be interesting to know what Gen of USB ports does this laptop have.
Even if it’s Gen 1, the fact that I can use those for charging ultimately solves the problem as I can free both the USB4s and that’s an acceptable compromise for me.
If it’s Gen 2x2 then there is absolutely no problem or limitation, I can use any port for anything as I don’t think I have any application that needs more than 20Gbps at the moment and I still have 2 USB4s if I ever need more than that.
Even though it’s no longer needed for my decision, does anyone knows the Gen of USB3 on the front ports?
There are images of the keyboards in the store, but to me the International and US English look pretty much the same, so I don’t know what would be the reason to go with one or the other
Hey, joining a bit late, butt just for extra confirmation, here’s the reply support have me a while back:
Hi Andrea,
Thank you for reaching out and for your patience, the International English layout more closely corresponds to the “United States - International” layout in Windows, meaning the right Alt is labeled as Alt Gr (Alternate Graphic) and there is a € sign printed on the 5 key to indicate that AltGr+5 will give that symbol.
