Rework Instructions for 11th Gen Mainboards to enable powering the RTC circuit from the main battery

Community Support
102

Throw us a bone with some kind of update, guys?
If we’re not getting close then I’ll contact Support about a replacement battery.
If there’s hope that we’re getting close I’ll just wait for the final workaround solution.

103

Framework updates us when they have news. I would reach out to support for an extra battery, maybe if they are days away from releasing this they will tell you to hold off.

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104

Just quicker to order yourself a new battery and have it next day or so than wait for Framework.

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105

We’ve released design files for the fake RTC battery based on initial testing, but these should be considered “beta”-level of maturity: GitHub - FrameworkComputer/RTCRework

We’ve also sent out some test pieces to moderators for additional testing and feedback to lock in the design.

12 Likes
106

Thank you for this, Mr. Patel (@nrp).

Is there any plan to have the pre-assembled components available in the marketplace, so that all we need to do is solder the one connection?

I practiced on one of my two HDMI cards. Somehow I managed to pull it off without destroying the card, but it was a challenge. I haven’t attempted the other one yet, was trying to do some comparison on power usage before modifying it.

Thanks again, and have a great day.

107

As the alpha tests worked, just a tad tight fitting, this beta may well be the final version. Would like to know details, etc.

108

We want to finalize the design (one additional round of samples in progress) before we lock in a path for distributing these.

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109

Good to know. Looking forward with anticipation. Will be nice to use the Framework on the road here in Brooklyn and Queens

110

Great news, thank you very very much for the update!

111

Very happy to see a rework and board just about ready to go. I was going to use the github files to get one made at JLCPCB … but if Framework is getting ready to actually sell/distribute the workaround hardware as a fix, I’ll wait!

Danke!

112

Welp, despite near-daily use and being on a charger at least 80% of the time, my 11th gen framework has entered the “wont boot” club. Eagerly awaiting the release of your hotfix fake battery.

113

Please contact support. They will send you a replacement RTC battery at no charge, regardless of warranty status.

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114

Thanks, I just opened a ticket. Just to confirm though, that is a temporary fix, right? Eventually I’ll still need the hotfix fake battery or another replacement real battery in another ~1.5 years?

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115

Yes, but as long as you are charging the laptop regularly (ideally at least once a week), it should last quite a while. The cell primarily degrades from being deep-cycled below its rated minimum voltage. Framework support will continue to offer free replacements as-needed as long as they can still source them.

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116

Best and quicker to just order a couple yourself.

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117

I will when needed - strangely I’ve only had to replace it once - but I don’t leave it plugged in at night - but use it most days - maybe that is enough to charge it

118

Yep, thats exactly what I was debating this afternoon. For the spectators out there, if you want to save $5 on the button battery, Framework support will ask you to disconnect your main battery which framework themselves describe in red letters as “very easy to accidently bend the pins” and in bold letters “Because the Battery connector is sensitive, we strongly recommend not disconnecting it unless one of the Framework Guides requires that”.

These kinds of hoops are par for the course with framework support and frankly I do not think customers should have to risk damaging their $700 motherboard to get a $5 battery when the only reason we’re in this mess is framework’s mistake.

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119

Once again, this is not FWs mistake, but Intel because they did not notify FW of the issue till units got out to customers and they started reporting issues, it also was not picked up in any testing by FW and has been rectified in newer mainboards.

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120

Regardless, we both agree it is NOT the customer’s fault and yet we’re the ones bearing the risk.

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121

It may or may not be Framework’s mistake (that the RTC battery drains too much and gets overdischarged is a different problem to the stuck CPU issue), but I hope we can all agree that the seller is responsible for the product quality and has to fix the issue. (If and how Framework gets compensation from Intel for delivering buggy CPUs is solely their problem.)

2 Likes