# \[Solved\] - Can I remove my graphics module? **URL:** \ **Category:** Community Support\ **Tags:** other-issues, framework-laptop-16-amd-7040\ **Created:** [March 15, 2025, 8:56pm UTC](https://community.frame.work/t/solved-can-i-remove-my-graphics-module/66182 "2025-03-15T20:56:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Narve\_Saetre](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex001/user_avatar/community.frame.work/narve_saetre/32/35180_2.png) [@Narve\_Saetre](https://community.frame.work/u/Narve_Saetre)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2025, 8:56pm UTC](https://community.frame.work/t/solved-can-i-remove-my-graphics-module/66182/1 "2025-03-15T20:56:59Z")
I’ve recently received my Laptop 16 with the AMD graphics module. Unfortunately, the graphics module creates so much high-pitched noise that it is unusable. Framework support has been very supportive and responsive and is shipping a replacement graphics module. However, that will take some time (since I temporarily live in another country). So, my question is simple enough but I couldn’t find the answer in the forums: I did not buy any expansion shell cover or something like that. Can I simply disconnect and remove my graphics module and use the laptop like that? Or do I need to have “something else” instead of the graphics module? The integrated GPU should be more than good enough for my work, and I can live without gaming for some time 🙂 (Btw, I tried disabling the GPU using supergfxctl, it says it worked but the noise is still there when the laptop is working hard). ---
**Author:** ![Obasav](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex001/user_avatar/community.frame.work/obasav/32/16995_2.png) [@Obasav](https://community.frame.work/u/Obasav)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2025, 9:22pm UTC](https://community.frame.work/t/solved-can-i-remove-my-graphics-module/66182/2 "2025-03-15T21:22:09Z")
Is it from the fan noise, or is it coil whine from when the GPU is under load? For fan noise, you can cover some of the innermost vents on the GPU (leave some for airflow) and it can help to alleviate some of the high pitched noise from the fan. ---
**Author:** ![DHowett](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex001/user_avatar/community.frame.work/dhowett/32/1990_2.png) [@DHowett](https://community.frame.work/u/DHowett)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2025, 9:25pm UTC](https://community.frame.work/t/solved-can-i-remove-my-graphics-module/66182/3 "2025-03-15T21:25:05Z")
> [@Narve\_Saetre](#): > > Or do I need to have “something else” instead of the graphics module? Unfortunately (in this case), the expansion bay module contains part of the cooling system. You do need one or the other module installed to use your laptop. ---
**Author:** ![Narve\_Saetre](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex001/user_avatar/community.frame.work/narve_saetre/32/35180_2.png) [@Narve\_Saetre](https://community.frame.work/u/Narve_Saetre)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2025, 10:13pm UTC](https://community.frame.work/t/solved-can-i-remove-my-graphics-module/66182/4 "2025-03-15T22:13:43Z")
> [@DHowett](#): > > > [@Narve\_Saetre](#): > > > > Or do I need to have “something else” instead of the graphics module? > > Unfortunately (in this case), the expansion bay module contains part of the cooling system. You do need one or the other module installed to use your laptop. Yeah, that is what I was afraid of, thanks for clarifying! ---
**Author:** ![Narve\_Saetre](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex001/user_avatar/community.frame.work/narve_saetre/32/35180_2.png) [@Narve\_Saetre](https://community.frame.work/u/Narve_Saetre)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2025, 10:17pm UTC](https://community.frame.work/t/solved-can-i-remove-my-graphics-module/66182/5 "2025-03-15T22:17:25Z")
> [@Obasav](#): > > Is it from the fan noise, or is it coil whine from when the GPU is under load? > > For fan noise, you can cover some of the innermost vents on the GPU (leave some for airflow) and it can help to alleviate some of the high pitched noise from the fan. I am no hardware dude, but using HardInfo system profiler it seems that the sound exactly follows the fan (assuming there is a ~2-3 seconds delay before the fan RPM is updated in the system profiler). So, misaligned fans are my theory. I planned to buy an expansion shell as well, but I forgot it when ordering… shame, otherwise I could’ve used the otherwise great laptop! Looking forward to my replacement module! ---
**Author:** ![Qyygle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e47c2d/32.png) [@Qyygle](https://community.frame.work/u/Qyygle)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2025, 10:32pm UTC](https://community.frame.work/t/solved-can-i-remove-my-graphics-module/66182/6 "2025-03-15T22:32:30Z")
You could try removing then reinstalling the fans themselves on the gpu module. When I first got mine, I found a bit of misaligned foam backing that actually contacted my fanblades, so whenever the fan ran it would make noise. I was inside the fan casing through, only after disassembling the whole module and fan cover did it become obvious what the issue was. If you’re lucky (unlucky?) that could be a similar issue, which was easily resolvable. ---
**Author:** ![Charlie\_6](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex001/user_avatar/community.frame.work/charlie_6/32/22087_2.png) [@Charlie\_6](https://community.frame.work/u/Charlie_6)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2025, 1:13am UTC](https://community.frame.work/t/solved-can-i-remove-my-graphics-module/66182/7 "2025-03-16T01:13:08Z")
Can’t you just remove the graphics card from the module and leave the fans installed? ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Haas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/90ced4/32.png) [@Jonathan\_Haas](https://community.frame.work/u/Jonathan_Haas)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2025, 5:01am UTC](https://community.frame.work/t/solved-can-i-remove-my-graphics-module/66182/8 "2025-03-16T05:01:50Z")
No, the fans are powered through the GPU PCB. ---
**Author:** ![Charlie\_6](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex001/user_avatar/community.frame.work/charlie_6/32/22087_2.png) [@Charlie\_6](https://community.frame.work/u/Charlie_6)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2025, 5:33am UTC](https://community.frame.work/t/solved-can-i-remove-my-graphics-module/66182/9 "2025-03-16T05:33:07Z")
Passive cooling? Remove the fan and cap the TDP to 15W ---
**Author:** ![Zoe](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex001/user_avatar/community.frame.work/zoe/32/34701_2.png) [@Zoe](https://community.frame.work/u/Zoe)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2025, 3:16pm UTC](https://community.frame.work/t/solved-can-i-remove-my-graphics-module/66182/10 "2025-03-16T15:16:17Z")
Overtemperature protection should be good enough that you don’t need to cap the TDP, the greater question is if the BIOS will boot without the module installed. /Zoe ---
**Author:** ![Narve\_Saetre](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex001/user_avatar/community.frame.work/narve_saetre/32/35180_2.png) [@Narve\_Saetre](https://community.frame.work/u/Narve_Saetre)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2025, 7:24am UTC](https://community.frame.work/t/solved-can-i-remove-my-graphics-module/66182/11 "2025-03-17T07:24:32Z")
> [@Qyygle](#): > > You could try removing then reinstalling the fans themselves on the gpu module. > When I first got mine, I found a bit of misaligned foam backing that actually contacted my fanblades, so whenever the fan ran it would make noise. I was inside the fan casing through, only after disassembling the whole module and fan cover did it become obvious what the issue was. > > If you’re lucky (unlucky?) that could be a similar issue, which was easily resolvable. Hm, interesting, perhaps I should give that a try. Can’t make things worse at least! ---
**Author:** ![Narve\_Saetre](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex001/user_avatar/community.frame.work/narve_saetre/32/35180_2.png) [@Narve\_Saetre](https://community.frame.work/u/Narve_Saetre)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2025, 7:35am UTC](https://community.frame.work/t/solved-can-i-remove-my-graphics-module/66182/12 "2025-03-17T07:35:16Z")
> [@Zoe](#): > > Overtemperature protection should be good enough that you don’t need to cap the TDP, the greater question is if the BIOS will boot without the module installed. > > /Zoe What is the best way/tool to cap the TDP on Ubuntu? ---
**Author:** ![Zoe](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex001/user_avatar/community.frame.work/zoe/32/34701_2.png) [@Zoe](https://community.frame.work/u/Zoe)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2025, 11:51am UTC](https://community.frame.work/t/solved-can-i-remove-my-graphics-module/66182/13 "2025-03-17T11:51:18Z")
You should do it in bios. Otherwise you should change the power governor to powersave, witch you can safely do from userspace. /Zoe ---
**Author:** ![Narve\_Saetre](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex001/user_avatar/community.frame.work/narve_saetre/32/35180_2.png) [@Narve\_Saetre](https://community.frame.work/u/Narve_Saetre)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2025, 9:54am UTC](https://community.frame.work/t/solved-can-i-remove-my-graphics-module/66182/14 "2025-03-18T09:54:20Z")
Currently my laptop is more or less dead - right now it will not boot, and sometimes it hangs when I’m in the BIOS (and the screen shows vertical stripes), sometimes it hangs when in Ubuntu, and once the keyboard stopped working (in Ubuntu). But then sometimes it is stable for hours. So I guess I will just have to leave it until my new graphics module arrives, and hope that that makes it stable. I will also order an expansion bay shell, so that I can use it without graphics module. Otherwise this promising $3500 brick is heading for a refund - sofar extremely disappointing ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Zoe](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex001/user_avatar/community.frame.work/zoe/32/34701_2.png) [@Zoe](https://community.frame.work/u/Zoe)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2025, 10:45am UTC](https://community.frame.work/t/solved-can-i-remove-my-graphics-module/66182/15 "2025-03-18T10:45:48Z")
Is it extremely hot when it hangs? If that is the case you should do everything you can to reduce power draw, best is to do this in bios. but their should exist ways to do this in software. /Zoe ---
**Author:** ![Narve\_Saetre](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex001/user_avatar/community.frame.work/narve_saetre/32/35180_2.png) [@Narve\_Saetre](https://community.frame.work/u/Narve_Saetre)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2025, 11:40am UTC](https://community.frame.work/t/solved-can-i-remove-my-graphics-module/66182/16 "2025-03-18T11:40:01Z")
> [@Zoe](#): > > Is it extremely hot when it hangs? > > If that is the case you should do everything you can to reduce power draw, best is to do this in bios. but their should exist ways to do this in software. Not extremely, I would say, but the fans do tend to start when it hangs. Right now I don’t even get into the BIOS - I don’t even get the framework logo on the screen. It is just non-reactive for a while. After a few minutes the fan starts spinning, but still no BIOS/post. I really hope this is due to a faulty graphics module… ! ---
**Author:** ![Zoe](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex001/user_avatar/community.frame.work/zoe/32/34701_2.png) [@Zoe](https://community.frame.work/u/Zoe)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2025, 11:46am UTC](https://community.frame.work/t/solved-can-i-remove-my-graphics-module/66182/17 "2025-03-18T11:46:44Z")
external display?, if you can get into system you can reconfigure active display. /Zoe ---
**Author:** ![Narve\_Saetre](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex001/user_avatar/community.frame.work/narve_saetre/32/35180_2.png) [@Narve\_Saetre](https://community.frame.work/u/Narve_Saetre)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2025, 11:53am UTC](https://community.frame.work/t/solved-can-i-remove-my-graphics-module/66182/18 "2025-03-18T11:53:06Z")
> [@Zoe](#): > > external display?, if you can get into system you can reconfigure active display. > > /Zoe Worth a try 🙂 But no, didn’t work, no signal to the external displays either ☹ I did disable fast boot and one other option related to showing text in BIOS, earlier when the BIOS worked, to try to get some more information (this was when trying to boot NIX-OS, which didn’t work, probably due to secure-boot-requirements). Don’t know if that is relevant tho. ---
**Author:** ![Zoe](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex001/user_avatar/community.frame.work/zoe/32/34701_2.png) [@Zoe](https://community.frame.work/u/Zoe)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2025, 12:01pm UTC](https://community.frame.work/t/solved-can-i-remove-my-graphics-module/66182/19 "2025-03-18T12:01:02Z")
Have you tried booting from some kind of recovery media? /Zoe ---
**Author:** ![Narve\_Saetre](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex001/user_avatar/community.frame.work/narve_saetre/32/35180_2.png) [@Narve\_Saetre](https://community.frame.work/u/Narve_Saetre)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2025, 12:32pm UTC](https://community.frame.work/t/solved-can-i-remove-my-graphics-module/66182/20 "2025-03-18T12:32:44Z")
As long as I don’t even reach the BIOS, I guess I can’t boot from anything? But anyway, that was what I wanted to do, try NixOS instead of Ubuntu, but now it stops even without reaching the BIOS ☹ [Next page](https://community.frame.work/t/solved-can-i-remove-my-graphics-module/66182.md?page=2)