Upgrading Components

I’ll start with, I am satisfied with my 16" DIY laptop. I’ve read some of the posts regarding ports, etc., and agree that I’d rather have 6 high performance ports than a mix. Most devices and drivers are backward compatible to older tech, so in my mind, there isn’t a lot of advantage of giving me old tech on a customized machine, including older root hubs and other electronics that limit performance and flexibility.

That said, it is also the transition to my post. Central and graphics processors, memory capacity and speeds, usb hardware and standards, and other underlying components are constantly evolving. I don’t see the flexibility or availability of components that I can add to my existing machine - only a month old now - to move it forward incrementally as tech advances.

The I went with the DIY laptop because it was the only way to add more RAM. There were only only 2 processor options on the DIY. An option to add a graphics processor with the expansion bay, but otherwise very little by way of options or flexibility. And the store has nothing currently available for the 16" laptop and its been out a year already.

So, my question. I am new to buying from Framework, but it looks to me like its just a highly orchestrated production laptop with higher-end options. Kind of like buying a Move-Up house over a Entry-level house. Just a higher starting place - faster processor, more base memory, etc. - but only a few additional options. It’s not custom at all. So to get USB5/TB-5, which is rolling out soon, I’ll need to buy a new machine. Faster RAM memory will require a faster chip/motherboard. It looks like I’d have to get a new machine for that too.

Am I seeing things clearly here?

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Hey, welcome to the forum!

One flaw in your logic I see is that when a new 16" laptop is released by Framework, most likely you’d be able to upgrade by swapping some components instead of having to get a whole new laptop. Plus you would be able to choose the components you want and stagger them by priority and availability of funds.

As a very hypothetical example, let’s say the version 2 of Framework Laptop 16 has a 9955HX3D CPU and an OLED touchscreen option. You then would be able to upgrade your CPU by ordering the new mainboard for ~1300€ and the screen for ~450€ instead of getting a whole new laptop for 2000€+++

One caveat, as many reminded me here on the forums, is that Framework’s mission is making repairable tech, not upgradeable tech, so the new Laptop 16 might in some or all ways be incompatible with the old Laptop 16. If Framework needs to do it to address issues with the first version’s design, I’m fine with it (e. g. I’d welcome the change if the new chassis has a built-in headphone jack), but it will understandably upset people who were buying the laptop with the expectation of upgradeability.

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