What new is needed: Intel 11th gen to 13th gen

[JayCanuck]

I’m looking into upgrading my Framework Intel 11th gen to Intel 13th gen. Trying to understand what new parts I need. Previously upgraded to the updated CNC top cover/hinge, updated to AX210 (non-vPro) wifi card, and installed the 11th gen RTC battery replacement.

Naturally 13th gen motherboard is needed. I believe my RAM, M.2 SSD, and wifi card should be compatible (hardware-wise).

But I would love any ideas on other parts that may also be needed or revised parts worth upgrading. I am fine with the original display for now. What about webcam? Misc cables/adapters? Do I need a RTC Battery (or is that included with the motherboard)? Is the upgraded battery worth it? Are there any WiFi 7 cards compatible?

Thanks all!

[Shiroudan]

Nothing else is needed! It’s all just optional things that you may want with your new mainboard.
It’ll work fine with your old webcam, screen, battery, etc!

[amoun]

@JayCanuck

Do I need a RTC Battery (or is that included with the motherboard)? Is the upgraded battery worth it?

The 13th Gen does not have an ML 1220 CMOS/RTC battery and there definitely isn’t an upgraded battery option.

The 13th Gen has been modified to work without an ML 1220 though one could be used for some instances where there is no main battery attached

[Shiroudan]

@amoun

there definitely isn’t an upgraded battery option.

I believe this is a reference to the 61wH battery.

[amoun]

Yes that makes sense > ?

55W or 61W some 11% larger capacity
£49 or £69 some 41% extra cost

Also lately there have been a few reports of bloated 61W

PSA: 61Wh battery pillowed 1y 3mo from purchase

Hi all, Just a quick PSA to check your battery. I ordered a 61Wh in June 2023, and today my input cover was bulging so I checked under and it’s very swollen. I’m probably out of warranty so have to eat a replacement, but you may not be! Interestingly, I had my Batch 6 55Wh battery from December 2021 to June 2023 (and a little longer because I waited for the 11th gen firmware update to drop before replacing the bat), so this one actually lasted half the daily use of my original (which never puf…

Swollen Battery <1yr in, How to address?

I have my Framework Laptop 13. For a few months now, I’ve been noticing the touchpad getting increasingly difficult to use - slowly, over time. I eventually happened to contact support about a different issue on 9/2 and mentioned it to them. They sent a guide to adjust the touchpad. I didn’t bother with it for a couple of weeks because I was quite busy, and mostly have the laptop docked anyhow. Then I noticed the front halves were separating and figured, time to figure out what’s going on. …

• This is a Framework 13, 13th gen Intel, with 61Wh battery.

[amoun]

@amoun

£49 or £69 some 41% extra cost

Error in my cost, corrected.

[Kyle_Reis]

Afaik 11th and 13th gen are inter-compatible enough that you don’t actually need to change any other parts to make the swap.

@JayCanuck

What about webcam?

Your laptop has the first revision of the 1st Gen webcam.

The 13th gen laptops came with the second revision of the 1st Gen webcam. The second revision has a tiny reduction in power consumption compared to the first revision, however I wouldn’t recommend upgrading to it as the boost is tiny. (Edit: If you want to upgrade webcam I suggest going to the 2nd Gen webcam as that is actually higher quality)

@JayCanuck

Do I need a RTC Battery (or is that included with the motherboard)?

The new motherboard uses the main battery to power the RTC system so it has no need for a dedicated RTC battery.

@JayCanuck

Is the upgraded battery worth it?

It is a 10% boost over the capacity of the original battery (compared to when the original battery was new). Is that worth it to you?

@JayCanuck

Are there any WiFi 7 cards compatible?

Yes. Intel, Qualcomm, and MediaTek (MediaTek’s cards are often branded as AMD due to a partnership between them) all have WiFi 7 cards that should work. The Intel BE200 Wi-Fi card is the most popular option for Wi-Fi 7 on Intel based Framework laptops (although there seem to be firmware issues preventing it from working on AMD based Framework laptops).

 

The only remaining difference (that hasn’t yet been mentioned in this thread) between the 13th gen Framework Laptop 13 and the 11th gen Framework Laptop 13 is that the 13th gen Framework Laptop 13 included speakers that are louder, especially at the frequencies of human voices. However those speakers have less accurate audio fidelity, so it’s more of a side-grade rather than an upgrade.

@amoun

55W or 61W some 11% larger capacity

Nitpick: The “61 Wh” battery is rated at 60.6 Wh, Framework just rounds it up to 61 Wh. So it is actually only 10% higher capacity.

[Be_Far]

Seconding the excellent performance of the new webcam.

Cosmetically:

• if you’ve taken the bezel off as many times as I have, it may have magnets falling out or a plastic corner of the hinge cover separating from its press-fit into the actual bezel. Buy a replacement with your order so you don’t have to pay another international shipping charge…
• If you’d like to remove Microsoft branding, the Linux international english keyboard is out and features a super key. I pulled the super cap and replaced it on my US english keyboard. It’s good for me to have a spare keyboard (rather than full input cover) lying around so I can be more fine-grained in my diagnosis of the broken keys issue if it pops up on what is now my third input cover.

[amoun]

@Be_Far

if you’ve taken the bezel off as many times as I have,

What are you doing? My 11th Gen is nearly three years old. I have only removed my bezel some dozen times and the keyboard is fine

[Be_Far]

I have a few different colors and I’ve swapped between over the years. Right now I’m on the black that it shipped with, that’s the only one that’s separating.