Framework Laptop 13 gets ARM processor with 12 cores via upgrade kit

No interest in this exactly, but I am interested in the idea that third parties are now targeting the Framework form factor explicitly to sell upgrades/replacements outside of the Framework marketplace.

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dontlaugh 22 minutes ago | parent | next [-]

That is interesting.

I wish someone made a keyboard that doesn’t suck, ideally split as well.

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browningstreet 41 minutes ago | parent | prev [-]

My first thought was, "How many units could they possibly expect to sell given this target?"

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Someone 19 minutes ago | parent | next [-]

FTA: “the company has introduced a mainboard that can be installe in the Framework Laptop 13 or in a mini PC case“

⇒ their market likely isn’t enormous, but it is larger than that of Framework Laptop owners.

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cmrdporcupine 22 minutes ago | parent | prev [-]

Sounds like the board also somehow works inside a mini-itx chassis or something?

	▲	clhodapp 8 minutes ago \| parent [-]
		[delayed]

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ndiddy an hour ago | parent | prev | next [-]

This board uses the CIX CP8180 SoC, which has worse performance and significantly worse efficiency than even Apple's M1 chip. See Jeff Geerling's review of a desktop with this SoC: https://www.jeffgeerling.com/blog/2025/minisforum-stuffs-ent... If you need an ARM Linux laptop, it's probably a better choice to get a used M1 or M2 MacBook Pro and put Fedora Asahi on it.

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cmrdporcupine an hour ago | parent | next [-]

Yeah, or if you don't mind something with performance this low, the RK3588 has much better kernel support (I have a couple here) and there's some companies offering laptop format for those now.

But as much as I love the RK3588 it's very much in the "low perf utility SBC" world than "good performing general PC". I use my two boards for NAS, Plex, Forgejo CI builders, etc.

I do recall that Jeff Geerling I think had some followup with that board that perhaps there could be firmware changes that improve the power efficiency later maybe?

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chrisweekly an hour ago | parent | prev [-]

Apple hardware, yes. Fedora Asahi, maybe. OrbStack^1 provides awesome flexibility and DX/UX, w/ minimal footprint.

1. https://orbstack.dev/

	▲	metadat an hour ago \| parent \| next [-]
		Orbstack is just a less bug-ridden implementation of Docker4Mac, not really pertinent or earth shattering for running desktop apps on the daily. What's wrong with Asahi?
	▲	signa11 an hour ago \| parent \| prev [-]
		it doesn’t do gui afaik.

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999900000999 13 minutes ago | parent | prev | next [-]

I don't have much faith in Arm Linux. Tuxedo gave up.

Cheap Windows Arm laptops are flooding the market, if someone can pick ONE laptop to support they could easily buy them on sale , refurbished them with Linux and make a profit.

Looks likes their are some challenges with doing this.

	▲	blisstonia a minute ago \| parent \| next [-]
		They probably gave up on their Snapdragon X efforts as Snapdragon X2 Elite was nipping at their heels and they'd have a redundant device by the time their efforts came to market.
	▲	embedding-shape 6 minutes ago \| parent \| prev \| next [-]
		> I don't have much faith in Arm Linux. Tuxedo gave up. I was also slowly loosing hope, although I do still run some NixOS ARM Raspberry PIs. But with the recent Valve backing, I'm back on the train again, and eagerly awaiting the slow but steady improvements, and figuring out where I can contribute back.
	▲	winterqt 10 minutes ago \| parent \| prev [-]
		Supposedly the ARM ThinkPads are alright on Linux.

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MBCook an hour ago | parent | prev | next [-]

So this isn’t an official thing, this is a 3rd party selling a replacement motherboard, is that right?

	▲	toshinoriyagi 32 minutes ago \| parent [-]
		Correct, it's not sold by Framework, but is a replacement mainboard sold by a 3rd party. I think that is one of the big appeals of a modular laptop like Framework, though. You can create an ecosystem around it, customize, and not be locked in to just what the primary manufacturer makes.

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woodrowbarlow 2 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

here's the actual listing: https://metacomputing.io/products/metacomputing-arm-aipc

i posted the article instead because it has some details that aren't on the listing.

	▲	jeffbee 14 minutes ago \| parent [-]
		It also has basically no details. What even is the difference between the Standard and Pro offering at twice the price?

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mtklein an hour ago | parent | prev | next [-]

This is astonishingly bad power usage for a laptop, a complete dealbreaker: "...early tests show that the SoC already draws about 16 watts at idle..."

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csdreamer7 an hour ago | parent | prev | next [-]

https://metacomputing.io/products/metacomputing-arm-aipc

Save you a click or two. Looking at this I have so many questions. Am I buying a mainboard? It is not clear. It lists ports: it only supports 2 ports? You have four options with 16/32gigs and 1tb of storage? Is the storage soldiered? If so, what is the storage? emmc? Soldiered memory seems to be a given in the ARM ecosystem, but the storage is completely unacceptable on a framework mainboard.

The only difference between the pro and the regular is that the second port is a usb-c over an hdmi? I am assuming this is the mainboard even supporting framework extension cards.

No listed Linux compatibility support. Forget if the NPU even works in Linux; I do not even know if this will boot Linux because the company did not bother to submit devicetree patches to the kernel for their SOC. No listed Windows support even.

This company's copy is absolutely terrible.

	▲	woodrowbarlow an hour ago \| parent [-]
		my impression was the "pro" is the same board but comes with a framework 13 chassis, but yeah the lack of explicit details does not inspire confidence.

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znpy 31 minutes ago | parent | prev | next [-]

I'm curious to see battery life reports over this. Chances are these arm chips will not be beating intel/amd on battery life.

Also worth looking at battery life compared to performance...

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cmrdporcupine an hour ago | parent | prev [-]

These Snapdragon X processors have some drama around not having decent Linux support, right?

EDIT: Sorry, not SnapdragonX - apparently I can't read.

Also, who is "MetaComputing" and can I trust them with my money? Something about the big "Web 3 Integrated Devices" branding on their landing page makes me less than enthusiastic. Otherwise I'd be hovering over 'buy'

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tencentshill an hour ago | parent | next [-]

They are selling a configuration that costs $810.00 on Framework's website for only $549.00. Zero actual info on the about page or Google. I would treat it with suspicion at best.

	▲	ndiddy 44 minutes ago \| parent [-]
		They're just selling the motherboard on its own, not a whole laptop. To make if a complete system, you'd have to buy a laptop chassis from Framework's parts site and install the motherboard yourself.

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celrod an hour ago | parent | prev | next [-]

They're 8x A720 + 4x M520, not Snapdragon X.

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izacus an hour ago | parent | prev [-]

This isn't a Snapdragon though.

	▲	cmrdporcupine an hour ago \| parent [-]
		Oh, crap, guess it helps if I read next time.