Framework 13 Pro with LPCAMM2

[05032-Mendicant-Bias]

Summary

 

Framework released the 13 Pro with Intel Core 300 processor and LPCAMM2 memory

 

Quotes

Quote

We went live on April 21 at 10:30am PT to announce the next generation of Framework.

 

My thoughts

 

I wasn't sure we'd see LPCAMM2 laptops, but here the framework 13, with the intel processor on the 18A node AND LPCAMM2 7467MT/s

 

Framework lets you buy the standalone motherboard as well

 

Core 300 is a significant upgrade as processor in speed and efficiency with the 18A process, and the RAM bandwidth increase is a huge uplift from the 5600 of SODIMM

 

It's time to upgrade my framework 13 :D

 

Sources

 

[Spindel]

OK someone explain what LPCAMM2 means to me.

 

Is it just the socket?

[05032-Mendicant-Bias]

It's just the socket. DRAM chips are the same.

 

It routes the signals in a way that is shorter and is easier to get more signal integrity from CPU to RAM and get speeds up.

 

It gives most of the speed of soldered RAM while retaining the flexibility of having removable RAM. Typical numbers for DDR5 and its variants could be

• 8000 MTs soldered
• 7500 MTs LPCAMM2
• 6400 MTs DIMM
• 5600 MTs SODIMM

[Commodus]

To me, the big hook for the Laptop 13 Pro isn't so much the LPCAMM2 memory or the touchscreen — it's that Framework is aiming to make the "MacBook Pro of Linux."

 

I'm more open to Linux than I was (even as a happy Mac user), but the market for Linux laptops is... rough. Apart from Dell's planned XPS update, you're still largely left to either installing it yourself on verified PCs or buying from Linux-specific indies that largely repurpose generic laptop designs (Purism, System76, Tuxedo).

 

This is a premium system designed with Linux in mind, including after-sale support. And frankly, I appreciate that Framework isn't obnoxious about Linux like some brands — some of them scream "FOSS absolutist" so loudly that you want to buy a Mac out of spite. This is just a nice laptop that happens to have robust Linux support.

[Trange]

13 hours ago, Commodus said:

To me, the big hook for the Laptop 13 Pro isn't so much the LPCAMM2 memory or the touchscreen — it's that Framework is aiming to make the "MacBook Pro of Linux."

 

I'm more open to Linux than I was (even as a happy Mac user), but the market for Linux laptops is... rough. Apart from Dell's planned XPS update, you're still largely left to either installing it yourself on verified PCs or buying from Linux-specific indies that largely repurpose generic laptop designs (Purism, System76, Tuxedo).

 

This is a premium system designed with Linux in mind, including after-sale support. And frankly, I appreciate that Framework isn't obnoxious about Linux like some brands — some of them scream "FOSS absolutist" so loudly that you want to buy a Mac out of spite. This is just a nice laptop that happens to have robust Linux support.

Tuxedo are just Clevo laptops (at least last i checked a couple years ago), which you will find many, if not most, laptop builders use. Any upstream pushes they do for support is support for any Clevo laptop.

 

Just because they advertise for Linux, does not mean these are the only new laptops available for Linux.

[Trange]

What i want to know about this new laptop is a comparison of the two cpus at the base level and which one i should choose: intel ultra 5 325 or ryzen ai 7 350

 

The comparisons i have found, that i care about, are basically:

- Intel is 2nm vs AMD's 4nm

- Intel power usage is a tiny bit lower on paper, but I've heard amd operates better at lower power and doesn't need to ramp up as fast.

- Intel is more modern (I also read somewhere that the AMD chip doesn't support PCIe5??)

- AMD performs better in single core and especially in multi core tasks

- AMD are typically known to be better supported by the Linux community

- AMD costs a bit more

 

Does this mean there will be slightly better battery life on the Intel chip, and is the increase in power worth the increase in cost?

 

They finally put out a laptop I am interested in, but there is little to no review of this information or comparisons I can use. Even framework dont advertise what could be gained etc, it's almost like the AMD variant doesn't exist.

[05032-Mendicant-Bias]

34 minutes ago, Trange said:

intel ultra 5 325 or ryzen ai 7 350

It's not a meaningful comparison between those 2. one is 8 threads, the other is 16 threads.

 

I would not pick the 325H because it's a bad pairing with more expensive LPCAMM2 memory. Well, you could get a third party 7500 Crucial kit that is a lot cheaper and I guess it would work, but there is no compatibility guide yet to make sure it does.

 

The intel 358H and AMD 350 are more comparable both 16 threads. Intel costs more, but it will outperform the 350 big time especially with iGPU performance.

[Creak]

Hi!

 

Maybe it's a dumb question, but why only the Intel CPU has LPCAMM2 support? From my searches on the Internet, it seems that, on paper, AMD is also compatible (maybe not this exact model though)

[05032-Mendicant-Bias]

Only Framework can answer.

 

My guess is that Intel Core 3 is a significant upgrade from Core 2, while AMD AI Max 400 is a disappointing upgrade from the AI Max 300, and Intel was willing to work with Framework on the layout and valiation.

 

If one had to choose a SKU to try LPCAMM2 and a SKU to keep SODIMM, it's the same choice I would have made.

[Trange]

1 hour ago, 05032-Mendicant-Bias said:

It's not a meaningful comparison between those 2. one is 8 threads, the other is 16 threads.

 

I would not pick the 325H because it's a bad pairing with more expensive LPCAMM2 memory. Well, you could get a third party 7500 Crucial kit that is a lot cheaper and I guess it would work, but there is no compatibility guide yet to make sure it does.

 

The intel 358H and AMD 350 are more comparable both 16 threads. Intel costs more, but it will outperform the 350 big time especially with iGPU performance.

It depends on what you are comparing.

 

When it comes to pure price to performance, 358H may be better than 350, but I'm not looking to do anything that needs to maximise this. What I care about is battery life, stability / reliability and portability. To be honest, i wont even get any benefit of additional cores based on my workload. Spending more money just for that would be wasted capital to me.

 

I think that LPCAMM2 concern is a decent one though, I would prefer to just get 1x 16gb SODIMM and then maybe get another stick in the future when prices drop back down somewhat and pray they work well together.

 

I probably wouldn't jump from the 350 to the 358H because that's just going through the endless loop of "spend more and get something even better". The AMD 350 would be the top of my consideration, i just don't know if Intel will have better battery life due to 2nm instead of AMDs 4nm. If it does, then I would probably just drop back down to the 325H

[igormp]

That laptop is looking really nice. A little bit cheaper than the new XPS (the other option that I was considering), with 1st party linux support and the whole upgradable stuff (which I don't care that much tbh), but with the downsides of the higher res screen and it not being able to go down to 1hz, so the dell might have a little advantage when it comes to battery life.

 

21 hours ago, 05032-Mendicant-Bias said:

It's just the socket. DRAM chips are the same.

 

It routes the signals in a way that is shorter and is easier to get more signal integrity from CPU to RAM and get speeds up.

 

It gives most of the speed of soldered RAM while retaining the flexibility of having removable RAM. Typical numbers for DDR5 and its variants could be

• 8000 MTs soldered
• 7500 MTs LPCAMM2
• 6400 MTs DIMM
• 5600 MTs SODIMM

Minor nit that DDR and LPDDR chips are different in working. LPDDR used to be soldered only, SOCAMM/LPCAMM now allows it to be socketed.

Regular DDR was available in (SO)DIMM and also could be soldered directly, but provided no advantages when compared to soldered LPDDR.