Frame
We were fans of Framework’s modular, upgradeable laptop when it was released last year, thanks to its sleek design and user-replaceable RAM, SSD and ports. Today, the Framework folks make it possible to purchase the motherboard in the heart of the Framework laptop without buying any of the other portable parts.
The base version of the card includes a Core i5-1135G7 CPU, to which you can add as much DDR4 RAM or M.2-based storage as you want. A Core i7-1165G7 configuration will run you $ 549, while top-end Core i7-1185G7 costs $ 799. Like the laptop, the motherboard gets power through its USB-C port, and you can add the extra port modules you like from the Frameworks Marketplace.
Framework has also published documentation and forms on GitHub to help people design their own frameworks for the Framework motherboard and basic 3D printable cases that you can use to protect the card from the elements. One is a basic shell and the other is a VESA mounting option for clamping the board to the back of a monitor or TV.
Frame
Intel’s 11th generation laptop CPUs are still more than respectable performers when it comes to regular office work or light gaming, but it’s still a little hard to recommend spending that kind of money on a generation-old portable motherboard at this point. But the 3D printable case and VESA mount holder should be useful for current Framework laptop owners who decide to upgrade their own motherboards and reuse the old ones somewhere later. Framework has still not announced a 12th generation version of the Framework motherboard, but it will probably maintain compatibility with existing cabinets and accessories where possible.
List image by Framework