Strix Point-Powered Framework Laptop 13 Introduced With Prices Starting From $899

[GGforever]

Framework has finally introduced its next-generation Framework Laptop 13, now powered by the extremely potent Ryzen AI 300 "Strix Point" APUs. The product is already available for pre-order on Framework's website, with prices starting from $899 for the Do-It-Yourself variant, and $1,099 for the fully assembled variant. From the outside, the design of the product has been left mostly unchanged, which may appear somewhat disappointing at first, although an unaltered design likely indicates compatibility of components between the two laptops, which is undoubtedly one of the primary selling points for the Framework Laptop.

As mentioned, the biggest upgrade that the new Framework Laptop brings to the table is the new selection of processors, with the Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 APU sitting at the highest-end. Unsurprisingly, the Strix Point APUs allow for excellent performance improvements to both CPU and GPU side of things. With 12 cores (4 Zen 5 + 8 Zen 5c) and 24 threads, the highest-end Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 APU performs admirably well in benchmarks as well as real-life workloads. The Radeon 890M iGPU is among the fastest available on the market, trading blows with the Arc 140T iGPU in synthetic benchmarks. Of course, the 50 TOPS NPU allows for CoPilot functionality, for those who care. The Windows variant ships with a dedicated CoPilot key as well, while the DIY variant does not.




Although the exterior has not witnesses any significant changes, the keyboard has been redesigned in a way that prevents the wider keys from 'buzzing' when the speakers are dialed up, according to Framework. As for the display, customers can opt for a premium 2880 x 1920 120 Hz screen, or settle for the 2256 x 1504 60 Hz standard unit. Of course, the ports are still modular, with options for USB-C, USB-A, HDMI, Ethernet, DisplayPort, MicroSD, and SD. For those who do not require the Strix Point-class performance, the previous Zen 4-based Ryzen 7040U 'Phoenix'-powered Framework laptop 13 is available for a discounted price of $749.

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[hsew]

Don’t get me wrong, I love what Framework is doing, but $1695 $1659 for the HX 370 barebone is clinically insane.

Also, surprised that it uses SODIMMS. Buyers should expect it to be noticeably slower in some applications than if they opted for LPCAMM2 memory actually capable of hitting the speeds this APU supports.

 

[Chaitanya]

Don’t get me wrong, I love what Framework is doing, but $1695 for the HX 370 barebone is clinically insane.

Also, surprised that it uses SODIMMS. Buyers should expect it to be noticeably slower in some applications than if they opted for LPCAMM2 memory actually capable of hitting the speeds this APU supports.

I saw Kingston is offering Fury SODIMMs are 6000 and 6400 speeds while not as fast as what CAMM is capable off still there are options now available for SODIMMs beyond 5600. Also LPCAMM Is a single channel solution.

 

[igormp]

I saw Kingston is offering Fury SODIMMs are 6000 and 6400 speeds while not as fast as what CAMM is capable off still there are options now available for SODIMMs beyond 5600. Also LPCAMM Is a single channel solution.

LPCAMM2 is 128-bit per module. This is equivalent to your "dual-channel" desktop at 128-bit as well.

 

[hsew]

I saw Kingston is offering Fury SODIMMs are 6000 and 6400 speeds while not as fast as what CAMM is capable off still there are options now available for SODIMMs beyond 5600. Also LPCAMM Is a single channel solution.

LPCAMM2 | DRAM | Samsung Semiconductor EMEA

LPCAMM2 is a module that drives next-generation systems by improving the performance, power efficiency, and capacity scaling limitations.

semiconductor.samsung.com

 

[nRag3]

Don’t get me wrong, I love what Framework is doing, but $1695 $1659 for the HX 370 barebone is clinically insane.

Also, surprised that it uses SODIMMS. Buyers should expect it to be noticeably slower in some applications than if they opted for LPCAMM2 memory actually capable of hitting the speeds this APU supports.

In the Linus video Nirav says they had a dedicated engineer from AMD look at LPCAMM for Strix Halo and its not possible because of something to do with signal integrity and how it integrates with the 256 bit bus.

 

[hsew]

In the Linus video Nirav says they had a dedicated engineer from AMD look at LPCAMM for Strix Halo and its not possible because of something to do with signal integrity and how it integrates with the 256 bit bus.

That sucks. And now that I’ve just found out that Framework also launched a desktop, WITH a 395 + 64GB of RAM for $1599, the price of this (HX 370 board + chassis + display + keyboard, essentially) being $1659 honestly makes zero sense.

 

[igormp]

That sucks. And now that I’ve just found out that Framework also launched a desktop, WITH a 395 + 64GB of RAM for $1599, the price of this (HX 370 board + chassis + display + keyboard, essentially) being $1659 honestly makes zero sense.

The 2.8k display alone goes for $270 in their parts store.
Apart from that, I think the general R&D and manufacturing costs for a laptop are way higher than the desktop model, and framework is still a niche manufacturer.

I do agree that it's expensive, but laptops are often more expensive than desktop counterparts at any given level, so it's not that surprising.
What's more impressive is that that asus laptop/tablet with strix halo is barely more expensive than that framework desktop. I have hopes that HP's version will be even cheaper.

 

[Am*]

I'm a fan of Framework's mission, but whoever is setting their pricing is clinically insane. £329 to get 2 extra cores and move up from a Ryzen 340 to a 350? What are they smoking? I can almost get an entire Minisforum PC with a 7840U (a very comparable 8 core SOC) for that money. This is greedier up selling than even what Apple charges (at least you get the same amount of CPU cores across the base variants).

Adding into account Framework's awful quality control and nonexistent BIOS/UEFI updates compared to even the worst OEMs and it's a complete nonstarter. Hard pass.

 

[hsew]

The 2.8k display alone goes for $270 in their parts store.
Apart from that, I think the general R&D and manufacturing costs for a laptop are way higher than the desktop model, and framework is still a niche manufacturer.

I do agree that it's expensive, but laptops are often more expensive than desktop counterparts at any given level, so it's not that surprising.
What's more impressive is that that asus laptop/tablet with strix halo is barely more expensive than that framework desktop. I have hopes that HP's version will be even cheaper.

The display itself is an oddity. For starters, they’re forcing you to use their premium display, when in the past they’ve allowed their lower sku to be used with AMD systems.

The problem with the HX 370 board really boils down to the fact that other excellent HX 370 laptops are $500 cheaper, and they’re full systems. That’s a tough pill to swallow considering you still have to spend another $100+ on RAM and SSD.

Also, given their modular approach, it’s likely that they’re using the same chassis as they’ve been using for the 13. So I doubt they’ve spent much of their R&D budget on anything besides the motherboard (although they did mention a new keyboard, I imagine that’ll be available on all of their skus).

The FW Desktop happens to come with 32GB of LPDDR5 8000 too on the entry level sku as well, which is value in and of itself.

Also, the ASUS tablet is $1000 more than the desktop at the low end. Granted, it is a tablet, but since you brought it up…

 

[PrettyKitten800]

That sucks. And now that I’ve just found out that Framework also launched a desktop, WITH a 395 + 64GB of RAM for $1599, the price of this (HX 370 board + chassis + display + keyboard, essentially) being $1659 honestly makes zero sense.

The pricing makes zero sense if you pretend like monitors cost nothing and portability doesn't matter.

 

[windwhirl]

With 12 cores (4 Zen 5 + 4 Zen 5c) and 24 threads,

Is it 12 or 8?

 

[Wyllio]

Framework did make a YouTube video on how they decide on picking parts. They like to take off the shelf parts that other big companies have already invested the R&D and tooling costs to develop, such as the 2.8K screen which I believe was used in a Lenovo laptop. They're too small to take on the initial tooling costs of implementing LPCAMM2 on a new motherboard design if the SODIMM modules are still an option.