Modular, DIY-friendly frame laptop updated with 12th generation Intel processors

We were fans of the Framework laptop when we reviewed it last year. This is partly due to the fact that its modular design gives priority to the ability to repair and upgrade when most other laptops do not. But we also liked it because you don’t have to make huge compromises to get this repair option – the Framework laptop is light and has a high quality screen, keyboard and touchpad, which helps it stay competitive with large thin and light laptops such as Dell XPS 13 and Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon.

An upgradeable laptop is only worth it if you really can upgrade however, the Framework is making this possible today: The company introduces a new iteration of the Framework Laptop motherboard that uses 12th-generation Intel processors. A brand new 12th generation Framework laptop starts at $ 1049 for a base model equipped with a Core i5, or $ 819 for a kit you can build yourself, without memory or storage. These products will be available for pre-order from todayand delivery will begin in July.

The 12th-generation Core processors use Intel’s latest Alder Lake processor architecture, which combines high-performance P-cores and high-performance E-cores to maximize high-performance performance and reduce power consumption when your computer is on. mostly inactive. The base Core i5-1240P processor includes four P-cores and eight E-cores, which is a big increase in the number of cores compared to the 11th generation quad-core processors. The Core i7-1260P upgrade has the same number of processor cores with increased clock speed and a slight increase in integrated GPU performance, while the top-class Core i7-1280P option will provide you with six P-cores and eight E-cores.

The rest of the hardware of the laptop Framework remains almost the same, although there are a few additional upgrades that you should know about. One is a 2.5Gbps Ethernet expansion card, the first wired LAN module available for a laptop. The card is based on Realtek’s RTL8156 chipset and will be available “later this year”.

The company is also releasing a redesigned version of its top cover, made with a new CNC manufacturing process that “significantly improves[es] The new top cover will be the default option for all Framework laptops in the future, although you can purchase a new cover for your existing Framework laptop for $ 89.

For existing Framework laptop owners, the 12th-generation i5-1240P motherboard starts at $ 449, while the “upgrade kit”, which includes both the motherboard and the redesigned top cover, starts at $ 538. This is the same price you would pay for the two components separately; there is no discount for buying both the board and the top cover together. The i7-1260P motherboard will cost you $ 699 ($ ​​788 for the upgrade kit) and the i7-1280P motherboard will cost $ 1,049 ($ 1,138 for the upgrade kit). Getting the two extra P-cores of the i7-1280P will cost you.

The 11th-generation Framework version also remains an entry-level option until it sells out, starting at $ 679 for the Core i5-1135G7 DIY edition and $ 899 for the assembled system. The company has created new product comparison page to make it easier for you to understand what you are getting.

While many of Framework’s computers will run Windows, the company boasts a 12th-generation version of its laptop.[s] to focus on solid Linux support. “Framework recommends Fedora 36 because it” works fantastically out of the box “and fully supports the Framework’s new processors, its Wi-Fi card, and its fingerprint reader. Be careful when installing other Linux distributions – you need a Linux kernel version 5.17.6 or later to fully support the hybrid architecture of the Alder Lake processor, and prominent, actively supported distributions such as Ubuntu 22.04 do not include this version on the box This problem will go away for most Linux distributions within the next few months, but for now you may need to upgrade the kernel manually to get the best possible Linux experience on the Framework laptop.

If you already own a Framework laptop and want to upgrade, the company recently released templates for 3D-printed cases for the laptop motherboard. This makes it possible to turn an old 11th generation Framework motherboard into a mini desktop computer.