A journalist recently tested the upgrade capabilities of Framework’s laptop at the company’s San Francisco offices, successfully replacing an AMD Radeon RX 7700S graphics card with a new Nvidia RTX 5070 in approximately three minutes. The process required the removal and installation of just six screws, using a screwdriver included with the laptop. To provide evidence of the upgrade’s efficiency, the journalist filmed the entire procedure.
While there, the journalist was unable to conduct extensive testing but was able to run basic gameplay samples to demonstrate that the new graphics card was functional. Framework claims that the Nvidia card should offer a 30-40 percent performance boost over the previous AMD model. Initial observations noted that games were running without significant issues at a 1440p resolution on high settings.
The journalist brought an original Framework Laptop 16 for the upgrade attempt but was informed by the company’s CEO, Nirav Patel, that software updates—specifically a new BIOS version—were necessary for the upgrade to proceed. Consequently, the upgrade was conducted on a laptop prepped by Framework.
Additionally, the journalist tested a new 240W USB-C PD 3.1 charger, compatible with the Framework Laptop 16, which allows for simultaneous fast charging and operation. During stress tests, the laptop reportedly drew over 220W while charging both its battery and external devices, with the charger remaining only warm to the touch after use.
The cost of the Nvidia RTX 5070 graphics card is set at $699, and while it may currently cater to a niche market, Framework appears to be laying the groundwork for more upgrades in the future.
Source: https://www.theverge.com/report/768083/framework-actually-did-it-i-upgraded-a-laptops-entire-gpu-in-just-three-minutes