I know this might seem strange wanting a Linux or Windows PC when I have an iMac desktop. However, I like the idea and concept of something repairable, and easily upgradeable. This system will even give me an encouragement to try Windows, even if it won’t be my primary system. I don’t see myself as technically inclined, but the instructions they have on their websites makes it look easy enough. So what is the problem, and why is it a want instead of a have? Well, the specs I would want is very expensive. And while I am sure a couple of components are overkill, I would still want to max out the system – therefore giving me a competent machine for longer than the lifetime of the motherboard.
Specs
- CPU: AMD Ryzen™ 9 7940HS
- RAM: 2×48GB of memory from Amazon (96GB)
- Primary Drive: Corsair MP600 PRO NH 8TB PCIe 2280 size from Amazon
- Secondary Drive: WD_BLACK 2TB SN770M M.2 2230 size from Amazon
- OS: MS Windows 11 Pro
- Graphics: AMD Radeon™ RX 7700S
- Keyboard: US English with Number Pad
- Bezel: Black
- Power: 180watt USB-C power cable
- 4 USB-C modules
- 1 SD Card module
- 1TB storage module
The base cost of the machine from Framework will come to $2,500. This is a big expense, but will be worth it as I will discuss later in this posting. The components from Amazon comes to about $1300. This will come to a total of $3,800 which is a lot of money for someone that receives less than $1,000/month. I do have a credit card that can cover the notebook, but I will also need the components from Amazon as a computer no matter which one needs RAM, and storage. With that being said, I will need the $3,800 in full before I could even think of buying this computer. With that said, I do not have the credit card ability to purchase from both sellers, and not have it impact me negatively.
Why This Configuration
As for the CPU, Framework only offered AMD CPUs which is fine as I never had a good experience with Intel, and tend to stray away from such machines. I haven’t been keeping up with CPU progression, so I can only guess that a Ryzen 9 CPU is a good modern CPU. The 96GB of memory is overkill, and I know that. However, I want to make sure that I would always have the memory that I would need. In my experience, Windows is a memory hog, and the more – the better. Since I got 2 memory slots, and the memory is DDR5, it should satisfy even the most bloated of Windows Operating Systems. The graphics is an AMD Radeon RX 7700S. Again, I hadn’t been keeping up with GPU classes, and ID, but I would imagine being $400, it would be a good and modern GPU. There was no mention on the VRAM, but I would guess that if the graphics card would need memory, it can draw on the 96GB, and if so – than the overkill on memory makes it worth more.
As for the storage, I will have 2 NVMe solid state modules. The 8TB (Primary) will be identified as C:, and will be where the OS and programs will reside. The 2TB (Secondary) will be identified as D:, and will be where my personal files will reside. Any documents I would write on this computer will be stored here. If I decided to try my skill at video games, the configuration files will be stored here. I will also consider copying my music files to this computer in case I would want to listen on the FrameWork PC. 2TB of storage will be a lot considering that the FrameWork will likely not be my primary PC. The 1TB storage module will be identified as E:, and will be a storage drive for anything that may not fit as OS/Programs, or personal files. One thought might be to store programs I purchased on this drive. The module will connect via a USB 3.2 port which isn’t the fastest, so I would likely not have a good speed in accessing these files. The SD card reader will be identified as F:, and as. the name implies, it is an SD card reader. I have one SD card adapter, and multiple micro-SD cards from when I had Android phones that had micro-SD card slots. At the very least, I am hoping for the cards to still be functional even after years of no use.
Microsoft Windows 11 Pro will be the primary choice of an Operating System. I am choosing the Pro edition for the better encryption, and if I studied correctly, I will not need a Microsoft Account to install the OS. I will obviously have other programs installed. Most likely, I will use LibreOffice for my office suite rather than paying the subscription rates of MS Office. I will have other software though, so the 8TB drive will get used.
For connectivity and power, there will be 4 USB-C ports. The two in the back will support charging. The power supply will be good for charging the system, and keep everything running. This will mean that I will need to phase out everything that uses USB-A as I always believe USB-C is what USB should have been in the first place.
Final Thoughts
I admire the company. Their approach is to reduce or eliminate eWaste. They do this by as much as possible repairable, and upgradeable. If my RAM went dead on my iMac, then I will lose everything on my iMac. If the RAM went dead on the Framework notebook, then I replace the RAM, and I am back up and running. There is limited Linux support, so if I was to get tired of Windows, I could reformat my drive, and install a flavor of Linux that would work with the Framework PC. With the Framework, I have options, and I have repairability. That is something I can’t say Apple offers.