This blog post goes into detail of what I did with regards to my Framework 16 notebook PC from Frame Work (https://frame.work). With this in mind, I am going to assume that you are going to follow exactly what I do, and that should give you a clear picture. If you decide to do something different, you would want to adjust accordingly. Since there are so many choices and details one could go through, I won’t be able to compensate for every option. My system was $2,230 for the computer + $400 for the memory, and storage. The nice concept about Frame Work is that their PCs are repairable, and upgradable. This means if I will need more storage, I can do that. There are also 6 expansion “cards” that the Framework 16 offers. However, these are not cards, but more like modules that one could plug in. With that said, I will call these expansion “cards” modules. I got the best CPU, and will use Linux for the OS. For expansion, I got 4 USB-C modules, a 1TB storage module, and an SD card module.
Requirements
Since you are not getting this machine for free, there are some requirements that would need to be fulfilled. These are necessary to get everything working properly. Some of the hardware I will detail will be temporary to just the setting up of the computer, but obviously could be used further on if you should choose to do so. You will be going into the PC. This process will be needed to install the memory, and storage options. You will not need a screwdriver. Frame Work will include a screwdriver with your packaging, and this screwdriver is the only tool you will need. With that in mind, you would need the following:
- A credit card with $3,000 available credit
- An Amazon Account
- A computer with a USB-C port, (or a USB-C to USB-A adapter) and the ability to install programs
Credit Card
You would need to make purchases. This will cost almost $3,000, and therefore could be a big hit. If you have the discretionary funds in your checking account, then you can use a debit card. In my case, I will be using a credit card and go into debt for a short time to compensate. I don’t have a positive outlook for items that will be shipped to the US due to the potential for tariffs. I therefore wanted to get the machine delivered before such could take place. Please note that you would have to pay interest based on the daily amount of your credit card after the grace period. The credit card is needed for the Frame Work, and Amazon purchases.
Amazon Account
You will need an Amazon account if you were to follow what I did. I am sure you could go to places like Best Buy, or New Egg, but I chosen to use Amazon for my memory, and storage purchases. You could also choose the buy the memory, and storage from Frame Work, but they are more expensive there.
Computer
You will need a computer that can install programs so you can image the .iso file to the storage module. While I initially wanted Windows on my computer, something would go wrong with the installation process even with me using other drives. Belana Etcher claimed there was not FAT file, and therefore may not be recognized. With that being said, I chosen Ubuntu as my OS. With that in mind, I will be proceeding as if Ubuntu is being used.
Once you get to the Computer, there will be some files you would want to download to your computer. One of the downloads is a 6GB Ubuntu .iso file, and the second is Belana Etcher (here on referred to as Etcher). The files are as follows:
- Belana Etcher: https://etcher.balena.io
- Ubuntu OS: https://ubuntu.com/desktop
Timeline
I would like to think everything came in quickly, and much more quicker than I expected. With that being said, this section will go into how fast everything went. This will apply to both the Frame Work order, and the Amazon order. Keep in mind, I am a Prime member, so I get expedited shipping. As for the Framework16, I ordered it on the late afternoon of the 10th of January. On the 13th of January, I received notice that my notebook has been shipped and I should get it the 16th of January. On the 14th of January, I ordered my RAM, and storage drives from Amazon. They told me it should be delivered on the 17th of January. On the 15th of January, I received a notice from my PMB in the late afternoon that I received a package from FedEx. This will be the Framework 16. On the 17th of January, my package from Amazon came in. With Monday being a holiday, I have decided to go to the PMB on Saturday even though buses don’t run as good.
On Saturday, I went to the UPS Store to collect my mail and packages. While not heavy, it wasn’t that convenient to carry. Thankfully, the shopping bag I keep in my backpack helped with that. I brought the PC home, and first thing I did was install my drive, and memory. I did opted for a 4TB drive, but it didn’t fit in the computer because of the heatsink that was on the drive. I did have a slight hard time taking things apart. On Tuesday, I went to return the 4TB drive. This was fine as I would have to go to the UPS Store for my mail. Once I got the storage module that came from Frame Work, I imaged the Ubuntu .iso file. This was a change of plans from my initial option. On Thursday, Amazon will receive the 4TB drive that didn’t fit.
Changes
Things didn’t work as smoothly as I would have liked. When I made my purchase from Amazon, I bought a 4TB NVME drive in addition to the 2TB NVME drive. However, the 4TB drive had a heatsink installed which made the 4TB drive too tall to fit in the notebook. If you would want 2 drives, you need to make sure that your drives do not have a heatsink installed on it. Next, I wanted Windows 11 on the computer. I downloaded Windows from Microsoft’s website, but it would seem that it didn’t want to work. When I used Etcher to image the Windows OS on the storage module, it made note that there was no FAT Table with the .iso image, and it may not install. Unfortunately, this is what happened. With that in mind, I had to choose Ubuntu as my OS. This will be a learning curve, but on the brighter side, there will be no Microsoft spying on me.
Getting Started
When it was time for me to place my order, I went to https://frame.work/products/laptop16-diy-amd-7040 to start the process on ordering my Framework 16. You can go with the pre-built option, but this blog assumes that you would be selecting the DIY option. I have chosen to get the best CPU offered, and opted out of a graphics module for now. I will like to get that in the future when I actually have money to buy it. For my expansion modules, I chosen 4 USB-C modules. A 1TB expansion module, and an SD card reader. All of the modules use the open standard of USB-C rather than something that would be proprietary. I didn’t choose the USB-A module because I am phasing out USB-A with only a 16GB thumb drive, a keyboard, and a micro-SD card reader all using USB-A. For the keyboard, I bought an USB-A to USB-C adapter, which is exclusively for the iMac. The micro-SD card reader, and 16GB thumb drive will just not be used. I have an microSD – SD card adapter, so if I needed to use my SD card, I could as I have an external reader on my iMac, and there is one installed with the Framework 16.
Once I got a delivery date for my Framework 16, I then went to Amazon to purchase the items from there. I have chosen a 2 × 32GB (64GB) Memory SODIMMs.The memory must be DDR5, and 4800Mhz RAM. Frame Work does not support 5200Mhz RAM. For storage, I chosen 2 Western Digital Black modules. The ones you would need to get comes in a 2230 size, and a 2280 size. The 2230 storage module is a Western Digital Black 2TB module. The 2280 module is a Western Digital 4TB module. I will wait until you get a delivery date before ordering you Amazon items. If you have Prime, you should have 2 day shipping. Just make sure if you do home delivery, you are either home, or have someone waiting for the packages so they can bring the packages in. You definitely don’t want these items stolen.
Arrival
Once I got home with the boxes, I opened the Frame Work box, and inspected everything. I was pretty satisfied with the results, and everything was neat. The more important thing is nothing is defective. I then opened the Amazon package with my memory, 2230 module, and 2280 module. Due to some pain, I didn’t want to deal with it right away, but I moved on after about an hour. As with the PC, the Amazon components were in good shape.
Once I was satisfied that everything is in working order, I went to my iMac, and used Belana Etcher to image the 1TB module with Ubuntu. This was important as you need to have an OS image properly installed on the module for the computer to accept the image as an OS install file. This is why Windows Pro will not install as the File Allocation Table was missing from the Windows Download. Ubuntu is a 6GB file, so hopefully, you downloaded this file while waiting for the computer to arrive. Since I already downloaded Ubuntu, it was just a 5 minute task of imaging the .iso to the 1TB storage module.
Going In
In the front corners are tabs that you would need to push out for you to access everything. If you are like me and not have long fingernails, you can use the other end of the screwdriver that was included to push the tabs out. After that, you remove the touch pad, spacers, and plastic cover that came over the metal plate. You would then see a black tag line cable on the right hand side. You would gently pull this tab to disconnect. After that, you would find 17 screws number from 2-18. Go in order, and these screws are captive so they will not come out of the screw hole, but still need to come out of the screw socket. Once all of the screws are loosened, you can carefully (but firmly) lift the plate up. You would find the motherboard, and battery as the prominent features of the inside. You would then wish to insert the RAM on the right hand side. You will want to go at a 45° angle to insert the memory, and push down. You should hear a click, and see the side levers close against the RAM module. Next is the storage. There is a 2230 NVME slot, and a 2280 NVME slot. Both slots can be filled. However, in my case, I bought a 2280 module with a heatsink, and it didn’t fit into the notebook PC. With that being said, I had to remove it. In both cases, there is a screw that will hold the modules down. These screws are NOT captive, and you cannot lose these screws as they are essential for operating the system post installation. You do not need to use both slots, and if you have done what I done, and buy a NVME drive with a heat sink, you would have to accept only having one drive.
Coming Out
Once you are finished with the internals of the system it is time to put the plate back on. As with loosening the plate, you need to do everything in order from 1 – 18 including the 17 screws in ascending numerical order. You will then install the keyboard on the left hand side. The number pad will be installed on the right hand side. Everything will snap into place, and they should give some resistance when trying to get them out. After that, set your spacers and touchpad in place in order from left to right. If you want the touchpad centered on the QWERTY keyboard, then you place the touchpad in, followed by both spacers. If you want the touchpad centered, you would place spacer, touchpad, and spacer.
Next are the modules for your computer. If you are following me, you would want to have your USB-C ports in the back, and middle. Your 1TB module will be on the front left whereas your SD card reader will be on the front right. The rear slots are USB4 which means you cannot install a USB-A port in the rear. The locking mechanism is already set to unlock, so it is a matter of inserting the modules, and locking the mechanism. If you are left handed, I will recommend that you switch the storage module, and SD card reader.
OS Installation
Assuming everything is properly in their place, and the keyboard gives some resistance if you try to remove it (before installing the touchpad), it is now time to get the OS installed. As mentioned, Windows will not install for me. I turned the PC on, and it took a few minutes to boot the first time as it was probably adjusting itself to the RAM, and storage modules. Since there is no OS installed on your NVME drive, you will be prompted to install Ubuntu. You would then follow the on-screen instructions for installing. If you are not used to Linux, then there will be a learning curve. However, if you are like me, and could not get Windows installed, then this might be your only option. Just give it the time you would need to adjust to everything. Just give yourself time as any new OS will have a learning curve.
Post OS Install
The first thing I did after I installed Ubuntu was to install Drop Box. Drop Box is an online drive service similar to One Drive, or Google Drive. Once installed, Drop Box will give you a virtual folder in your account’s Home folder. The Home folder is where all of your personal files reside. This will allow me to send files from my other computers to the Linux PC without the need for using thumb drives, or SD cards. Both of my thumb drives supports USB-C, and my desktop has an external SD card reader, so those could be used if the need arose.
After I installed Drop Box, I needed an Office Suite that would work on all of my PCs. While I really like Apple Pages, it is only available for the Mac OS. As a substitute, I chosen Libre Office. MS Office will not be an option as I would have an annual fee, and would have to use the web version of the applications. With this in mind, Libre Office is installed on all of my computers.
Next is Mozilla Thunderbird. This is an email client, and it will seem that there are just a few good email clients for Linux. Nonetheless, I installed Thunderbird, and placed my MS Outlook account in the email client. It needs some tweaking, and I will move a couple of other accounts to my Linux PC, but that would be for another day. I will still use my .ZIP domain for providing files instead of attachments.
Next is Chromium. I couldn’t find Google Chrome in the App Store, so I went with Chromium which is Google’s Open Source version of their web browser. As time goes on, the less important sites will be moved to using my Framework 16.
Last is FileZilla. This is an FTP client, and used to send files to a server that is on the internet. In my case, this will be my personal network of websites. I forgot the password, so I might have to change it. If so, I will need to make those changes on my Mac PC as well.