My team has been partnering with Framework to bring sustainable computing to enterprise businesses, starting with laptops.

At the time of writing, we have deployed approximately 100 laptops, across the UK, US and Germany. This was part of a multi-phase pilot and business preview.

We were not only evaluating the hardware and software but also the processes that support servicing, upgrades, asset management, compliance, security, etc.

The goal of the partnership is to fundamentally change the traditional model for hardware lifecycle management within an enterprise business, delivering greater user flexibility and lower costs, whilst reducing the environmental impact.

My testimonial is still present on the Framework Business website and we are proud of the collaboration.

Framework Laptop Ryzen AI

Unfortunately, although the business preview itself was a success, verifying the business case. We did encounter a higher rate of hardware failures when compared against our baseline (Dell and Lenovo). We were also limited by hardware availability, caused by the turbulence across the silicon industry (e.g., Qualcomm, Intel, AMD).

As a result, we decided to temporarily pause the wider deployment to allow time for the hardware to mature and the market to stabilise. A more detailed explanation of our findings can be found in the article “Framework Paused”.

In addition, outlined below are the articles I have written about Framework, covering business and personal experiences.

A few weeks ago, I received the latest iteration of the Framework Laptop 13, with the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370.

The full hardware specification can be found below.

  • Framework Laptop 13 DIY Edition
  • AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 (12C/24T)
  • 128GB Crucial DDR5-5600 RAM
  • 4TB Western Digital Black SN850X NVMe (7.3GB/s Read)
  • 13.5-inch LCD Display (2880x1920 @ 120Hz)
  • 2x USB-C, 1x HDMI (3rd Gen) 1x 1TB Framework Storage Expansion Card

As you can see from the specification, this is a high-performance Framework Laptop 13, with the most performant processor (AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370) and 128GB of memory from Crucial. The official Framework specification states up to 96GB of memory. However, I can confirm the 128GB (2x64GB) Crucial DDR5-5600 SO-DIMM kit works without issue.

The laptop also includes the latest incremental enhancements, including the Fingerprint Reader Kit (2nd Gen), Webcam Module (2nd Gen), and Keyboard (2nd Gen). To be honest, I did not notice any specific improvement with these enhancements, but it is still nice to see a constant flow of updates that are fully backwards compatible.

The exterior of the laptop remains unchanged (the photo below is my existing Framework Laptop 13), which in some respects is underwhelming, but is obviously an important part of the Framework architecture to support future servicing and upgrades. Thankfully, the laptop still looks great, with a modern, elegant design.

Framework Laptop Ryzen AI

Framework has expanded its customisation options via coloured bezels and expansion cards. I was lucky enough to have a translucent bezel from the original batch, which looks great! I would love to see this go further, with a full translucent case. However, I recognise this might not be practical.

I run Linux Fedora as my primary operating system. I also have Windows 11 installed on a 1TB Framework Storage Expansion Card (1st Gen).

Framework Laptop Ryzen AI

I am pleased to confirm that the installation of Fedora 42 was perfect, with no errors or missing drivers. Framework has always excelled with Linux support, selecting Linux-compatible hardware and working with the most popular Linux distributions to ensure a great software experience. In my opinion, Framework is the best way to use Linux on a laptop.

Regarding performance, the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 performs very well. The Zen 5 architecture provides a healthy single-core performance boost, without negatively impacting the battery life or thermals. In my testing, the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 was consistently quieter than any previous Framework Laptop 13 I have used (AMD or Intel).

The Geekbench 6 scores are outlined below.

  • Single-Core Score 2,700
  • Multi-Core Score: 13,587

As expected, the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 outperforms the previous generation AMD Ryzen 7 7840U, which scored 2,382 (Single-Core Score) and 12,243 (Multi-Core Score). Approximately a 13% increase for single-core and 10% for multi-core.

As part of this upgrade, I also switched to the new 13.5-inch LCD Display, which I would describe as good, but not great. The higher resolution (2880x1920) and refresh rate (120Hz) are welcomed upgrades, especially as a Linux user, as everything scales perfectly (I use 150% scaling). However, the panel is not overly bright or colour-accurate, putting it below the competition at this price point.

The battery life is also average. In my experience, it does not compete against the latest Dell, Lenovo or HP laptops. If you are a hybrid worker, someone who has regular access to power, I would classify the battery life as acceptable. However, if you are a road warrior, with limited access to power, I suspect the battery life will quickly become a point of frustration.

In conclusion, the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 is a solid upgrade, especially when combined with the new high-resolution, high refresh-rate display.

As a Linux user, I continue to believe the Framework Laptop 13 is the “best” overall option on the market, with great hardware and software support.As a Windows user, the story is more complex, as the benefits offered by the Framework Laptop 13 are quickly overshadowed by the limitations (e.g., battery life), especially when compared to cheaper alternatives from Dell, HP and Lenovo.

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