not only a laptop, but also an all-in-one station. Unusual projects based on a modular device

The Framework Laptop modular laptop project has been developing for several years now, and, apparently, successfully. Developers release new device models from time to time, so there is a demand for them, despite the relatively high price. Some fans of this device modify it, creating various projects that do not look like a laptop at all. Recently, an unusual option has appeared, which is called AIO.

What is this device?

We are talking about the idea of ​​a geek with a slightly strange nickname NoiseCarlos. As the title said, it turned the laptop into a workstation, or more precisely, an all-in-one PC. Not just because he was able to do it, but for the practical purpose of getting a productive working tool, a kind of “workhorse.”

The developer travels a lot, but for some reason doesn't like laptops. He doesn't like their keyboard or the form factor itself. In addition, when he went on a trip with a laptop with a 15-inch screen, he was dissatisfied: the device seemed too bulky to him. That's why NoiseCarlos felt it necessary to modify his modular laptop into a portable workstation.

True, there is one “but” here: to work with it you need a table or other fairly spacious horizontal surface. You can’t put the new version of the device on your knees—it’s clear from the photo why.

NoiseCarlos preferred this form factor because he was used to his own keyboard – it is also in the picture, plus looking at a stationary monitor turned out to be more familiar to him than working with a laptop display.

In any case, the device is fast. The fact is that the version of the laptop that the geek modified is based on the Ryzen 7 7840U processor. Ryzen takes the performance of the Framework Laptop 13 graphics chip to a new level, which was the first significant graphics update since the release of the first version. The Framework laptop should provide in-game frame rates in many games, especially those that support FSR scaling. The developer version has a processor – AMD Ryzen 7 7840U, so its performance is sufficient for working with “heavy” content or even games. By the way, the laptop itself can be purchased with a Ryzen 7 7840U or Ryzen 5 7640U chip. Here are the characteristics:

Even the 8840U is essentially the same chip, only with an improved NPU. Testing by NoiseCarlos has shown this to be a very effective build. In a number of ways, it turned out to be even more productive than his desktop PC with a 9th generation Intel Core i9. Here are the test results.

The author considers the advantage of his project to be its flexibility. So, the station can be installed on a table at the airport, in a cafe or somewhere else. On an airplane, the screen can be hung on the hooks provided in the design so that the display is at the same level as your eyes. When you have to lower them all the time, as happens with a laptop, you get tired very quickly.

The author considers his project so successful that he sells the plastic case for assembly at a price of $299.00. Here it is worth considering, of course, that the laptop itself is not cheap: its cost is about $1 thousand or more, depending on the characteristics. So the station proposed by the author turns out to be very expensive.

There are other projects

Yes, many electronics enthusiasts develop their own versions of devices based on the components of a modular laptop. In 2023, the laptop manufacturer announced a joint project with Cooler Master. As part of it, the partners released a transparent plastic case. It has slots for expansion modules. There is also a VESA mount, so you can place the device on the back of the monitor.

The case received two spaces for expansion slots on each side. The following modules are available:

The laptop is compatible with many operating systems, including Windows, Google Chrome Flex, and Linux distributions. However, users reported some compatibility problems. Someone had something wrong with the screen, someone couldn’t get the fingerprint sensor or webcam to work. These problems do not exist if you use distributions officially supported by the manufacturer – Ubuntu and Fedora. Others, including Manjaro, Mint, etc., have problems.

But this is if you are working with a laptop. But in the case of a desktop, everything becomes much simpler, because support for the screen or the same fingerprint sensor, trackpad, etc. is no longer required. So you can “play” with a variety of distribution kits, with a minimum of problems. Another stated advantage, according to those who have already assembled such a mini-PC, is the very quiet operation of the device. At the same time, do not forget that we are talking about a system based on the 12th generation i7.

The advantages of such a device are its portable size, quiet operation and high performance, light weight and the ability to modify at any time with one screwdriver or without it at all, if you mean adding/replacing modules.

You can read about other versions of devices here. Well, if you have created something similar, then share your project in the comments.