Framework Laptop 16 Gets Pricey NVIDIA RTX 5070 Upgrade Module
▼ Summary
– A user is excited for the Panther Lake Framework 13 Pro but criticizes the $240 cost for 16GB of RAM, blaming Micron for high prices.
– A commenter argues the laptop’s price makes it a poor value, suggesting buying a cheaper non-upgradeable laptop and replacing it in four years.
– A proofreader notes the $500 premium for upgrading a 5070 Mobile from 8GB to 12GB is absurd, as it costs as much as a full desktop 5060 Ti or a laptop with Nvidia graphics.
– Another user calls the pricing “5090 kind of insane” and criticizes the entire laptop market.
– One commenter predicts a price crash when the AI bubble bursts, as excess capacity will flood the market.
Framework’s modular laptop vision continues to evolve, but the latest upgrade path comes with a hefty price tag. The Framework Laptop 16 now offers an NVIDIA RTX 5070 upgrade module, and for those eyeing the 12GB variant, the cost is drawing sharp criticism from the community.
The base RTX 5070 with 8GB of VRAM is priced at $700. However, the 12GB version commands a staggering $1,200 , a $500 premium for what is essentially the same GPU with two memory modules swapped from 2GB to 3GB chips. Commenters on the announcement are calling this pricing “absurd,” with one noting that for the same money, you could buy an entire desktop RTX 5060 Ti or a complete laptop with Nvidia graphics.
Beyond the GPU, broader concerns about Framework’s value proposition are resurfacing. While the company champions repairability and upgradeability, many users argue the upfront cost is no longer justifiable. One reader pointed out that by the time you’re ready to upgrade, buying a cheaper non-modular laptop now and another one in four years would be more economical. Another noted that Framework’s prices were already steep before the global DRAM and copper shortages, and now they’ve become “massively overpriced.”
Memory pricing itself is a sore spot. A user eyeing the upcoming Panther Lake Framework 13 Pro expressed frustration over paying $240 for just 16GB of RAM, blaming Micron for the inflated costs. Their workaround? Buy the 13 Pro chassis kit and install an older mainboard with existing RAM, then wait for memory prices to normalize before upgrading the motherboard.
Some see a silver lining in market forces. One commenter predicted that once the AI bubble bursts, the surplus manufacturing capacity will drive GPU and memory prices down sharply. Others, however, remain skeptical, noting that economic indicators suggest the bubble still has room to inflate.
In a twist, the high cost of Framework’s proprietary modules is making traditional workstation GPUs look more appealing. A user noted that even the 12GB NVIDIA A5000 , which uses the MXM interface but is still proprietary to specific Dell, HP, and Lenovo models , was cheaper on the used market just two months ago.
For now, Framework’s modular dream remains intact, but the price of entry is testing the patience of even its most loyal supporters. Whether the long-term savings from upgradeability will ever offset these upfront costs is an open question.
(Source: Techpowerup.com)
