I’ve been using my Framework 13 laptop a lot more often, recently. I have found myself preferring it as daily driver over the M1 Pro MacBook Pro1 for various reasons – largely connectivity, and OS / hacking / getting things done.2

I have a Framework 13 with a 12th Gen Intel board running Fedora.

Since I first got the machine, I’ve upgraded the battery capacity (to the 61Wh version), and also the screen (to the nicer high definition 2.8K display panel).

I’ve got an order in to switch the motherboard3 for one of the newer AMD Ryzen models, and I’m on the waiting list to receive that. I’m excited to see how the performance boost is in practice. I also plan to add a nice purple bezel, since I want to be on-brand!

I’m mostly using the machine docked at a desk either in the studio or at home, which generally means plugging in to a single USB-C connection to attach displays, input devices and a good webcam and mic. I am also travelling a lot more at the moment, though, so my eye fell on the gen 2 webcam module upgrade for better picture quality and performance in different lighting conditions.

Hardware – top module is the original module that came in the laptop, below is gen 2.

Framework’s documentation and hardware design is really exceptional. The upgrade instructions suggested that this would be a 5-10 minute upgrade, and I think that it could probably have been done in 2 minutes if the ribbon cable connection wasn’t quite as fiddly as I seemed to find it. Open the laptop fully (it folds out flat); lift the screen bezel (connected magnetically); unscrew the two magnetised anchors at either end; remove, replace with new (here lies some cable fiddling with small clips); screw back and reseat bezel. Done.

Technical comparison via cyme – although the full listing does not format terribly well in a wrapped context.

$ cyme -d 0x0bda:0x5634 -vvvm --headingsBus  # TPos PPath I  VID     PID     Dev V  CVal   BaseC           SubC UidSc Pcol UidPc Name                            Manufacturer     Serial         Driver Speed 3    3   7  3-7   0x0bda 0x5634  0.21  2.01  0xef Miscellaneous 0x02 ?  0x01 Interface Association Laptop Camera Generic  200901010001     usb     480.0 Mb/s # I  Attributes I# PMax Name 1             9  300 mA USB Camera PPath I Alt# CVal BaseC SubC UidSc Pcol UidPc Name             Driver   E# 3-7:1.0 0x00 0x0e Video 0x01 Video Control  0x00  -  Laptop Camera uvcvideo 1   # Dir   TranT   SyncT       UsqeT Iv MaxPkb   3 In  Interrupt None  Data  6 1x 32 3-7:1.1 0x00 0x0e Video 0x02 Video Streaming 0x00  -             uvcvideo 0 3-7:1.1 0x01 0x0e Video 0x02 Video Streaming 0x00  -             uvcvideo 1   # Dir   TranT           SyncT       UsqeT Iv MaxPkb   1 In  Isochronous Asynchronous Data 1x 128 3-7:1.1 0x02 0x0e Video 0x02 Video Streaming 0x00  -             uvcvideo 1   1 In  Isochronous Asynchronous Data 1x 512 3-7:1.1 0x03 0x0e Video 0x02 Video Streaming 0x00  -             uvcvideo 1   1 In  Isochronous Asynchronous Data 1x 1024 3-7:1.1 0x04 0x0e Video 0x02 Video Streaming 0x00  -             uvcvideo 1   1 In  Isochronous Asynchronous Data 2x 768 3-7:1.1 0x05 0x0e Video 0x02 Video Streaming 0x00  -             uvcvideo 1   1 In  Isochronous Asynchronous Data 2x 1024 3-7:1.1 0x06 0x0e Video 0x02 Video Streaming 0x00  -             uvcvideo 1   1 In  Isochronous Asynchronous Data 3x 896 3-7:1.1 0x07 0x0e Video 0x02 Video Streaming 0x00  -             uvcvideo 1   1 In  Isochronous Asynchronous Data 3x 1020

$ cyme -d 0x32ac:0x001c -vvvm --headingsBus  # TPos PPath I  VID     PID     Dev V  CVal   BaseC           SubC UidSc Pcol UidPc Name                            Manufacturer   Serial               Driver Speed 3    3   7  3-7   0x32ac 0x001c  1.11  2.01  0xef Miscellaneous 0x02 ?  0x01 Interface Association Laptop Webcam Module (2nd Gen) Framework FRANJBCHA1430207PD usb   480.0 Mb/s # I  Attributes I# PMax Name 1             10 500 mA Laptop Webcam Module (2nd Gen) PPath I Alt# CVal BaseC SubC UidSc Pcol UidPc Name                            Driver   E# 3-7:1.0 0x00 0x0e Video 0x01 Video Control    0x01  -   Laptop Webcam Module (2nd Gen) uvcvideo 1   # Dir   TranT   SyncT       UsqeT Iv MaxPkb   3 In  Interrupt None  Data  6 1x 32 3-7:1.1 0x00 0x0e Video 0x02 Video Streaming  0x01  -                          uvcvideo 0 3-7:1.1 0x01 0x0e Video 0x02 Video Streaming  0x01  -                          uvcvideo 1   # Dir   TranT           SyncT       UsqeT Iv MaxPkb   1 In  Isochronous Asynchronous Data 1x 128 3-7:1.1 0x02 0x0e Video 0x02 Video Streaming  0x01  -                          uvcvideo 1   1 In  Isochronous Asynchronous Data 1x 512 3-7:1.1 0x03 0x0e Video 0x02 Video Streaming  0x01  -                          uvcvideo 1   1 In  Isochronous Asynchronous Data 1x 1020 3-7:1.1 0x04 0x0e Video 0x02 Video Streaming  0x01  -                          uvcvideo 1   1 In  Isochronous Asynchronous Data 2x 768 3-7:1.1 0x05 0x0e Video 0x02 Video Streaming  0x01  -                          uvcvideo 1   1 In  Isochronous Asynchronous Data 2x 1020 3-7:1.1 0x06 0x0e Video 0x02 Video Streaming  0x01  -                          uvcvideo 1   1 In  Isochronous Asynchronous Data 3x 896 3-7:1.1 0x07 0x0e Video 0x02 Video Streaming  0x01  -                          uvcvideo 1   1 In  Isochronous Asynchronous Data 3x 1020 3-7:1.2 0x00 0xfe ApplicationSpecificInterface 0x01 Device Firmware Update     -        0                                               Camera DFU Device

Noting that the 2nd gen module (second listing) has a DFU option, and draws slightly more power

Before and after shots, similar position in the same room within about 20 minutes of each other. The newer module has a wider field of view and more light for sure. Either way, I need to improve my setup there slightly, but ordinarily when I’m sitting at that desk, I would be using a Logitech StreamCam connected via a hub.

1. Exception tends to be video editing and, sometimes, podcasting (but that is mostly due to the setup we chose for Games at Work dot Biz, rather than a deficiency on the Linux side). ↩︎
2. What of the MNT Pocket Reform? Well… it’s currently with UPS, after needing what was supposed to be a brief return to Germany for a strange issue that was resolved under warranty. I’m extremely annoyed about the time it has taken to get back to me – not the fault of the MNT team, absolutely the fault of the ridiculous import/export situation the UK finds it in with Europe these days… meh. ↩︎
3. Once I get this, I’ll repurpose the original motherboard and display into a simple desk device, I think. ↩︎

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https://andypiper.co.uk/2025/04/02/framework-of-theseus/