The Framework Laptop computer 16 simply acquired a modular gadget that permits quadruple SSDs

Essentially the most formidable laptop computer ever made simply acquired a long-promised modular improve. Beginning at present, you may pay $39 so as to add two additional M.2 slots to the Framework Laptop computer 16 — letting you probably carry round an AI accelerator, an eGPU adapter, or a grand complete of 4 stable state storage sticks for ludicrous capability.

As Framework’s weblog put up factors out, the brand new “Twin M.2 Adapter” is Framework’s first new modular part since launch that takes benefit of the Laptop computer 16’s huge growth bay round again. At launch, you solely had two choices: a Radeon RX 7700S discrete graphics card for more money, or a principally empty bay that solely contained followers.

However now, you may add the Twin M.2 Adapter to that principally empty bay to suit an extra pair of M.2 2280, 2260, 2240 or 2230 modules, with 4 lanes of PCIe 4.0 every, on prime of the dual SSD slots (M.2 2280 and M.2 2230) that include the laptop computer to start with.

With present stick SSD capacities topping out at round 8TB (2280) and 2TB (2230) respectively, meaning you may theoretically cart round 26TB of storage without delay… not counting any 1TB Framework Enlargement Playing cards you stick into the edges of the laptop computer, or any big SD playing cards you plug into the $25 full-size SD card modules that Framework lastly launched this fall.

(With 2TB SD playing cards available on the market and 6 growth slots for them on the Laptop computer 16, I assume the precise most capability of Framework’s laptop computer is now 38TB.)

And whereas those that purchased the Radeon discrete GPU gained’t have the ability to take benefit with out swapping out that module, swaps are fortunately fast and straightforward:

Along with the adapter, Framework has swapped out the Framework Laptop computer 16’s liquid metallic cooling for Honeywell PTM7958 thermal paste, and can assist present that for any buyer who asks; whereas Framework characterizes this as a change to repair attainable “efficiency degradation over time,” I undoubtedly encountered uncomfortable ranges of warmth and fan noise immediately in my evaluation and long-term assessments.