According to Liliputing, the new RISC-V board is a drop-in replacement for those who already own a Framework Laptop 13 with an Intel or AMD motherboard. Those without a Framework Laptop can still use the mainboard as a standalone computer with the $39 Cooler Master case, effectively turning it into a mini desktop computer.
The RISC-V Mainboard results from a partnership between Framework and DeepComputing, the Chinese company behind the DC-ROMA laptops, some of the first notebooks to feature RISC-V processors.
The board is powered by a StarFive JH7110 processor, a 1.5 GHz quad-core chip with SiFive U74 RISC-V CPU cores and Imagination BXE-4-32 graphics, and includes 8GB of onboard RAM.
Unlike other Framework Mainboards, it lacks SODIMM slots for user-upgradeable memory or M.2 slots for user-replaceable storage. Instead, it features an SD card reader for storage and optional support for an eMMC module.
Designed to fit in existing laptop frames, the RISC-V Mainboard shares the same size and shape as AMD or Intel models and includes four USB ports in the same locations. However, these ports are slightly less versatile than those on other Framework Laptop 13 Mainboards: 1 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-C (5 Gbps) w/DisplayPort 1.4 Alt Mode and 60W USB-PD; 1 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-C (5 Gbps) w/60W USB-PD and 2 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-C (5 Gbps) data-only.
Although RISC-V architecture has generated significant interest as a royalty-free alternative to x86 and ARM chips, it remains in its infancy. The JH7110 processor offers performance comparable to a quad-core ARM Cortex-A55 processor. While software support is a work in progress, Framework and DeepComputing state that the new RISC-V mainboard supports Ubuntu Desktop 24.04 and Fedora 41 operating systems.
Framework emphasises that this board is "very much a developer-focused board to help accelerate maturing the software ecosystem around RISC-V," rather than a consumer-oriented product.
The RISC-V Mainboard for the Framework Laptop 13 is also available from DeepComputing, which offers a series of kits starting at $299 for a Standard Tier kit. This includes a mainboard, Cooler Master Case, 64GB SD card, WiFi Module, and four Expansion cards.
Customers seeking a fully configured laptop can pay $799 or more for a Framework Laptop 13 with a RISC-V mainboard, wireless module, SD card, and a couple of expansion cards.
