I’m configuring a Framework 13, and while selecting the ports, I came across a question that I couldn’t determine from the pictures, product pages, or configurator:
Is there a dedicated USB-C port for docking and charging? That is, to say, if I don’t choose USB-C for at least one of the expansion ports, will I still be able to plug it in to a USB-C dock? If not, how will I charge the laptop? Is there a dedicated charging port?
For the AMD version, if you’re going for an almost all Type A layout or something, it’s handy to note that the Type A expansion card have idle power issues in the back ports.
You need one port to be USB-C for charging.
The other three can be mixed and matched with whatever you like.
Thank you! That’s what I suspected from the pictures, but I was able to select 0 USB-C ports with no warning, so I was confused.
If you were particularly insane, you could choose to simply remove one of the modules and raw-dog the mb usb-c when you wished to charge. You can’t “lose” your ability to charge the device.
Well, there is.
From the Expansion card selection step:
We suggest ordering 4 or more Expansion Cards, and that at least one is a USB-C Expansion Card for charging the laptop.