Will the PC industry follow Framework’s lead?
Four years ago, I predicted that a USB-C cable could eventually power all but the most demanding gaming laptops. Now, Framework is delivering on that promise with its new 240W USB-C PD power adapter, the first of its kind to be sold by a computer company. Preorders for this groundbreaking adapter are now open.
Framework also boasts the first laptop capable of utilizing 240W USB-C PD charging, further establishing itself as a leader in the PC market. The company is known for offering modular, upgradable laptops and is now set to introduce what it calls “the holy grail” of upgradable laptop graphics cards, allowing users to replace the AMD Radeon RX 7700S with an Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070, which is also available for preorder today.
While Framework may be the first to provide a complete 240W USB-C power solution, it isn’t the only company to produce a 240W USB-C charger. Delta’s DP-240KB was featured last November, and Ugreen released its Nexode 500W charger this summer, which includes a single 240W port among its multiple outputs.
However, these chargers remain among the few brand-name 240W USB-C PD power supplies available. Many companies marketing “240W” chargers often refer to setups that can output 140W over one cable and 100W over another; true 48V@5A chargers are still relatively new.
ICYMI: No Dollar Pricing Allowed – Bank of Ghana Reminds Businesses
Framework plans to sell its charger at a competitive price of $109, lower than the $200 price tags of Delta and Ugreen’s models. This new charger offers a single USB-C port, with both the power and USB-C cables being detachable. Its compact design is only slightly larger than the original 180W charger.
Framework was also the first to ship a 180W PD charger, which had limitations when powering a fully equipped Framework Laptop 16 during intensive gaming sessions. Users sometimes experienced battery drain while gaming, a problem that should be resolved with the new charger.
However, don’t expect improved gaming performance this year: the Framework Laptop 16’s new RTX 5070 graphics card is still rated for only 100W of power, the same as the AMD Radeon 7700S. The system’s cooling and power capabilities limit the GPU’s output.
Opting for the RTX 5070 will provide an additional 240W-capable charge port, as the dedicated USB-C port on the graphics card now supports 240W power, USB 2.0 functionality, and DisplayPort output, potentially enabling a single-cable docking solution.
SOURCE: THE VERGE
