What does HackerNews think of ExpansionBay?

PCIe 4 x8. We have documentation around it here: https://github.com/FrameworkComputer/ExpansionBay

We've published documentation around the interface, and are happy to work with anyone who wants to develop a new module: https://github.com/FrameworkComputer/ExpansionBay

We've designed the Expansion Bay module system to be able to handle power bi-directionally. One of the main reasons for this was to enable secondary batteries. This specific module isn't something we've shared any plans around, but it's something that either we or a third party would be able to build.

https://github.com/FrameworkComputer/ExpansionBay

I don't think anybody outside Framework knows for sure yet (maybe not even internally) but my impression from what they've shared so far is that the expansion bays are intended to be very easily swappable (external, a click & push like the expansion slots) but almost certainly not hot-swappable while the machine is powered on.

They do have some initial specs at https://github.com/FrameworkComputer/ExpansionBay that somebody more knowledgeable than me might be able to glean some practical info from.

It's not a desktop PCIe slot on the back of a laptop, but the interface is already documented. The electrical, shell-fit PCB, and general form-factor specs of the 16" laptop's expansion bay are already published under a CC-BY license by Framework: https://github.com/FrameworkComputer/ExpansionBay

Direct link to the pinout PDF: https://github.com/FrameworkComputer/ExpansionBay/blob/main/...

It's a 4th-gen x8 interface, so there are limits to what "any old GPU" might be capable of performance-wise, but creating a passthrough-port accessory seems possible.

Seems like pcie connection to the mainboard

> The Framework Laptop 16 has an Expansion Bay system that contains both the cooling fans and an interface for high-power, high-speed PCIe peripherals like GPUs. Expansion Bay modules can extend in both thickness and depth to accomodate higher power requirements.

https://github.com/FrameworkComputer/ExpansionBay