On the Surface Pro 9, it is $300 to upgrade from 8 to 16GB. To go to 32GB, they require you to choose a higher tier processor which brings the normal retail price to $2599, but it currently has a $500 discount, so the total is $2099.
Framework isn’t using LPDDR5/5X like the surface or the macbook. LPDDR adds to the cost quite a bit, as does the advanced packaging apple uses etc.
But it’s the only way to keep pushing bandwidth forward, especially for graphics/iGPU, and keep pushing power down. Socketed memory inherently is much slower and less efficient, same reason consoles don’t come with ram sticks.
AMD’s solution is a package with cache instead, to try and reduce the amount of data they have to push around. But that adds a bunch of cost and still isn’t as efficient - but it lets you keep scaling socketed memory a little farther. Can’t help but feel like the days are numbered though, there isn’t an infinite amount of runway left for socketed memory.
Not surprising. Framework has a wildly different business model than mainstream computer manufacturers.
And if we re-address the "999 for a laptop with 8 gbs of ram in 2024" comment above, it is worth noting that the Framework 13 also starts with 8GB of RAM at $1049.
Honestly I don't think it is worth bringing Surface devices into the discussion. Microsoft isn't even trying. They only care about enterprise customers and are not competitive in the consumer market at all.
Maybe look at some high-end Lenovo or Dell laptops.
