firmware VS Framework-Laptop-13

the usual error is the image was made before the 8gb pi4 was released so is compatible with the 1,2 and 4gb models only without updating - for this error you can grab the latest boot file versions (kernel7l.img, start4.elf and the fixup4.dat are required for pi4) from here - https://github.com/raspberrypi/firmware/tree/master/boot - they go into the /boot partition of the microsd/usb/ssd overwriting the old versions.

But oddly enough, they don't support some screen resolutions: https://github.com/raspberrypi/firmware/issues/1202#issuecom...

i went with the classic, you just need their special boot firmware (everything but the kernels, dtbs and overlay folder)

USB3 and 2.4 GHz Wifi · Issue #1430 · raspberrypi/firmware

OK for anyone else experiencing this problem - seems to be due to a breaking change in Raspberry Pi OS! - https://github.com/raspberrypi/firmware/issues/1795

RetroArch can switch resolution like you said (https://github.com/libretro/RetroArch/pull/11590), and this fixes the bug (https://github.com/raspberrypi/firmware/issues/1357) that the new DRM interface does not work for switching DPI displays (like our SCART hats.

Based on https://github.com/raspberrypi/firmware/issues/1734 a kernel change may have caused my problem. I will check this tomorrow.

Those happened ~9 seconds after startup and it's a known error, so it's probably fine.

You definitely could. All the details are available on the FrameworkComputer github org and you could either use what they have as a basis for a chassis or design your own custom chassis that fits the framework parts.

https://github.com/FrameworkComputer/Framework-Laptop-13

You can also buy mainboards[1] and expansion cards[2] (usb-c, hdmi etc.) from the same website. Depending on how beefy of a computer you want there are mainboards from 299 USD to 700 USD. So for ~500 USD you can get a very powerful tiny-ish computer. It obviously won't have the IO capabilities of pi-like hobby boards but it'll function great as a thin client for running linux / home automation stuff.

[1]: https://frame.work/marketplace/mainboards

Framework themselves do sell older mainboards at a discount.

So if this isn't the EC firmware flash, where is that? I peeked under all the components on the top side of the board that I could (fan, etc.) but couldn't find any other flash chips. I tried looking at the schematic, and while it mentions two flash ROMs, it doesn't mention where to find them. Reluctantly, I took out the mainboard and checked the under-side.

You can also buy a framework mainboard. It’s basically the motherboard of a laptop without screen, keyboard and trackpad.

And I don't mean ideologically, though that's good too. Their top end AMD Ryzen 7 main board upgrade kit is $700 and that's what you'd pay for a mid range business laptop. Add $40 for a mainboard case which basically gets you a new computer and it's not a bad deal at all.

What I don't get about your comments is that you're opposing upgradeability and repairability, when it's really just the same concept stretched further: instead of there being one spare part for anything that can break in a given model, you have multiple tiers for parts that effectively make the laptop more of a modular series than a single model, like Framework does. And to answer your question from a further comment, you can indeed upgrade to a later gen mainboard, in fact you can even go AMD.

If you are still looking for a place to start you should check out framework's github. They have a bunch of 3d models already designed. You can modify them and framework even has a process to submit possible upgrades for their designs. https://github.com/FrameworkComputer/Framework-Laptop-13