If you’re into open-source tech and love tinkering with hardware, Framework has something exciting for you. The company just dropped a RISC-V motherboard, designed to fit into its modular Framework Laptop 13. Priced at $199, this board isn’t exactly for your average user—it’s built for developers and those who geek out over open-source innovation.

RISC-V, an open-source and royalty-free instruction set, is the star here. Unlike Intel’s x86 or Arm, which come with licensing hurdles, RISC-V lets anyone dive in and use it freely. This new board, made in collaboration with DeepComputing, features a StarFive JH7110 processor with four 1.5GHz SiFive U74 CPU cores. It’s compatible with Ubuntu 24.04 LTS and Fedora 41, with tech support provided by DeepComputing.

While the board isn’t part of a pre-built laptop, Framework is offering a barebones $399 laptop chassis. It includes a screen, battery, speakers, and keyboard, so you can pair it with the RISC-V board or any other Framework Laptop 13 motherboard. If you’re more of a desktop person, the board also fits into Framework’s $39 Cooler Master Mainboard Case.

This release is all about experimentation and customization. As Framework puts it, this isn’t a “consumer-ready experience” but a playground for developers and open-source enthusiasts. So, if you’re ready to push boundaries, this might just be your next tech adventure.