SpacemiT K3 RISC‑V Mainboard III Brings 2.5 GHz Octa‑Core Power to the Framework Laptop 13

New RISC‑V mainboard for the Framework Laptop 13

The DC‑ROMA RISC‑V Mainboard III is finally on sale, starting at $699. It is the third generation of Deep Computing’s plug‑in boards that slot into the modular chassis of a Framework Laptop 13. What sets this model apart is the SpacemiT K3 processor – a 2.5 GHz octa‑core RISC‑V CPU that supports the RVA23 profile and claims up to 60 TOPS of AI inference performance.

Why this matters for developers

• Native RISC‑V on a mainstream laptop – Until now, most RISC‑V development boards were single‑board computers or hobbyist kits. By fitting the K3 inside a Framework laptop, you get a full‑size keyboard, trackpad, and high‑resolution display while still running a RISC‑V ISA.
• Ubuntu 26.04 for RISC‑V – The board ships with a developer‑focused build of Ubuntu 26.04. Canonical offers Ubuntu Pro for support and long‑term security updates, which is useful if you want a production‑grade environment.
• AI edge workloads – The advertised 60 TOPS puts the K3 in the same ballpark as low‑power Nvidia Jetson modules, making it a viable option for on‑device inference, computer‑vision pipelines, or lightweight language models.

Configurations and pricing

Model	What you get	Starting price
Basic	Mainboard + Cooler Master case, Wi‑Fi module & antenna, Debug expansion card	$699 (16 GB RAM, no SSD)
Standard	Mainboard + case, Wi‑Fi module & antenna, HDMI & USB‑C expansion cards	$899 (16 GB + 1 TB SSD)
Pro	Full Framework Laptop 13, mainboard, Wi‑Fi, SSD, two USB‑C expansion cards	$1 499

RAM can be upgraded to 32 GB for an additional cost, and the SSD is user‑replaceable via an M.2 2280 slot (PCIe NVMe or SATA). A second M.2 2230 E‑Key slot accommodates a wireless card, and a micro‑SD reader provides extra storage.

Connectivity and power

• USB‑C ports – Three Type‑C connectors: one with DisplayPort 1.4 video output, two with 65 W Power Delivery for charging peripherals or the laptop itself.
• USB‑3.0 Type‑A – Multiple ports for legacy accessories.
• Wi‑Fi – Integrated 802.11ax module with external antenna.

The board can also be used as a stand‑alone desktop: attach any monitor, keyboard, mouse, and power supply, and you have a compact RISC‑V PC.

Migration path for existing Framework owners

If you already own a Framework Laptop 13, swapping the existing Intel/AMD mainboard for the DC‑ROMA is straightforward:

1. Power down and remove the bottom panel.
2. Detach the current motherboard and any attached expansion cards.
3. Insert the RISC‑V mainboard, reconnect the Wi‑Fi module and any expansion cards you need.
4. Boot into the pre‑installed Ubuntu image and start developing.

For those who prefer a ready‑to‑go solution, the Pro bundle includes a brand‑new Framework chassis, so you can walk away with a complete RISC‑V laptop without any hardware assembly.

Software ecosystem and SDKs

Developers will be working primarily with the SpacemiT SDK (v2.3, released March 2026) which provides:

• Bare‑metal toolchains for gcc‑riscv64‑linux‑gnu (12.3) and clang‑15.
• A set of AI acceleration libraries that expose the K3’s TOPS capabilities via a simple C API.
• Example projects for TensorFlow‑Lite‑Micro, OpenCV, and Rust embedded.

The SDK is hosted on GitHub – see the SpacemiT K3 SDK repository. Documentation is also available on the official site: https://spacemit.com/k3/sdk.

Shipping timeline

The first production batch is slated to ship by the end of June 2026. Orders placed now will be fulfilled on a first‑come, first‑served basis, with an estimated delivery window of 4‑6 weeks.

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The DC‑ROMA RISC‑V Mainboard III expands the Framework ecosystem into the RISC‑V world, giving developers a familiar laptop form factor for edge AI work. Whether you’re upgrading an existing Framework or buying the Pro bundle, the K3 brings a new ISA to a mainstream device.