Intel and AMD revive older memory support for new CPUs

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 9 Oct, 23:00 · Archive

Intel and AMD are releasing new processors that support older, cheaper DDR4 memory alongside newer DDR5 as RAM prices remain high.

Intel and AMD are releasing new processors compatible with older DDR4 memory as high RAM prices make upgrades difficult for consumers. Gigabyte announced that new processors built on Intel's LGA 1700 socket will support both DDR4 and DDR5 memory, with chips expected to launch in early 2027. Intel's VP Robert Hallock said that Raptor Lake processors would remain available for 'years to come' and that 'lots of people are still interested in DDR4, so we'll keep offering' it.

The price difference between the two memory types is substantial. A 32GB DDR4 kit costs around $210, while a comparable DDR5 kit costs upwards of $480. DDR5 is faster and testing has shown it delivers between one and ten percent FPS improvement in gaming, depending on resolution and GPU, but DDR4 remains adequate for most modern PC games.

AMD is pursuing a similar strategy, with Gigabyte announcing in August that it would release new motherboards for AMD's AM4 platform, which supports DDR4 memory. This accompanied the 10th-anniversary relaunch of the Ryzen 7 5800X3D processor. Both companies are responding to what The Verge describes as an 'unending' rise in RAM prices that has made hardware upgrades more expensive for consumers.

How it is being reported

• Decade-old RAM is making a comebackCPU makers have noticed that the seemingly unending RAM price hikes are making it tough for a lot of us to upgrade our PCs. Their solution? A return to last-gen DDR4 RAM. Intel and AMD are making new CPUs that'll support the older, more affordable type of memory. On Friday, Gigabyte announced that two of […]The Verge · 9 Oct, 22:50
• Intel is reportedly launching new CPUs on old sockets that support DDR4 memoryIf you guessed the RAMpocalypse is involved...Engadget · 9 Oct, 18:01

In this story: Intel · AMD · Gigabyte · Robert Hallock

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