DDR4 memory is making a comeback amid rising prices

Rising RAM prices are making PC upgrades harder, and Intel and AMD are turning again to processors that support older DDR4 memory. Gigabyte says two of its motherboard lines will support upcoming processors for Intel’s LGA 1700 socket, with the new chips “expected to launch in early 2027.” Intel did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

LGA 1700 debuted in 2021 with Intel’s 12th Gen Alder Lake CPUs and supported both DDR4 and DDR5. Intel moved to a DDR5-only approach in 2024, but Gigabyte says dual-format support is returning. The socket’s compatibility with both memory types could let users upgrade their CPU without also buying DDR5.

AMD is also revisiting older hardware. In August, Gigabyte announced motherboards for AMD’s DDR4-compatible AM4 platform alongside the 10th-anniversary relaunch of the Ryzen 7 5800X3D.

DDR4 began reaching the market in 2014 and has since been succeeded by faster DDR5. But the current price gap is notable: a 32GB Corsair Vengeance DDR5 kit costs $620, while the corresponding DDR4 kit costs $260. The source’s author says both prices are above what DDR4 typically cost in mid-2025, while DDR5 now costs more than twice as much. DDR5 also offers higher speeds and better power efficiency, but the article says those advantages may not justify its current price.