DDR3 may have had a long reign, but its successor’s place in the new tech release cycle may give it staying power longer than anyone expected. DDR4 debuted in 2014 and, twelve years later, when it should’ve already been pushed out to the pasture, it has seen a resurgence in sales and support, thanks, of course, to the rampocalypse. Now, while not immune to ongoing rising prices, costs for DDR4 kits are less painful for consumers on a budget, and for most, DDR4 performance is more than adequate for the majority of PC tasks, be it productivity, AI, or gaming. AMD and Intel alike continue to support the older standard as DDR5 costs continue to drive a stake into the heart of sales for newer platforms by offering consumers new processors for older motherboard chipsets. In turn, motherboard manufacturers, such as GIGABYTE, are also offering new products based on the older chipsets, and it has just announced in a BIOS update its support for upcoming LGA1700 processors on B760 and H610 motherboards. The following is from GIGABYTE (via VideoCardz):
“Oct 9, 2026 – GIGABYTE TECHNOLOGY Co. Ltd, a leading manufacturer of motherboards, graphics cards, and hardware solutions, today announced BIOS support for the Upcoming LGA1700 processors across its entire lineup of Intel B760 and H610 motherboards. Built on Socket LGA1700 and expected to launch in early 2027, the new processors bring fresh performance to an established platform, and gigabyte users can be ready from day one.”
- – GIGABYTE
One has to wonder if DDR5 will become a mythical product release, with so many users holding onto older platforms instead due to budgetary constraints. Now, while there is a motherboard capable of supporting both, such as the ASRock H610 Combo, it is more of a niche within a niche offering and likely not something many have considered purchasing, thus meaning consumers are still on one side of the fence or the other. We still don’t know when DDR6 will arrive or what exactly corporate CEOs consider a return to normal pricing to mean, as more than a few predict it to happen sometime in the next few years, although some say not until after 2030. The good news for those clutching onto their DDR4 kits: Intel has already said it will continue to be supported throughout 2026, and it’s looking like well into 2027 as well. Even though AMD has not been as boisterous in its announcements for DDR4 support, it too is continuing to offer new AM4 processors, so there’s definitely no shortage of support for the older memory from either side of the fence.
Discussion (2 replies)
Join Discussion →Intel following in AMDs footsteps.. I guess AMD is the big dog now.
AMD has to keep Zen 3 die production going for enterprise customers - releasing a few of those as AM4 isn't a big deal it seems.
I wonder what Intel is doing though. Obviously they don't want to bring the stigma of the Raptor Lake failures forward.