Intel and AMD are preparing to bring back support for decade‑old DDR4 memory as a response to ongoing RAM shortages that have pushed DDR5 prices to high levels. According to The Verge, motherboard maker Gigabyte announced two upcoming lines of boards designed for Intel’s LGA 1700 socket, which previously allowed both DDR4 and DDR5 before Intel shifted to DDR5‑only support in 2024. Gigabyte says the dual‑format capability will be revived with new LGA 1700 processors expected in early 2027. At the same time, Gigabyte revealed new motherboards for AMD’s AM4 platform to accompany the 10‑year‑anniversary relaunch of the Ryzen 7 5800X3D CPU, indicating a similar DDR4‑friendly path for AMD systems.
The price gap between the two memory standards is a key driver of this shift. The article notes that a 32 GB DDR5 Corsair Vengeance kit now sells for roughly $620, while a comparable DDR4 kit costs about $260—more than a two‑to‑one advantage for the older technology. Despite DDR4’s market debut in 2014 and its replacement by the faster DDR5, the current shortage has made DDR4’s price increase far less severe, leading the author to observe that the performance benefits of DDR5 may not justify its premium when memory costs are constrained.
While the revival of DDR4 compatibility offers immediate savings, its longevity remains uncertain. Intel’s earlier move to make LGA 1700 DDR5‑only in 2024 signaled confidence in DDR5 as the future standard, and it is unclear how long the renewed dual support will be maintained once market conditions normalize. PC builders considering DDR4‑compatible systems must weigh the upfront cost reduction against possible limitations in future upgrade paths, as software and hardware continue to optimize for DDR5’s higher bandwidth and power efficiency.