Pricey memory brings DDR4 back: Gigabyte confirms new Intel processors
New 'Raptor Lake Next' chips for the LGA1700 socket are expected in early 2027 and will also run with cheaper DDR4 memory as DDR5 prices climb.
Symbolic image · Photo: Pathfinbird / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped and resized)
Motherboard maker Gigabyte has confirmed it will support a new Intel processor line for the LGA1700 socket, German tech site WinFuture reported. The chips, referred to as 'Raptor Lake Next', are expected in early 2027 and will run on all Gigabyte boards with B760 and H610 chipsets. Intel had earlier hinted that Raptor Lake would remain available for several more years.
The background is a sharp rise in memory prices. Demand from AI data centers has made DDR5 much more expensive; DDR4 has also risen but remains considerably cheaper. According to WinFuture, a 32 GB DDR4 kit costs from about 230 euros, while the same capacity in DDR5 costs at least twice as much. Because LGA1700 boards also work with DDR4, users can upgrade their processor without buying new memory.
The LGA1700 socket has been in use since 2021, so many compatible boards are in circulation. In gaming, DDR5 is usually only up to about 10 percent faster than DDR4. Intel is also reported to be planning refreshed Alder Lake processors, but that has not been confirmed.