DDR4 Is Back: Intel and AMD Revive Older Memory Platforms as DDR5 Shortage Drives PC Industry Reversal
In an unexpected reversal, the PC industry is bringing DDR4 memory back from near-retirement as a severe global DDR5 shortage sends prices soaring. Analysts warn memory supply will remain tight through 2027, with some projections extending the crunch to 2028, making budget PC builds increasingly difficult. The Verge
The root cause is advanced packaging. DDR5 requires an integrated power management chip that has become a major bottleneck in production. DDR4, which lacks this complexity, is simpler to manufacture and far cheaper to source, making it attractive again for both builders and motherboard makers.
Intel continues supplying Raptor Lake processors with DDR4 support through 2026 and potentially into 2027, with new LGA1700-compatible motherboards confirmed from GIGABYTE. AMD has similarly committed to its AM4 platform, releasing new Ryzen processors including a 10th Anniversary Edition of the 5800X3D, with no plans to wind down production.
Motherboard sales collapsed by up to 37% before the DDR4 revival, but vendors are now reporting a significant rebound. For consumers priced out of DDR5 systems, the return of DDR4 is a rare piece of good news in an otherwise expensive market.
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