How realistic would an AM5 motherboard with DDR4 support be? What are your thoughts on this?
Posted by mister_anti_meta@reddit | hardware | View on Reddit | 10 comments
Hey everyone,
I’ve been thinking about potential budget upgrades and a question popped into my mind: How realistic would it be for a manufacturer to release an AM5 motherboard that supports DDR4 RAM?
Intel managed to support both DDR4 and DDR5 with their LGA1700 socket (600/700 series boards), which was great for people wanting to keep their old RAM while upgrading the CPU.
Why didn't AMD do something similar with the AM5 platform? Is it a hardware limitation built into the Ryzen 7000/9000 memory controllers, or just a strategic decision to push the industry forward?
I’d love to hear your technical insights and thoughts on this! Thanks!
INITMalcanis@reddit
There are no AM5 CPUs with a DDR4 memory controller, are there?
Ydrum@reddit
don't think so no, theoretically they could i think replace the io chiplet on the cpu. but then the motherboard must be configured for ddr4 and the cpu must block ddr5 mobo's. a combo version is technically also possible. but the cost vs payoff for AMD is the big discussion. because that can be applied to upcoming new cpu's too. Funnily enough the x3d tech from amd will cover up a chunk of the downsides of (relatively) slower memory access, but I'm sure there are limits to that too (besides just cost).
its also a classic example of damned if you do or don't, in not just cost, but introducing legacy on newer cpu's and having to maintain that.
TorazChryx@reddit
I _think_ they could drop the Zen4/5 chiplets onto AM4 if they really wanted to, all the individual parts exist and to my knowledge the Zen3 IO Die talks the same Infinity Fabric as the newer dies.
mister_anti_meta@reddit (OP)
not that i know yet would be pretty neat tbh
max1001@reddit
No.. that's not how things work . It's not up to mobo maker to "add" support.
nepnep1111@reddit
Beautiful_Ninja@reddit
Pretty sure this requires the chips memory controller to be designed to handle both platforms and AMD chose not to do that. Adding support would require a different memory controller and that's not happening.
AMD is choosing to keep AM4 alive to help with the RAM shortage as a budget option.
mister_anti_meta@reddit (OP)
I think it's cool that the 5800X3D is making a comeback, but AMD isn't like Steam in this regard: that means scalper scum will buy them all up and resell them at exorbitant prices.
eivittunyt@reddit
Am5 released nearly a year after lga 1700 so lga 1700 cpus come with a memory controller that supports ddr4 because ddr5 was much more expensive. By the time am5 came to market ddr5 was widely available for not much more for the cheapest kits. Since am4 boards and cpus are still so widely available there is little reason to make new am5 cpus and boards that support ddr4.
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