Intel's Next-Generation "Raptor Lake-S" Could Carry Over DDR4 Platform Support

[AleksandarK]

With Intel's Alder Lake processor generation launch, the platform merges support of two different DDR memory standards: DDR4 and DDR5. While there are motherboards that offer the latest DDR5 standard, there are boards that provide users to use the cheaper DDR4 memory option in their builds as we transition to the newer standard and newer memory becomes more available. The DDR5 products are currently on the expensive side, and DDR4 represents a good choice for creating a PC build in the following years, at least in the transition to DDR5 standard's better availability and lower prices.

According to Moore's Law is Dead Twitter account, the DDR4 support may reside for a little longer on Intel's platforms. As per their sources, Intel's 13th generation Core processors, codenamed Raptor Lake, will carry over DDR4 platform support and possibly retain compatibility with the 12th generation Alder Lake platform. That means that the Z690 and future H670/B660/H610 boards could be compatible with Raptor Lake-S and also carry support for the DDR4 memory protocol for it. This could indicate that Alder Lake-S buyers that build PCs with DDR4 memory could have a viable processor upgrade path without upgrading the memory. Of course, information like this should be taken with a grain of salt.


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[Bomby569]

That's a smart move, i hope AMD does the same. On the other hand this may delay DDR5 adoption and prices may stay higher for longer

 

[DeathtoGnomes]

it wont delay adoption just slow it down.

Builders would be happy if motherboards do carry over to Raptor-pond, next gen after that would complete the move to DDR5.

 

[zo0lykas]

That's a smart move, i hope AMD does the same. On the other hand this may delay DDR5 adoption and prices may stay higher for longer

I wanted write exactly the same word to word lol

So yes really smart move by intel

 

[tabascosauz]

Skylake's IMC had DDR3 capabilities, and Kaby Lake retained that IMC so both generations of LGA1151v1 CPUs supported both DDR3 and DDR4. It just wasn't nearly as popular a choice as DDR4, since X99 took much of the initial blow.

Raptor Lake should still be on LGA1700, so same deal here.

 

[Testsubject01]

Having options is certainly nice! However, if I remember correctly, at least one manufacturer (was it Hynix?) stated, that they are focusing on DDR5 mass production, due to demand in server centers and in turn reducing DDR4 down already. Depending on how the rest of the manufacturers handle it, we might see DDR4 and DDR5 having high price tags in the future.

 

[stimpy88]

DDR5 is a bust, at least for the next year or two. Crap latency, and you need DDR5 6000 to beat a good quality DDR4 module.

 

[watzupken]

That's a smart move, i hope AMD does the same. On the other hand this may delay DDR5 adoption and prices may stay higher for longer

If this is true, then it is good news, particularly because DDR5 is still low in availability and will impede take up rate of Intel chips if it only exclusively supports DDR5. The problem with Intel is that they like to force people to upgrade to a newer chipset, especially at the mid/lower end tier. So on one hand, you may still keep the option to buy cheaper and more widely available DDR4, you may still have to buy a more expensive motherboard just because you are forced to get a new one.

 

[R0H1T]

That's a smart move, i hope AMD does the same. On the other hand this may delay DDR5 adoption and prices may stay higher for longer

On the other hand with persistent demand for DDR4 the prices could stay lower for them, probably much longer.

 

[Punkenjoy]

Right now DDR5 is a niche market right now. It won't be interesting until most laptop, desktop and server OEM start using it massively. That will allow manufacturer to bin better memory toward gaming for higher clock/lower latency memory kits. Also increased volumes and better manufacturing process will help.

I am not sure when this will happen but I think 1 year is reasonable for DDR5 to become more interesting.

If i had to build a new system and the DDR5-6000 CL 36 was just barely more expensive than a DDR4000-CL18 kit, i wouldn't even hesitate. I would grab the DDR5 kit for the 2 more memory channel and extra bandwidth.

 

[MIRTAZAPINE]

Skylake's IMC had DDR3 capabilities, and Kaby Lake retained that IMC so both generations of LGA1151v1 CPUs supported both DDR3 and DDR4. It just wasn't nearly as popular a choice as DDR4, since X99 took much of the initial blow.

Raptor Lake should still be on LGA1700, so same deal here.

Skylake do have ddr3 support but they are limited to only ddr3l at 1.35V. Regular voltage 1.5V ddr3 is not recommended as it would damage the imc over time. It never caught on well from that.

I help someone build a kabylake with ddr3l it works pretty fine.

 

[TheinsanegamerN]

Not really surprising, seeing as the platform supports DDR4 releasing a new CPU on the same socket with the same chipset support but not the same memory support would be a nightmare.

it wont delay adoption just slow it down.

Builders would be happy if motherboards do carry over to Raptor-pond, next gen after that would complete the move to DDR5.

So it will delay it then?

 

[Minus Infinity]

DDR5 is a bust, at least for the next year or two. Crap latency, and you need DDR5 6000 to beat a good quality DDR4 module.

Anandtech shwoed in high bandwidth mutlit-threaded applications, even crappy DDR5 4800 CL40 was much faster than DDR4. By the time Raptor Lake appears we will see DDR5 7200+ CL32-36. The performance gap will grow quickly in many scenarios. At the moment though I agree not worth it at all.

 

[DeathtoGnomes]

Not really surprising, seeing as the platform supports DDR4 releasing a new CPU on the same socket with the same chipset support but not the same memory support would be a nightmare.

So it will delay it then?

No, delay implies that ALL manufacturers will completely stop adopting and wait for...whatever. The slowly parts I imply means that there will be production progress while the rest of the field sits and waits for the delay to end.

 

[First Strike]

So in 22H2, DDR4 will be Intel only? ......

Good news nonetheless.

 

[15th Warlock]

That would be the smart move for both Intel and AMD, DDR4 is widely adopted and available.

I settled for DDR4 on a Z690 Strix-A D4 for my 12900K build, returned the Z690 Strix-F.

Not only is DDR5 more expensive and not worth the upgrade for the performance you get out of it on games, but it's been sold out for a while now.

I kept refreshing places like Newegg, BestBuy, Amazon and B&H, and none has had any on stock since last week.

At first I was hesitant to stick to DDR4, and had gotten the second mobo as a contingency plan, but after reading all the reviews, and watching all the videos on YouTube, I'm glad I decided to save $300+ from this new build

 

[AlwaysHope]

DDR5 is a bust, at least for the next year or two. Crap latency, and you need DDR5 6000 to beat a good quality DDR4 module.

Yes indeed. That's why I'm planning to push the sets of DDR4 I have already on my new gaming build asap. Mid 4000s or higher MHz with decent timings will be NICE.
Heck, I might even decide to invest in an ubber high end of DDR4 just to do it!

Anandtech shwoed in high bandwidth mutlit-threaded applications, even crappy DDR5 4800 CL40 was much faster than DDR4. By the time Raptor Lake appears we will see DDR5 7200+ CL32-36. The performance gap will grow quickly in many scenarios. At the moment though I agree not worth it at all.

That test was done on Z690 platform, but what about comparing to high end DDR4 on Z590 where the IMC is dedicated solely to DDR4?

 

[watzupken]

Anandtech shwoed in high bandwidth mutlit-threaded applications, even crappy DDR5 4800 CL40 was much faster than DDR4. By the time Raptor Lake appears we will see DDR5 7200+ CL32-36. The performance gap will grow quickly in many scenarios. At the moment though I agree not worth it at all.

It depends on the workload. So if you are specifically measuring for memory bandwidth, DDR5 with higher frequency will shine. But in the comparison, they are pitting base DDR4 and 5 speed, i.e. 3200 vs 4800 Mhz. In reality, you can buy affordable 3600 DDR4 kit, and even DDR4 4000 is also cheaper than a base DDR5 4800 memory kit. So I agree, DDR5 will only get faster over time, but I foresee that will be a couple of years away. And hopefully by then, prices would have come down.

 

[stimpy88]

Anandtech shwoed in high bandwidth mutlit-threaded applications, even crappy DDR5 4800 CL40 was much faster than DDR4. By the time Raptor Lake appears we will see DDR5 7200+ CL32-36. The performance gap will grow quickly in many scenarios. At the moment though I agree not worth it at all.

Shame that it did not translate into a meaningful amount of performance.