ASUS is Working on a DDR4 RAM Adapter for DDR5 Motherboards

[Antykain]

That DDR4 > DDR5 adapter looks a little goofy.. But, I guess the old saying does apply, "Function over Form". Let's hope we get to a better place in the future where something this adapter is not needed..

 

[Turmania]

I'm not knowledgeable in these but sounds like it is too much trouble and costly to produce it with no guarantee expected. What is the point? They will probably ditch the idea.

 

[Totally]

That DDR4 > DDR5 adapter looks a little goofy.. But, I guess the old saying does apply, "Function over Form". Let's hope we get to a better place in the future where something this adapter is not needed..

Definitely the case,
at this stage looking pretty is the least of their concerns

 

[bonehead123]

NO...

NOPE....

Notta.....

No way, 'jose ....

 

[lexluthermiester]

ASUS is working on what could be called a quick fix for the problem, an adapter that would allow DDR5 motherboard owners to put DDR4 memory in their motherboards.

While this adapter would not be the first of it's kind, it is a bit silly. I just don't see this being released as a full-on product.

 

[InVasMani]

Still feel like putting M.2's on each side of a adapter along with the DDR memory would be neat. Even if they continued to use DDR5 and bypass the power delivery complications. Basically turn the DIMM slot into a NVDIMM with very short traces to a M.2 that the DDR5 caches. In fact the M.2 would have shorter traces than memory itself which is probably fine being the slower of the two. Since it's Intel platform there is the option of Optane based M.2's as well.

While this adapter would not be the first of it's kind, it is a bit silly. I just don't see this being released as a full-on product.

I agree seems somewhat unlikely though if they can shrink the height of it and keep cost low they might do a limited run on them. It's a rather odd device reminds me of those DIMM testers.

 

[Wirko]

Still feel like putting M.2's on each side of a adapter along with the DDR memory would be neat. Even if they continued to use DDR5 and bypass the power delivery complications. Basically turn the DIMM slot into a NVDIMM with very short traces to a M.2 that the DDR5 caches. In fact the M.2 would have shorter traces than memory itself which is probably fine being the slower of the two. Since it's Intel platform there is the option of Optane based M.2's as well.

A M.2 connector has a PCIe interface. A memory slot has a DDR5 interface. These two are fundamentally different. What would the PCIe lanes connect to?

to a M.2 that the DDR5 caches.

What?!?

 

[lexluthermiester]

I agree seems somewhat unlikely though if they can shrink the height of it and keep cost low they might do a limited run on them.

If they were to move the power circuitry to other side and move the DIMM slot down and as you said shorten it down, yeah they might have a viable product as long as the cost is decent.

 

[Wirko]

Asus may be up to something else. They're developing a DDR4+DDR5 motherboard, and their first prototype is a DDR5 board with this adapter on top. The VRM that is now part of the adapter (basically the only part) will eventually be integrated into the board. Sounds plausible?

 

[lexluthermiester]

Sounds plausible?

It does. There are no specs that say they can't do so. This was done with DDR2/DDR3. I can't remember if it was done with DDR3/DDR4, but it would not surprise me.

 

[InVasMani]

I see your point wouldn't really work w/o wiring PCIE into the DIMM slots in some manner or another. I mean that might eventually be possible to combine the two, but yeah on ADL today.

It does. There are no specs that say they can't do so. This was done with DDR2/DDR3. I can't remember if it was done with DDR3/DDR4, but it would not surprise me.

The memory controller is a mixed channel and width design however which wasn't quite the case in previous hybrid boards. DDR5 is a fair bit different with ADL than other transitions in the past it's as much a complication as big LITTLE itself.

 

[lexluthermiester]

I see your point wouldn't really work w/o wiring PCIE into the DIMM slots in some manner or another. I mean that might eventually be possible to combine the two, but yeah on ADL today.


The memory controller is a mixed channel and width design however which wasn't quite the case in previous hybrid boards. DDR5 is a fair bit different with ADL than other transitions in the past it's as much a complication as big LITTLE itself.

While there are some complexities, as there always is, ASUS seems to have done it. So it would seem the interface with the IMC on AlderLake is a more or less straight forward one. I expect other board makers to follow suit.

 

[TheLostSwede]

While this adapter would not be the first of it's kind, it is a bit silly. I just don't see this being released as a full-on product.

I thought I wrote that a bit further down, minus the silly bit.

 

[lexluthermiester]

I thought I wrote that a bit further down, minus the silly bit.

TLDR? I skipped the last few pages..

 

[TheLostSwede]

TLDR? I skipped the last few pages..

if it ever enters the market

I guess you skipped that part too?

 

[Ruru]

That DDR4 > DDR5 adapter looks a little goofy.. But, I guess the old saying does apply, "Function over Form". Let's hope we get to a better place in the future where something this adapter is not needed..

It's ROG branded so I bet that it will have some sexy RGBs if it gets released.

 

[Wirko]

It does. There are no specs that say they can't do so. This was done with DDR2/DDR3. I can't remember if it was done with DDR3/DDR4, but it would not surprise me.

Skylake has support for DDR4 and DDR3L. Running DDR3 is possible but requires raising the voltage above the safe limits of memory controller, and DDR3L was never popular.

 

[aQi]

why doesnt Asus make another board with a combo ddr4 and ddr5 solution. Just like back in the days of ddr2 and ddr3 transition stage. The all famous P5QC was there supporting both ddr2 and ddr3 (at a time) solution.

 

[Dicfylac]

The main issue here is the fact there were only entry level z690 boards with ddr4 and not a single maximus or creator board has ddr4.
Almost all r&d were sent to ddr5 designs.
The same applies to other board makers except evga.
This adapter can be a good idea but in theory, in practical I'm not so sure.

 

[Deleted member 24505]

The main issue here is the fact there were only entry level z690 boards with ddr4 and not a single maximus or creator board has ddr4.
Almost all r&d were sent to ddr5 designs.
The same applies to other board makers except evga.
This adapter can be a good idea but in theory, in practical I'm not so sure.

Pretty sure my Rog strix z690-A is not a entry level DDR4 board

 

[caroline!]

What about hybrid transition boards? Remember DDR+DDR2 for Intel's 915. At the time if you were going to get a Prescott core chip but already had a high end config with DDR533 memory but an older CPU spending more to grab some DDR2-533 with worse timings wasn't a great idea, but you could wait for a while and get DDR2-667 or 800 when prices were more reasonable without having to swap the mobo again.

 

[Dicfylac]

Pretty sure my Rog strix z690-A is not a entry level DDR4 board

That´s right, not an entry level,

ASUS ROG Strix Z690-A Gaming WIFI D4 ab € 481,67 (2025) | Preisvergleich Geizhals Deutschland

✔ Preisvergleich für ASUS ROG Strix Z690-A Gaming WIFI D4 ✔ Bewertungen ✔ Produktinfo ⇒ Formfaktor: ATX • Sockel: Intel 1700 (LGA1700) • Chipsatz: Intel Z690 • CPU-Kompatibilität: Celeron G6000… ✔ Intel Sockel 1700 ✔ Testberichte ✔ Günstig kaufen

geizhals.de

 

[Why_Me]

That´s right, not an entry level,

ASUS ROG Strix Z690-A Gaming WIFI D4 ab € 481,67 (2025) | Preisvergleich Geizhals Deutschland

✔ Preisvergleich für ASUS ROG Strix Z690-A Gaming WIFI D4 ✔ Bewertungen ✔ Produktinfo ⇒ Formfaktor: ATX • Sockel: Intel 1700 (LGA1700) • Chipsatz: Intel Z690 • CPU-Kompatibilität: Celeron G6000… ✔ Intel Sockel 1700 ✔ Testberichte ✔ Günstig kaufen

geizhals.de

Gigabyte makes some decent Z690 DDR4 boards including this one.

Z690 AERO G DDR4 (rev. 1.x) Key Features | Motherboard - GIGABYTE Global

Lasting Quality from GIGABYTE.GIGABYTE Ultra Durable™ motherboards bring together a unique blend of features and technologies that offer users the absolute ultimate platform fo...

www.gigabyte.com

 

[TheLostSwede]

why doesnt Asus make another board with a combo ddr4 and ddr5 solution. Just like back in the days of ddr2 and ddr3 transition stage. The all famous P5QC was there supporting both ddr2 and ddr3 (at a time) solution.

Because, once again, according to the Anandtech article linked in this news piece, Intel doesn't allow it.

What about hybrid transition boards? Remember DDR+DDR2 for Intel's 915. At the time if you were going to get a Prescott core chip but already had a high end config with DDR533 memory but an older CPU spending more to grab some DDR2-533 with worse timings wasn't a great idea, but you could wait for a while and get DDR2-667 or 800 when prices were more reasonable without having to swap the mobo again.

See above.

 

[lexluthermiester]

Intel doesn't allow it.

Intel has no say in the matter. Vendors are free to match any hardware they wish with an Intel CPU. Intel even trying to prohibit specfic hardware pairing would be technically and literally illegal.