Buzz
Intel's Alder Lake CPU architecture and Z690 chipset, recently introduced, are the first platforms to support DDR5 memory technology in the consumer computer market. However, there are currently two issues: the price of DDR5 RAM is still not competitive with DDR4, despite its performance, and the market is being influenced by speculators. If you check eBay now, a DDR5 RAM kit is priced between 500 to over 1000 USD. One proposed solution is instead of immediately buying DDR5, users can make use of the still valuable DDR4 RAM kits for temporary use until the market for the new memory technology stabilizes.This solution creates another problem. Under the same chipset platform, each motherboard model only supports a specific type of RAM, resulting in products that only support either DDR4 or DDR5, as seen in the current market. As a consequence, if users want to upgrade to Alder Lake, they will have to buy two motherboards. The first one supports the existing DDR4 RAM kit they are using, and when purchasing DDR5 RAM, they will need to buy a new motherboard. This makes many people hesitant about the new Intel Core chip generation.
Good news! Asus is currently working on an add-in card adapter that allows users to plug DDR4 RAM into motherboards that only support the latest memory technology, as shown in the cover image. These images were captured from a clip by a YouTuber with the nickname Bing, who describes a seemingly simple yet challenging idea. Despite its complexity, Asus is successfully refining this concept.The idea, as mentioned earlier, involves taking a DDR4 RAM module, plugging it into a conversion adapter, and then inserting it into the DDR5 RAM slot of a modern Z690 chipset motherboard. For users like us, it may seem straightforward, but for engineers, it is incredibly complex. The DRAM chip architecture and power supply for RAM modules of these two technologies are entirely different. On DDR4, the power management IC is on the motherboard, while on DDR5, it is directly on the RAM module.The primary obstacle to creating motherboards that support both DDR4 and DDR5 is the power issue. This is precisely the challenge that Asus is addressing with the adapter they are currently developing.
Asus's solution also brings another advantage, allowing PC hardware enthusiasts to continue using high-frequency, low-latency RAM kits, surpassing even the popular DDR5 kits currently available. However, there are still some drawbacks to the experimental adapter version that Asus is researching. Firstly, the size of the adapter itself can pose a challenge for large-sized air cooling systems, sometimes covering the positions of RAM modules on the motherboard.Secondly, currently, Asus is only working on an adapter that can operate on the Z690 platform, and for the device to function perfectly, the BIOS needs significant adjustments. Surely, this product is not yet refined enough for official commercialization. Nevertheless, creating an adapter to operate two memory platforms with entirely different architectures on the same chipset is still a commendable achievement by the Asus engineering team.According to PCGamer
