Amidst rising RAM costs and concerns about availability impacting PC upgrades, ASRock has announced a new intel H610M motherboard with a unique feature: compatibility with both DDR4 and DDR5 memory. The move offers builders a potential cost-saving option, allowing them to utilize existing or more affordable DDR4 modules while still accessing current-generation Intel processors. This flexibility addresses a growing market challenge as the transition to DDR5 continues to drive up memory prices and limit upgrade paths for budget-conscious consumers.
With 2026 on the horizon, ASRock has announced the release of an Intel motherboard featuring the H610M chipset, offering compatibility with both DDR4 and DDR5 memory. The move underscores a growing concern within the industry: high RAM prices, or outright scarcity, could stifle PC upgrades. This potential bottleneck could impact the entire hardware ecosystem, prompting ASRock to offer a solution that allows users to consider older-generation, more affordable DDR4 memory.
While DDR4 memory hasn’t escaped price increases, it remains a more budget-friendly option compared to DDR5. This is particularly true when considering readily available modules from Chinese manufacturers on platforms like AliExpress. For consumers facing budgetary constraints, utilizing previous-generation hardware is increasingly becoming the only viable path to a new PC build or upgrade.
Asà luce esta ASRock H610M Combo con soporte para memoria DDR5 y DDR4
As the name suggests, the ASRock H610M Combo utilizes the Intel H610 chipset and is designed for the Intel LGA1700 socket. This means it’s compatible with 12th, 13th, and 14th Generation Intel Core processors. The key feature, however, is its flexibility: the motherboard supports both DDR5 and DDR4 memory, allowing users to choose based on price and availability. The primary appeal of this board is the ability to leverage more affordable DDR4 memory.
Specifically, the motherboard supports up to 96GB of DDR5 RAM at speeds of up to 4,800 MT/s across four DIMM slots. Alternatively, it can accommodate up to 64GB of DDR4 memory at 2,666 MT/s using two DIMM slots. The ASRock H610M COMBO is positioned as an entry-level board, reflected in its simple design and modest chipset heatsink.
Power delivery to the CPU is handled by a basic 3+1 phase VRM. The board features one PCI-Express 4.0 x16 slot, two PCIe 3.0 x16 slots, and one PCI slot. It also includes a single M.2 NVMe PCIe 3.0 slot for SSDs, along with four SATA III @ 6 Gbps ports. Notably, the board retains legacy video outputs like VGA and DVI alongside more modern DisplayPort 1.4 and HDMI 1.4 ports. All of this comes in a Micro-ATX form factor.
¿Y bueno, realmente este movimiento sirve para algo?
The ASRock H610M Combo doesn’t fundamentally alter the market landscape, but it presents an ideal option for budget-conscious builders. As of today, 32GB of DDR4 RAM can be found for around $150. However, in July, the same amount of memory cost just $65. Prices have risen due to the natural shift in manufacturing towards DDR5, exacerbated by the current supply chain challenges. While the price has increased, it’s only slightly more than double the July price – a relatively small jump compared to the four to five-fold increase seen in DDR5 pricing.
Affordable DDR5 options are still available, though. Currently, the most inexpensive 32GB DDR5 kit is priced around $175. That’s only $25 more than a DDR4 kit running at 3,200 MT/s CL16, compared to a DDR5 kit at 6,000 MT/s CL30.
To maximize the value of the ASRock H610M Combo, the focus shifts to used DDR4 memory. Platforms like Wallapop make it easy to find 32GB of DDR4 for between $60 and $80. While some listings may reach $150, these are likely from users capitalizing on the current market conditions. This approach allows consumers to pay less than half the price of new memory, making it a significant cost-saving measure. Alternatively, AliExpress offers 16GB of DDR4 RAM starting at just $29.
