Instead of 400 euros a while ago, you can now spot kits starting at 175 euros: DDR5 has grown much cheaper in the last six months, which is helpful for upcoming AMD's Ryzen 7000 (Raphael) and Intel's Raptor Lake.

Since the release of Intel's Alder Lake processors, such as the Core i9-12900K (review), in November 2021, DDR5 RAM prices have fallen: a 32 GB kit consisting of two 16 GB bars now costs 175-200 euros opposed to 400 euros. Intel introduced DDR5 memory for desktop PCs, however current processors still support DDR4 memory. It ultimately comes down to the motherboard, with both pricey Z690 and very inexpensive B660 boards available for both types of RAM. The LGA 1700 socket is preserved for the next generation, Raptor Lake, and DDR4 and DDR5 memory are also available.

The changeover to DDR5 is impending at AMD, with the socket AM5 alias LGA 1718, and DDR4 support is not provided. The Ryzen 7000 (Raphael) processor with up to 16 CPU cores and Zen 4 architecture is expected to be delivered in the autumn of 2022.