DDR4 Motherboards Return: What It Means for Motherboard Prices in Pakistan

DDR4 motherboards are back on store shelves. In the last few weeks, Gigabyte has launched brand new DDR4 boards in Japan, MSI has followed, and Gigabyte has even updated its current boards to support upcoming Intel processors with DDR4 memory. Ten years ago this would have been strange news. In October 2026, it makes perfect sense: RAM prices are so high that makers are bringing back the older, cheaper memory standard to keep budget PCs alive.

For buyers in Pakistan, this matters a lot. DDR4 motherboards are the heart of the budget PC builds that most local gamers and students buy. If you already own DDR4 RAM, or you are planning a build and want to avoid the painful cost of DDR5, these new boards are good news. Here is what launched, what it costs, and what you should do.

Which new DDR4 boards were launched

Gigabyte kicked things off at the end of September with three new DDR4 motherboards for the Japanese market. Wccftech reported the lineup on September 29, with retail availability starting October 1 and 2 in Japan. The boards are:

MSI has launched new DDR4 boards as well. SignalPlus reported on October 15 that between Gigabyte and MSI, four new DDR4 boards have launched in Japan, priced from 9,980 to 26,800 yen, covering AMD AM4 and Intel LGA1700 sockets. Note that these yen figures are Japan list prices, not Pakistan prices. They are useful as a guide only; local prices will depend on import costs, duties and the rupee.

There is more than just the new boards. On October 9, Gigabyte pushed BIOS updates for its entire B760 and H610 lineup so they are ready for upcoming Intel LGA1700 processors that support both DDR4 and DDR5, expected in early 2027. In plain terms, the industry is betting that DDR4 will stick around longer than anyone planned.

Why DDR4 is coming back now

The reason is simple: DDR5 memory has become very expensive. Tom’s Hardware reported that a 32GB DDR5-6000 kit now costs about US$449 in the US, roughly six times its old low of US$72. A 32GB DDR4-3200 kit costs about US$198. When the memory alone costs that much more, reusing or buying DDR4 is the only way many people can afford a new PC.

The cause sits far outside Pakistan. AI data centres are buying huge amounts of server memory, and chipmakers are giving factory capacity to those orders first. TrendForce expects conventional DRAM contract prices to rise another 10 to 15 percent in the fourth quarter of 2026. That pressure flows straight into retail RAM prices everywhere, including Pakistan.

Motherboards themselves are under pressure too. TweakTown reported that Gigabyte, ASUS and MSI were planning motherboard price increases of at least 50 percent in the third quarter of 2026, though the makers have not confirmed those plans directly. ASUS did confirm price increases for PCs in Taiwan for the second quarter of 2026. The pattern is clear: every part of a PC build is getting more expensive, so anything that lets buyers spend less is welcome.

DDR4 motherboard prices in Pakistan right now

I checked current listed prices on Pakistani stores on October 18, 2026. These are a snapshot and they change fast, so compare two or three sellers before you buy. All units are brand new with local warranty unless stated otherwise.

The key point is the gap. A solid AM4 DDR4 board starts around Rs 33,000 in Pakistan right now. A comparable DDR5 platform means a new AM5 or LGA1700 DDR5 board plus DDR5 memory at record prices, and the total quickly climbs out of budget range. That is exactly why Gigabyte and MSI are investing in new DDR4 boards: the budget market is still there, and DDR4 is what keeps it alive.

What this means for PC builders in Pakistan

If you already own DDR4 RAM, your upgrade path just got longer. A new AM4 board lets you move to a Ryzen 5000 series CPU without throwing away your memory, which is the cheapest meaningful upgrade in 2026. For new budget builds, pairing a B550 DDR4 board with a Ryzen 5 5600 and your own DDR4 kit remains one of the best value combinations in the country, as our Rs 175,000 gaming PC build guide shows.

If you are set on DDR5, know what you are walking into. Our MSI B650 Tomahawk WiFi and ASUS ROG Strix B650E-F price pages cover two popular DDR5 boards, and both the board and the RAM will cost you more than the DDR4 route. The performance gain is real for new builds, but it is not free.

One warning: new boards launching in Japan do not arrive in Pakistan overnight. The B450M H ARGB, B550 X EAGLE and the AORUS B760M DDR4 are Japan launches for now, and it may take weeks or months before local shops stock them. Do not wait for a specific new model if you need a board today; buy from what is available and confirmed in stock.

FAQs

Why are companies launching new DDR4 motherboards in 2026?

Because DDR5 memory has become too expensive for many buyers. A 32GB DDR5 kit costs about US$449 while a DDR4 kit costs about US$198, so makers are launching DDR4 boards to keep budget builds affordable. Gigabyte and MSI have both launched new DDR4 boards in Japan in recent weeks.

What is the cheapest DDR4 motherboard in Pakistan right now?

Among the boards checked on October 18, 2026, the Asus Prime B550M-K DDR4 is the cheapest at Rs 32,999 on Shophive. The Gigabyte B550 Gaming X V2 is Rs 44,999 and the MSI PRO B550M-VC WiFi is Rs 55,999, both on tejar.pk. Prices change fast, so treat this as a snapshot.

Should I build with DDR4 or DDR5 in Pakistan?

For budget builds, DDR4 is the smarter choice right now. DDR5 memory prices are at record highs and TrendForce expects them to rise further in Q4 2026. DDR5 makes sense for high-end new builds where you want the latest platform, but it will cost you much more for the board plus the memory.

Will the new Gigabyte and MSI DDR4 boards come to Pakistan?

There is no official word yet. The new boards launched in Japan at the start of October 2026, and it usually takes weeks or months for new stock to reach Pakistani shops. If you need a board now, buy from what is available locally rather than waiting.

Sources: Wccftech (Gigabyte DDR4 board launch, Sep 29); SignalPlus citing Tom’s Hardware (MSI boards, DDR5 vs DDR4 prices, TrendForce Q4 forecast, Oct 15); TweakTown (planned motherboard price hikes); techmymoney (Gigabyte B760/H610 BIOS for upcoming LGA1700 CPUs, Oct 11). Pakistani retail prices checked on Shophive and tejar.pk on October 18, 2026.