GIGABYTE has released BIOS updates that prepare its entire Intel B760 and H610 motherboard lineup for upcoming LGA1700 processors, which the company says are "expected to launch in early 2027." As reported by Videocardz, the update covers DDR4 and DDR5 boards alike, so owners only need to flash the new firmware and drop in the new CPU once it arrives. GIGABYTE doesn't name the processors in its press release, and Intel has yet to announce anything new for the socket.
However, the timing lines up with reporting from recent months. Intel is said to be readying "Raptor Lake Next" chips for LGA1700 in 2027, based on the original Raptor Lake silicon. That makes GIGABYTE's BIOS the closest thing to a confirmation of new DDR4-compatible Intel processors for 2027, arriving before Intel has announced them. The B760 Gaming X AX received its F18 BIOS on September 29, with a changelog listing a CPU microcode update and "preparation for upcoming processor support." GIGABYTE also claims to be the first vendor to cover every B760 and H610 model.
The press release makes no mention of Z790, Z690, or B660 boards, and there is no word on whether those will follow.
DDR4 support is the key point. LGA1700 chips carry both DDR4 and DDR5 memory interfaces, while the newer LGA1851 platform is DDR5-only, and Intel's next-gen Nova Lake-S desktop CPUs move to a new LGA1954 socket that is also DDR5-only. High DDR5 prices have pushed many builders back toward older hardware, and Raptor Lake Next looks like a more affordable DDR4 alternative to the main Nova Lake-S lineup. Owners of B760 or H610 boards can download the BIOS from GIGABYTE's website now, and other vendors are expected to follow before launch.
Source: TechPowerUp News · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing