Intel may not be finished with LGA 1700. The socket launched in 2021, yet Gigabyte is now preparing its motherboards for new processors, and reports point to a launch in early 2027.
Intel has not announced these chips. The name most reports use, “Raptor Lake Next”, is unofficial. Here is how much is actually known.
Confirmed and Rumoured
| Claim | Status |
|---|---|
| Gigabyte is releasing BIOS updates for upcoming LGA 1700 processors | Confirmed by Gigabyte, 9 October 2026 |
| Its B760 and H610 boards are covered, in DDR4 and DDR5 versions | Confirmed by Gigabyte |
| Z790 boards are covered too | Reported later by Guru3D; check your board |
| Launch in early 2027 | Reported, not confirmed by Intel |
| The name Core 2000 or “Raptor Lake Next” | Rumour |
| A 125W model with 16 cores (8P + 8E) | Rumour |
| A 65W model with 20 cores (8P + 12E) | Rumour |
| Prices | Unknown |
Why Would Intel Go Back to an Old Socket?
The likely answer is memory prices. Engadget put a 32GB DDR4 kit at around $210, against more than $480 for 32GB of DDR5. Intel’s current Core Ultra desktop chips use DDR5 only, so buyers who want to stay on DDR4 have no path there.
LGA 1700 supports either memory type, depending on the board. Intel has also signalled that it still sees a market here. Robert Hallock of Intel told Tom’s Hardware: “LGA 1700 is still a good socket.”
The cost of staying on DDR4 may be small for gaming. Engadget cites testing showing a gain of 1 to 10 percent from DDR5, depending on resolution and graphics card.
Do Not Confuse This With Bartlett Lake
This is a separate story. Intel announced Bartlett Lake in March 2026, also for LGA 1700. Those P-core-only chips are aimed at embedded systems, and Intel told Tom’s Hardware it has no plan for a consumer release.
What Should Owners Do Now?
| Your board | What to do |
|---|---|
| Gigabyte B760 or H610 | Watch the support page for the BIOS update |
| Gigabyte Z790 | Check your exact model, as reports differ |
| Gigabyte Z690 or B660 | Do not assume support; none has been announced |
| Another brand | Check the maker support page; nothing confirmed in the reports we found |
Do not buy a board or CPU based on these reports yet. Performance is also unknown. If the leaks are right, these chips may use a familiar core design, so price and compatibility may matter more than speed.
We will update this page when Intel announces the chips.
