Chinese motherboard maker ONDA released the first Intel Socket LGA1700 motherboard that features both DDR4 and DDR5 memory support—something we learned quite early on that Intel either isn't allowing or is "discouraging" motherboard vendors to do. The ONDA H610M+ is based on the entry-level Intel H610 chipset, and is an otherwise basic-looking motherboard. The memory sub-system is interesting.

While the board supports both DDR5 and DDR4, there's only one of each slots, so you're limited to single-channel, and like every motherboard from the past that supported multiple memory types; you can't use the DDR5 and DDR4 slots at the same time. The board runs DDR4 at a maximum frequency of DDR4-3200, and the DDR5 slot at DDR5-4800 (max). That's not all, the board is quite possibly the only H610 chipset-based motherboard with a Gen 5 PCI-Express x16 slot (every other H610 board we've come across has Gen 4, to keep costs low). PCIe Gen 5 is allowed for the H610 platform. Another interesting bit is the M.2 E-key slot, so you can drop in a WLAN module. It's likely that this board will only be available in the Chinese market.

GEIL's EVO Spear joins the company's DDR4 memory line-up with some inconspicuous looks and lack of LED lighting. The new series from GEIL also features something that's not all that common nowadays - a standard DIMM-sized heat spreader, which doesn't add much volume to the parts. This means these kits shouldn't pose many clearance problems (if any), which is a good thing in some smaller form-factor builds.

The new Kits from GEIL are available in both Intel and AMD-compatibility kits, and the new series is fully compatible with the Intel X299 HEDT platofrm (it remains to be see if the AMD-compatible parts will have the same compatibility towards the company's X399 Threadripper platform.). GEIL offers the module in speeds of 2133MHz up to 3466MHz, in single, dual or quad-channel kits. GEIL didn't release pricing information as of yet, but says that "EVO Spear Series is designed for PC gamers looking for well-performed standard-height gaming memory without high price tag." This probably means these kits will sell for less than comparable GEIL kits from other series. Expect these to hit the streets this July.