The idea of accelerating hard drives with a small solid-state drive as a companion is not new. The improvements can be significant depending on the workload and the type of data to be processed, but at the end of the day users prefer a plain and simple SSD that squeezes the most out of the system. However, now Intel appears with its Optane technology. The Santa Clara giant has just unveiled Optane Memory, an M.2 module that (in theory) will give traditional hard drives a good performance shock, courtesy of 3D XPoint.
Hard drives remain the kings of high density, beyond some solid-state prototypes with impressive specifications. Recently we talked about a new 12 TB hard drive from Seagate, and everything suggests that capacity will continue to grow. Now, what can be done about performance? Many users have adopted a hybrid configuration: an SSD for the operating system and the most critical files, followed by a hard drive for heavy lifting. A standard 120 GB SSD costs no more than 70 euros, and there are multiple brands with excellent reputations to choose from. In the case of laptops, the SSD+HDD combo is often not possible due to space constraints, but there are other interfaces available, and so we come to the latest announcement from Intel...
Optane Memory: A Cache Module
The name of the new toy is Optane Memory, but it is not a standalone SSD; it is a cache module designed for accelerating hard drives. Intel began exploring this concept through its Smart Response Technology in 2011, and with the formal debut of Optane, even greater benefits are expected. The module will be available in M.2 2280 format, with 16 and 32 GB versions. As with its first product, Optane Memory places great emphasis on latency, and its read speed reaches 1,200 megabytes per second. Its sequential write speed is more modest, at 280 megabytes per second, on par with a basic SSD.
The Fine Print
Unfortunately, the Optane Memory module comes with a lot of fine print, which boils down to four points:
- The technology is exclusive to Kaby Lake processors or newer (also requires a 200-series chipset on the motherboard).
- It only works with the system drive.
- It requires configuring the computer in RAID mode (and not AHCI).
- Its software support is limited to Windows 10 x64.
Intel published both the release date and the prices (April 24, $44 and $77), but there is no doubt that Optane Memory will be a much more interesting option for OEMs. Instead of installing a high-capacity SSD and driving up the cost of their laptops, they will have the possibility to offer a traditional hard drive, accelerated by the module.
