Just imagine your computer booting in a blink, loading favourite software in a split second, and sifting through gigantic files almost instantaneously—all while being cost-efficient and conserving precious storage space.
This is the vision behind Intel Optane Memory, a revolutionary technology set to transform PCs in terms of speed and storage.
This article explores the fundamentals of Intel Optane Memory, explaining how it works, its advantages, and the ideal scenarios for its use.
What is Optane Memory?
Optane is Intel’s trademarked term for a new class of hyper-fast memory modules. The name refers specifically to the memory itself, not an individual format, but at the moment it’s being marketed primarily in a specialized M.2 card, compatible only with supported motherboards that can use Intel 7th-gen Core processors (i3, i5, and i7 chips in the 7XXX series). Optane memory uses 3D NAND fabrication techniques and various proprietary technologies to achieve super-low latency—as fast as 10 microseconds.
Also Read: What is a Core i3, Core i5, or Core i7 – Brief Differences
What Optane Isn’t
Optane Memory isn’t a type of conventional random-access computer memory or RAM. And it isn’t a technology that’s being used for conventional storage—at least not at the consumer level, and not yet. Instead, the consumer M.2 Optane modules sold in 16GB and 32GB capacities are meant to work as a cache memory bridge between RAM and storage, allowing for faster data transfer between the memory, storage, and processor.
This accelerates more or less every operation for the end-user, especially when paired with caching software that intelligently stores relevant data on the Optane drive for near-instant retrieval.
Imagine an Optane memory add-on as a supercharger for a conventional gasoline engine: it’s not a required component to make the engine work, and it doesn’t replace any existing parts, it just makes the whole thing run faster.
The idea of using a small amount of super-fast flash storage to augment the performance of a primary storage drive isn’t new. In fact, Optane is basically a next-gen version of Intel’s Smart Response Technology (SRT), which could use cheap, low-capacity SSDs to cache data for slower, high-capacity conventional hard drives. The difference is that Optane uses memory manufactured and sold by Intel, in conjunction with special hardware and software components on compatible motherboards.
Why Not Just Make Faster Storage?
Funny you should ask that. While the Optane branding is currently limited to super-fast M.2 cache memory modules on the consumer side of things, Intel is already selling “Optane” storage drives for corporate data centers. These are more like regular SSDs and bring fast, expensive memory right to the storage part of mission-critical servers. Right now, the only industrial-class Optane storage drive mounts just 375GB of storage directly to a PCIe Express slot. Those drives are selling for thousands of dollars in bulk orders to corporate customers—not a wise investment for a traditional independent system-builder.
Intel has indicated that Optane-branded storage drives, both in the M.2 variety and in more standard 2.5-inch SSD form, will arrive for the consumer market at some point.
Can I Use Optane Memory Instead of DRAM or an SSD Drive?
Intel Optane Memory functions differently from an SSD drive and DRAM, and therefore, cannot be used as a substitute for either one. Unlike DRAM, which employs volatile system memory as a non-permanent memory store used by the processor, Optane Memory is non-volatile and functions as a cache for slower storage as hard drives and SATA SSDs. It will never be able to be mounted in DRAM slots and will never be able to achieve the speed, role, or function of system memory. For the case of applications that need a certain amount of RAM, Optane doesn’t work as a substitute since DRAM is still a must.
In the same vein, Optane Memory modules do not serve as an alternative to SSD storage. Their use as a cache Memory Module includes Optane Memory of 16GB and 32GB, which serve to store the most frequently accessed data and programs. While an Optane Memory cache can greatly improve system performance and responsiveness, Optane Memory modules do not serve as a substitute for missing storage space needed to load programming files and games. It should be noted that Intel does have standalone SSDs that serve as fast storage drives, separate from the cache modules. To conclude, Optane Memory add further to the performance of DRAM and SSDs; however, they do not completely serve as a substitute.
How Much Faster Can Optane Make My PC?
According to Intel’s marketing material, adding an Optane M.2 memory module to a 7th-gen Core motherboard can speed up overall “performance” by 28%, with a 1400% increase in data access for an older, spinning hard drive design and “twice the responsiveness” of everyday tasks.
These claims are based on a series of benchmarks, the SYSmark 2014 SE Responsiveness subscore and the PCMark Vantage HDD Suite, so they’re fairly reliable. That being said, the actual hardware used to test those figures is hardly industry-leading: Intel used a mid-range Core i5-7500 processor, 8GB of DDR4-2400 memory, and a conventional 1TB hard drive with a speed of 7200RPM. That’s a decent system, but without the Optane add-on pretty much anything with an SSD installed will beat it for storage access and responsiveness.
Anandtech did a series of more intensive benchmarks using the same SYSmark 2014 test. They found that combining an Optane memory module with a conventional spinning hard drive could indeed increase overall system performance, in some cases beating out an SSD alone. But in each case, the performance was close enough that a simple SSD setup might be preferable to a hard drive plus an Optane memory module, especially if you can afford to match the extra storage space with a 1TB or denser SSD. Performance improvements when pairing an Optane storage module with an SSD will be present, but much less dramatic.
Based on these findings (and on the limitations in the next section), Optane is ideal for someone who wants to use a single, large HDD with their system instead of a smaller but faster SSD.
What Are the Drawbacks of Intel Optane Memory?
Given how inexpensive the performance augmentations are, about $50 for the 16GB M.2 Card and $100 for the 32GB version, one might believe this would be free money. That being said, Intel Optane memory has an array of restrictions. Intel Optane memory works only with specific Intel CPUs and motherboards. It may be out of the question with outdated hardware from other companies.
To take full advantage of it, you would need at minimum a seventh-generation processor and a matching motherboard. Additionally, while Intel seems to be boosting performance for all workloads, the most notable ones are with outdated systems that use spinning hard drives. SSDs, which are becoming ubiquitous, won’t show any notable increase.
Optane Memory depends on certain software and drivers to utilise its capabilities and features fully. If the software is lacking, then the benefits brought about by the Optane Memory will not be fully realized.
As with other types of NAND memory, Intel Optane will use a certain number of writes that can be executed during a given time to burn out over time. Nonetheless, Intel Optane does exhibit higher endurance in comparison to traditional SSDs.
What Are the Hardware Requirements?
First of all, you need a seventh-generation Intel Core chip. That’s any desktop processor in the Core i3, i5, and i7 family with a model number in the 7XXX format.
You’ll obviously need a compatible motherboard, but that motherboard also needs an Intel chipset that supports Optane and at least one M.2 expansion slot. These don’t necessarily need to be Intel-branded motherboards—here’s a list of compatible boards from ASUS, Asrock, Biostar, ECS, EVGA, Gigabyte, MSI, and SuperMicro. They range in size from mini-ITX all the way up to ATX, so system builders have plenty of options.
Optane memory works with any kind of RAM modules, storage drives, and graphics cards that will fit in a compatible motherboard. At the moment, Optane is not sold in laptops, but it may become available at some point. At the time of writing, Optane’s software component is only compatible with Windows 10.
