Intel announces Optane memory modules for desktops
Intel has announced memory modules based on 3D XPoint technology. They are two Optane memory modules of 16GB and 32GB for desktops. The modules will be available from 24 April. The modules should significantly improve desktop performance.
Intel states that these modules can provide twice the boot time. Storage would be fourteen times faster and overall system performance 28 percent faster. In addition, programs can be loaded 67 percent faster and levels from games about 65 percent faster. Applications like Microsoft Outlook and Chrome would start up five times faster. These performance gains are achieved over a test system used by Intel without the Optane memory and with a Western Digital 1TB HDD running at 7200rpm.
The modules with an m.2 form factor are accelerators that do not replace regular RAM and a hard drive or SSD. The modules form a kind of bridge between the working memory and the storage and use the PCI-e 3.0 x2 bandwidth. The Optane storage modules only work with motherboards that support Intel’s seventh-generation processors and Intel’s 200-Series chipset.
The 32GB variant offers sequential read and write speeds of 1350MB/s and 290MB/s respectively, while the 16GB variant achieves 900MB/s read and 145MB/s write. Intel has not yet given official suggested retail prices for the modules, but PCWorld reports that the 32GB variant will cost about 70 euros converted and the 16GB variant will cost about 40 euros.
Optane represents a new kind of memory, based on the phase change principle, where bits are stored by physical changes in a medium. The memory should combine the advantages of dram, such as low latency, with the storage capacity of flash.
Intel also recently unveiled the first SSD based on its proprietary 3D XPoint memory. The SSD is aimed at data centers and should distinguish itself with, among other things, low latency. Initially, the Optane SSD DC P4800X comes with 375GB storage capacity, later larger models will follow.
Asus has already announced that it will make its entire 200 Series of motherboards suitable for the Optane memory through released UEFI updates.