Intel Introduces Optane DC P4800X SSD with 375GB 3D XPoint Memory

Intel has 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.

Intel and Micron announced the 3D XPoint memory in the summer of 2015 and the first SSD based on this technology has now arrived. The Optane SSD DC P4800X is made up of a kind of three-dimensional phase change memory, where bits are stored by physical changes in a medium. This should combine the advantages of dram, such as low latency, with the storage capacity of flash.

The first product in the Optane line is a PCI-E 3.0 x4 NVME SSD with a claimed read and write latency of less than 10µs. Even with an increase in the random write load, the latency would remain the same. Intel doesn’t list sequential speeds for the SSD, probably because this isn’t where the DC P4800X should stand out and Intel’s 3D NAND SSDs are the better and cheaper choice.

The Optane SSD DC P4800X is available immediately in limited quantities, mass availability will follow in the second half of 2017. The 375GB model will have an undisclosed 7-channel controller with 4 dies per channel for a total of 28. A 375GB model in a u2 form factor will follow in Q2 this year, along with a 750GB version. become available. In the second half of this year, Optane SSDs of 1.5 TB will be on the market. Cache drives for the consumer market will also follow in the second half and full-fledged SSDs will follow later this year. Next year, dimms based on 3D XPoint memory should also be released.

The suggested retail price for the 375GB Optane SSD DC P4800X is $1,520 or $4 per GB. Intel sets the write endurance at thirty write cycles per day and for the time being the warranty has been set at three years, but later this year this will be extended to five years. Intel combines the offer with its paid hypervisor-like driver that ensures that the P4800X can be addressed as an extension to dram.