what happend if use intel optane memory+ssd

[PMadu]

I'm using intel optane memory+ssd is it useful for me

[BHarr8]

As far as does it work? Yes, it works.

In most cases it is just a waste of $, a NVMe SSD is a far better choice.

That being said there are a few use cases where a SSD + Optane can be faster and cheaper than a NVMe SSD.

If you cache a cheap 2TB SATA SSD to a 64/58GB Optane module you will spend less $ and have better performance.

I use a SATA SSD cached to an 800P on my travel laptop and the performance is outstanding.

[BHarr8]

Checking right now a 2TB Micron SATA SSD + a 58GB 800P is about $400 on Newegg.

A 2TB 970 EVO (fantastic drive BTW) is about $540.

If you wanted to save more than $100 you could cache that 2TB SATA SSD to the 800P and also have superior performance, especially in 4KQ1T1 where a typical user feels the most benefit.

https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA8TK78R3886

https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA24G70T8398

VS.

https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820147692

[BHarr8]

Another viable use case would be if you wanted 8TB of SSD space.

A 7.6TB SATA SSD + 118GB 800P (bigger cache since the main drive is so huge) would be about $1760.

4 2TB 970 EVOs (there are no bigger NVMe SSDs currently) and the 4X card to make them work is about $2260. You are also locked into specific motherboards to make this work and you have to use RAID 0 wich puts your data at risk if one of the drive fails.

https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA6ZP8522338

https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA24G71R2962

VS.

4X https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820147692

https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16815548004

The 4X 970 EVO setup would have much faster sequential speed but the SSD + Optane setup would have 4KQ1T1 speed that would dwarf the RAID 0 setup.

[DiegoV_Intel · Accepted solution]

Hi PMadu,

Thank you for posting in the Intel® communities.

The Intel® Optane™ Memory has been designed for SATA drive acceleration. So if you have an old SATA drive (HDD, SSHD, or SATA SSD), you may use the Intel® Optane™ memory to accelerate it. I recommend you to check the following article with additional information about the module: https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/support/articles/000024018/memory-and-storage/intel-optane-memory.html

On the other hand, the Intel® Optane™ SSD 800P Series is not like the Intel® Optane™ Memory. The Intel® Optane™ SSD 800P Series (or 900P Series) are drives for storage purposes, not for acceleration. These SSDs are based on the Optane™ technology, but they are not intended to work as acceleration devices like the Intel® Optane™ Memory.

I hope this clarifies your concern.

Have a nice day.

Regards,

Diego V.

Intel Customer Support Technician

Under Contract to Intel Corporation

[BHarr8]

@DiegoV_Intel​ 

I have a serious question here.

Everyone knows what you have posted above but when you search any technical forum you will see questions about the 16/32Gb Optane modules nearly unanimously answered with "just get a NVMe SSD".

Questions about the 800P are answered with "its way too small, just buy a NVMe SSD".

Why is Intel working like mad to steer people away from the only Optane solution where the price and performance is better than a NVMe SSD?

Optane software is 100% compatible with the 800P, I have systems setup that way and use them all the time. This is one of them:

Intel literally has in the palm of their hands a solution that is both faster and cheaper than Samsung (in certain use cases) yet seems hell bent on telling people to just buy a Samsung drive.

The devs and support people are not even on the same page. Are you aware that publications are even starting to use the 800P for acceleration in testing?

https://www.anandtech.com/show/12748/the-intel-optane-memory-m10-64gb-review-optane-caching-refreshed/4

Its right there plain as day. They are testing the 800P along side the M10 both in caching scenarios.

[DiegoV_Intel]

Hi BHarr8,

I completely understand that you are saying, and I’m aware of the fact that the Intel® Optane™ 800P SSD Series is compatible with the Intel® Optane™ application and can work for acceleration purposes, however this is not the intended usage of it and therefore, it is not a supported configuration.

However, I’ll inform about this and share the information you have provided here with the Engineering Team. If I get further updates, I’ll share them here.

Have a nice day.

Regards,

Diego V.

Intel Customer Support Technician

Under Contract to Intel Corporation

[DiegoV_Intel]

Hi BHarr8,

After discussing this topic with the Engineering Team, they have confirmed that this is not a validated nor supported configuration. The fact that the drive works with the application does not make it compatible or supported.

However, as we manufacture products for different segments of the market, I will make sure to submit your feedback to the proper team for future product releases and possible support of additional products to our Intel® Optane™ application.

Regards,

Diego V.

Intel Customer Support Technician

Under Contract to Intel Corporation

[BHarr8]

"However, as we manufacture products for different segments of the market, I will make sure to submit your feedback to the proper team for future product releases and possible support of additional products to our Intel® Optane™ application."

In general the issue is that the 905P top end drives are too expensive to make meaningful inroads into the enthusiast market when contending with the likes of the 970 EVO/PRO.

Caching cheap SATA SSDs against smaller and cheaper 800P drives actually allows for superior total capacity, superior 4KQ1T1 performance and superior price.

Intel created yet does not support a winning combo.

In any event, I will continue to use this winning combination, official support is not something I personally care about.