Intel Optane Technology: Quicker than Instant Coffee?

We increasingly live our lives on-the-go and the holy-grail is the time saver. From instant drink breakfast cereals to auto-defrosting cars, we are always searching for that extra couple of minutes to get ahead. And yet, a common sight in the mornings at offices up and down the country, is people sitting around drinking their coffee waiting for their emails to load. Then, there’s that super important attachment you need to open which eats up another few precious minutes sitting around staring at your computer screen, and maybe a second coffee. One of the best ways to improve productivity would be to improve the daily computing experience – the introduction of Intel Optane Memory Technology does just that.

Intel Optane memory enables PCs to deliver improved performance and faster load times across a broad range of experiences. With Intel Optane memory in a 7th generation processor-based system, you can power up your computer up to twice as fast and improve your overall system performance by as much as 28 per cent. Applications like Microsoft Outlook will launch up to six times faster (sorry coffee lovers) and popular web browsers launch up to five times faster.

Why did Intel create Optane?

The reasoning behind Intel creating Optane memory is simple – no one likes to wait. With the amount of data we use on a daily basis skyrocketing and an increasing number of the files we use containing data-heavy elements such as 4K video and high definition pictures, it doesn’t take long to fill up a significant amount of disk space. Addressing this takes time and makes your system feel sluggish, slow and less responsive – a frustration that is commonplace in many aspects of computing today.  This is where Intel Optane memory comes into play.

So how does it work?

Unlike the instant coffee, you don’t just freeze dry your laptop and then add water. The clever people at Intel have thought outside the box Intel Optane memory creates a bridge between the system memory (DRAM) and storage to deliver an intelligent, responsive computing experience. This is achieved by combining memory and storage into one virtual drive visible to the operating system with an optimised interconnect that uses Intel Rapid Storage Technology (RST) to accelerate performance and responsiveness. On the first attempt at launching an application, the Intel RST driver detects the specific files used during launch and accelerates these files accordingly during subsequent launches. Intel say by the third time an application is opened, the technology in Optane memory will know exactly which files to accelerate to give you the optimal performance. Even though applications may occupy many GBs of space, most of it may not be needed to launch the application therefore you can accelerate many applications with a relatively small amount of Intel Optane memory.

How do I get Optane in my PC?

Intel Optane memory uses a revolutionary new 3D Xpoint memory technology installed onto an M.2 module and is compatible with any 200 series Intel Chipset motherboard that has an M.2 socket and is running a 7^th generation Core processor and Windows 10 64bit. It does not replace the DRAM or storage; it simply acts as a conduit between the two, combining and accelerating performance. It can enhance the performance of any kind of SATA-based storage media connected to the system. Intel Optane memory differs from other caching solutions in that it is a brand new technology built from the ground up to address the need for non-volatile, high-performance, high-endurance, low latency and quality of service. The combination of these attributes in a memory technology is what really sets it apart.

Will I still need instant coffee?

Don’t worry, your morning cup of coffee is safe. However this new innovation in memory from Intel combined with the latest 7^th processors is paving the way for the future of computing. These advances will change our relationship with our computing devices, making our interaction more fluid, creating new opportunities for innovations and greatly enhancing everyday productivity (whilst perhaps decreasing our daily caffeine intake at the same time).

Try it out!

Intel Optane memory technology is compatible with any Intel 7^th generation Core processor system with an available M.2 slot, like our G-Series 2U and 4U industrial computers. These flexible, powerful and robust computers are designed for 24/7 operation in challenging applications, and with multiple configuration options, are an ideal fit for a range of specialist computing requirements.