If you have no dedicated GPU, can Optane memory provide the necessary performance boost?
Have you ever thought that SSD memory is at its strongest? But chip manufacturers have continuously applied and researched to create computers with faster processing memory.
One new generation of memory introduced and announced by Intel is Optane memory. Intel Optane is the latest caching technology manufactured by Intel that will make your laptop or PC work faster and more stable than usual.
What is Optane memory?
Optane memory is Intel’s trademarked term for a new generation of super-fast memory. Intel Optane is an intelligent memory technology that accelerates computer responsiveness.
Memory provides quick access to your computer’s frequently used documents, pictures, videos, and applications and remembers them after you’ve turned off the power.
It is a computer component that helps users reduce wait times when creating, playing games, and producing content.
In terms of hardware, Intel Optane is a form of SSD hard drive using the M2 connector, but the primary use is not to store data but to help speed up the computer, as mentioned above.
Optane is based on 3D Xpoint technology, which differs from SSD’s NAND and RAM’s DRAM. Optane has a data read/write speed that is not as fast as RAM but has a much higher capacity and does not need the power to maintain data like RAM. Optane’s original go-to was to solve two things:
- Make a cache for the HDD because the HDD is too slow
- Make cache support for RAM because RAM is too expensive
Optane is located between the storage hard drive and RAM; it cannot replace RAM but can be used for storage purposes. Optane was initially released in the 16, 32, and 64 GB M.2 80mm but has since been updated to 1.5 TB.
How does Optane work?
Optane acts as a cache, a bridge between CPU, RAM, and hard drive for faster data transfer.
Specifically, instead of the CPU and RAM having to wait for the hard drive to perform processing tasks, it is now possible to get data directly from the Optane cache, increasing read speed and processing capacity many times that of an HDD or even an SSD.
With the 3D Xpoint chip, Optane could strike a performance balance between the NVMe SSD and the system RAM.
Most people know that system memory (RAM) is much faster and more sensitive than SSDs, and conventional HDDs. However, data in system memory is straightforward to lose, especially when power is lost.
Optane’s 3D Xpoint chips are much more responsive than SSDs but slower than RAM. Since Optane stores information like SSDs, it is not prone to data loss.
NVMe SSDs perform better in scenarios like reading and writing a lot of data to the drive at once, but for random access tasks, Optane will prevail.
What are the pros and cons of Intel Optane memory?
Here are the things you must know before using Intel Optane.
What are the benefits of using Optane memory?
Help speed up your computer.
This computer acceleration solution is considered to bring the popular HDD back.
Thanks to Intel Optane, the boot speed and application speed of computers using HDD will be as fast as that of computers using SSD SATA.
Price
We all know that 1TB SSD hard drives are costly. But with 1TB HDD + 16GB Intel Optane is much cheaper, while the efficiency is equivalent. Therefore, Intel Optane will undoubtedly be used by many new laptops.
Disadvantages of Optane memory
- Intel Optane is only compatible with computers with a 7th generation processor or later. So only newer laptops can use Intel Optane.
- Due to the new development, the price is still a bit high.
- Storage is limited to 16GB and 32GB.
- It works well with HDD, and SSD has improved, but the effect will not be equal.
- Systems with Optane will consume more power.
If you have no dedicated GPU, can Optane memory provide the necessary performance boost?
The answer is yes. As I said above, Intel Optane is only compatible with computers with 7th generation or higher processors. So your machine with a 7th generation processor or later with an integrated GPU (without a dedicated GPU) can still use Optane.
Intel Optane users.
- Gamers: Gamers are those who always need a potent machine configuration to meet them; gaming laptops must ensure smoothness and quick response to gamers’ actions when playing.
- Creative people: A graphics-capable laptop with enough power is also necessary for people in the creative industries who want to complete tasks quickly and with a high level of performance.
- Customers: who need high productivity: Some customers, especially office customers, also need a high-end, high-performance laptop to improve work efficiency and maximize time.
Final Thoughts
Thus, we have shared the basic information about Intel Optane and its advantages and disadvantages. I hope readers will get helpful information; thank you for following the article!