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Intel starts shipping 3D XPoint memory sticks, Optane SSDs this quarter
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Intel starts shipping 3D XPoint memory sticks, Optane SSDs this quarter

by Vyncent ChanFebruary 1, 2017
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Remember 3D XPoint? It was designed to be a cache between the RAM and NAND bulk storage of a system, mentioned way back in 2015. Now, Intel has announced that they are finally shipping 3D XPoint memory DIMMs to data center customers.

The technology was tested last year and according to Intel, the user experience of a laptop with 16GB RAM versus the same system with just 64MB RAM and 16GB of 3D XPoint proved similar. 3D XPoint is also set to be cheaper than current RAM, so the likelihood of it coming to consumer PCs is very high. The caveat is that 3D XPoint will be slower than RAM, but is up to 10x faster than NAND-based SSDs, so designs with the new technology could sport insane loading times.

Intel starts shipping 3D XPoint memory sticks, Optane SSDs this quarter 21

3D XPoint also retains data when when power is removed, which shakes up our basic knowledge of computers, where RAM is volatile, and NAND/platter storage is not. To fully take advantage of 3D XPoint, existing OSes and software would need to be reworked on how they make use of RAM and storage. RAM and storage were two separate entities before this, but with 3D XPoint technology, they will be one and the same chunk of 3D XPoint memory.

Intel’s CEO Brian Krzanich expects that the majority of 3D XPoint production to ship in the DIMM Form factor. He also revealed that Optane SSDs will ship this quarter, while also predicting that the technology will account for 10% of its revenue in 2017.

SOURCE: Tom’s Hardware

 

Pokdepinion: Well I guess this is about the time that Z270 motherboards will get to flex their muscles with the Optane SSD support. Other than that, the ability to have instant boot and loading times of more commonly used apps reduced by up to 10x while giving up on some speed when compared to RAM is a no brainer for me. Also, with the possibility of it replacing RAM yet being cheaper than RAM, it is all the more enticing to the ever thrifty me.

About The Author
Vyncent Chan
Technology enthusiast, casual gamer, pharmacy graduate. Strongly opposes proprietary standards and always on the look out for incredible bang-for-buck.
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