Explain Intel Optane please

Hazel123 · Feb 2, 2022

I’ve just bought a used 14” HP laptop. Thinking about upgrading the ssd drive (if it actually comes apart). But I don’t exactly understand Intel optane, where it is, how it works with the current ssd drive or whether the bios or hardware settings are optimised for it.

The specs say: 8GB DDR4 ram, 512GB SSD, 32GB Intel Optane.

So is the Optane built into the ssd, separate or what?

Assume a straight swap of ssd for say a Samsung one, would mean having to deactivate something to do with the Optane.

CornishRattler · Feb 2, 2022

Yeah the Optane is built onto the SSD (NVME). It will be a straight swap for a Samsung but you will need to download the IRST drivers from Intel and stick them on the root of either a separate flash drive or the media you are going to boot from. These need to be loaded before the OS otherwise set up will not see the new drive.

https://www.hp.com/us-en/shop/tech-takes/what-is-intel-optane-memory

Hazel123 · Feb 2, 2022

Thanks. Could you explain a bit more please? So I need to install some Intel drivers? It is running windows 10 at the moment and wasn’t planning to reinstall - although could do a clean install.

Wynona · Feb 2, 2022

Hazel123 said:
Thanks. Could you explain a bit more please? So I need to install some Intel drivers? It is running windows 10 at the moment and wasn’t planning to reinstall - although could do a clean install.

Hi, Ethel. I took a look at the link @CornishRattler provided and didn't understand much of it on first look. I think I need to print it out and go from there.

Winuser · Feb 2, 2022

Hazel123 said:
I’ve just bought a used 14” HP laptop. Thinking about upgrading the ssd drive (if it actually comes apart). But I don’t exactly understand Intel optane, where it is, how it works with the current ssd drive or whether the bios or hardware settings are optimised for it.

The specs say: 8GB DDR4 ram, 512GB SSD, 32GB Intel Optane.

So is the Optane built into the ssd, separate or what?

Assume a straight swap of ssd for say a Samsung one, would mean having to deactivate something to do with the Optane.

This may help you to understand the laptop a little better. Intel Optane Memory H20 M.2 NVMe SSD Review: Running Optane and Flash in Harmony

CornishRattler · Feb 2, 2022

Wynona said:
Hi, Ethel. I took a look at the link @CornishRattler provided and didn't understand much of it on first look. I think I need to print it out and go from there.

The link only explains what Optane is supposed to do, it's really not needed for what @Hazel123 is thinking of doing, but it was asked so I obliged.

Anibor_11 · Feb 2, 2022

I think Optane is separate from the SSD, it´s used as a cache, and it is not needed in this case. Besides, it can cause problems, it´s better to disable it.

Winuser · Feb 2, 2022

Hazel123 said:
Thanks. Could you explain a bit more please? So I need to install some Intel drivers? It is running windows 10 at the moment and wasn’t planning to reinstall - although could do a clean install.

If you replace the Optane memory card with a NVMe card you shouldn't need any special drivers.

Winuser · Feb 2, 2022

Anibor_11 said:
I think Optane is separate from the SSD, it´s used as a cache, and it is not needed in this case. Besides, it can cause problems, it´s better to disable it.

Check the link I posted in #5. It explains about Optane memory and laptops.

barman58 · Feb 2, 2022

The Optane memory is used as a buffer for mechanical or slower SSD drives, I have used them but only on Mechanical drives to improve larger file write speeds - The ones I have used are in NVME packages and just need the Intel drivers activated after the system has been booted, they will then load on each boot - am not sure if this method will work with a System / Boot drive

The-Hive · Feb 2, 2022

Also the size of the SSD may require Optane. I have an app called Intel Optane memory and storage management

Information about the Intel® Optane™ Memory M Series

Basic information and questions about the Intel Optane Memory M Series

www.intel.com

thomaseg1 · Feb 2, 2022

CornishRattler said:
The link only explains what Optane is supposed to do, it's really not needed for what @Hazel123 is thinking of doing, but it was asked so I obliged.

Optane merely speeds up the system acting a a cache, kinda of like the windows swap file.
works well with a spinner Hard Drive but very little performance boost with a ssd. I replaced mine with a nvme drive 500 gig and put my system on it . I replaced the hard drive with an ssd.
still fast but instant on wasn't something I really needed.
This one of those try for yourself and decide what you need questions.

Hazel123 · Feb 2, 2022

Thanks all. I opened the Intel Optane Memory and Storage management program installed and it shows this. Looks to me like it has a separate connection and the ssd has a separate connection. But also that there is an empty port? Not sure about that as it says empty port 0 (so is that the name of the port - 0 - or is it saying there is no empty port?!

Hazel123 · Feb 2, 2022

The-Hive said:
Also the size of the SSD may require Optane. I have an app called Intel Optane memory and storage management

Information about the Intel® Optane™ Memory M Series

Basic information and questions about the Intel Optane Memory M Series

www.intel.com

Posted at the same time :)

Hazel123 · Feb 2, 2022

Forgot to add the photo

Hazel123 · Feb 2, 2022

thomaseg1 said:
Optane merely speeds up the system acting a a cache, kinda of like the windows swap file.
works well with a spinner Hard Drive but very little performance boost with a ssd. I replaced mine with a nvme drive 500 gig and put my system on it . I replaced the hard drive with an ssd.
still fast but instant on wasn't something I really needed.
This one of those try for yourself and decide what you need questions.

Thanks. It appears to just have the one nvme ssd, a port for the octane and possibly another port for another nvme. Which is possible - it was a business model. Although looks identical to the consumer model.

One thing I have noticed is - downloads are very fast - but there is a delayed “ping” - eg windows sound when say installing something yes or no. The ping is a few seconds late! Never had that before.

Winuser · Feb 2, 2022

This video is also very informative.

barman58 · Feb 2, 2022

I have had motherboards with facility for using Optane Memory, mine were Full ATX and had two standard size NVMe Slots for drives plus another smaller slot for the Optaine Module (I think it was a 2242 rather than the standard 2260 or 2280)

Winuser · Feb 2, 2022

barman58 said:
I have had motherboards with facility for using Optane Memory, mine were Full ATX and had two standard size NVMe Slots for drives plus another smaller slot for the Optaine Module (I think it was a 2242 rather than the standard 2260 or 2280)

I've only had one computer that came with Optane memory. I never used it. The first thing I did was take out the HDD and replace it with the SSD from my old desktop. I didn't bother installing the Intel Optane driver. Later I replaced the Optane memory with a 500GB NVMe drive and made it the system drive. The old SSD is now a data drive in my new desktop.

Hazel123 · Feb 2, 2022

Hazel123 said:
Forgot to add the photo

So does it look like I have a spare NVME slot from that photo please? If so I could just add another 500gb ssd instead of replacing the current one with a 1tb

Explain Intel Optane please

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