Using NVME Optane drive in usb enclosure


cereberus

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For various reasons, I replaced the 1 TB NVME Optane drive in my laptop with a normal 1 TB NVME (no optane drive) and laptop works great.

I put the optane nvme in a usb enclosure and it is seen ok, but when I copy to it (large or small files), I was getting write speeds of only around 80-100 MB/s on a usb 3.1 port, and often dropping as low as 20 MB/s.

The nvme drive now in laptop was in same usb enclosure and used to blitz along at writing of 500-600 MB/s.
I have just bought a new 1TB nvme (non optane drive) and put that in the enclosure - BOOM - write speeds back up to 500-600 MB/s!

My laptop does not have AHCI mode (no SATA slots). The internal NVMEs need IRST drivers.

When the optane drive was internal, it operated at typical nvme speeds - put it in a caddy and it is worse than a hard drive!

So my optane drive usb drive is only going to be used as for data backup syncing key folders where speed is not important (although it will take ages to do initial data transfer to it).

What I did notice is the optane drive runs very hot >75C when transferring data to it compared with <60 C for normal nvme drives.

I am not really looking for advice as I have replaced the drive, but I would be interested in other user experiences with optane nvme drives in a usb caddy?
 

My Computer

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    Windows 10 Pro + others in VHDs
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    ASUS Vivobook 14
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    Yep, Laptop has one.
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    TPM 2.0
What USB version connector does the enclosure use? Is this an M.2 enclosure or one that uses a PCie slot? What is the exact model of the two drives you are comparing?
 

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    Windows 11 Home
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    PC/Desktop
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    Custom
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    i5-12600K
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    ASUS Z690M
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    16 GB DDR4 3200 Mhz
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    RTX 3060ti
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Home
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo Yoga C930
    Memory
    12GB DDR4
Actually just looking at this, it's probably a bandwidth issue. What are the specs on the enclosure as well?
 

My Computers

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  • OS
    Windows 11 Home
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    PC/Desktop
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    Custom
    CPU
    i5-12600K
    Motherboard
    ASUS Z690M
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    16 GB DDR4 3200 Mhz
    Graphics Card(s)
    RTX 3060ti
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Home
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo Yoga C930
    Memory
    12GB DDR4
This is why I try to avoid (as much as I can) components with proprietary technology. They usually just work at their best with compatible hardware.
 

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    Windows 11 Pro
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    AMD Ryzen 9 3900X
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    MSI MPG Gaming Edge Wifi (X570)
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    Main Boot Drive : 512GB Adata XPG RGB Gen3x4 NVMe M.2 SSD
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    i7-4790K
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    ASRock Xtreme6 Z97
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    Samsung M.2
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    Moderna :)
This is why I try to avoid (as much as I can) components with proprietary technology. They usually just work at their best with compatible hardware.
Yeah. I have limited knowledge of Optane as a brand, but the fact that 2 Lanes are used for actual NVME storage and 2 are used for the 32 GB of memory is probably "confusing" the enclosure driver. Intel would probably have to add support for the enclosure through an update to its drivers, but that's just my guess.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Home
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Custom
    CPU
    i5-12600K
    Motherboard
    ASUS Z690M
    Memory
    16 GB DDR4 3200 Mhz
    Graphics Card(s)
    RTX 3060ti
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Home
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo Yoga C930
    Memory
    12GB DDR4
Which Optane is it? The H20 is a hybrid that uses a small 32GB Optane cache in front of 900+some GB of QLC NAND. I believe for the cache to function, it requires Intel RST drivers. With a USB enclosure, for which RST is not available, it may only see the QLC NAND, which is slow as a hard drive.
 
Last edited:

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    WDC SN850 1TB nvme, SK-Hynix 2 TB P41 nvme, Raid 0: 1TB 850 EVO + 1TB 860 EVO SSD. Sabrent USB-C DS-SC5B 5-bay docking station: 6TB WDC Black, 6TB Ironwolf Pro; 2x 2TB WDC Black
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    Defender, Macrium Reflect 8 ;-)
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    Apple 13" Macbook Pro 2020 (m1)
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    2560x1600
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I agree with geneo. From what I've read about it, without it being able to use IRST, speed would be slow as molasses. I know just enough to stay away from it. Scares the bejesus out of me. Must have scared a lot of other people too since Intel abandoned it and took a loss of half billion dollars. It's a shame there's not some kind of firmware update that one could use to turn it into a plain ol' nvme drive, but with such advanced technology I guess that thinking is pretty simplistic.
 

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    Windows 11 Pro 23H2 22631.3296
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    Dell Optiplex 7080
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    i9-10900 10 core 20 threads
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    DELL 0J37VM
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    32 gb
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    none-Intel UHD Graphics 630
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    Benq 27
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    1tb Solidigm m.2 +256gb ssd+512 gb usb m.2 sata
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    500w
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    Logitech wireless
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    so slow I'm too embarrassed to tell
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    Defender+MWB Premium
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    Windows 10 Pro 22H2 19045.3930
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    Dell Optiplex 9020
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    i7-4770
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    24 gb
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    Benq 27
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    2560x1440
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    256 gb Toshiba BG4 M.2 NVE SSB and 1 tb hdd
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    500w
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    MT
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    Dell factory
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    Logitech wireless
    Keyboard
    Logitech wired
    Internet Speed
    still not telling
    Browser
    Firefox
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    Defender+MWB Premium
I have two redundant optane drives now after replacing them. Was wondering what to do with them but sounds like using them for back up isn't good then. I was wondering if I could install them in a real slow low powered computer to speed it up?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP Pavilion 14-ce3514sa
    CPU
    Core i5
    Memory
    16gb
    Hard Drives
    Samsung 970 evo plus 2TB
    Cooling
    Could be better
    Internet Speed
    200mbps Starlink
    Browser
    Firefox
    Other Info
    Originally installed with a 500gb H10 Optane ssd
What USB version connector does the enclosure use? Is this an M.2 enclosure or one that uses a PCie slot? What is the exact model of the two drives you are comparing?
S.png

Both are nvme as shown here, one has optane module (Intel), other does not (Kingston nvme).

Caddy only accepts this type.

By the way, I have two caddys - same effect Kingston fast, Intel slow.
 

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My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 Pro + others in VHDs
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    ASUS Vivobook 14
    CPU
    I7
    Motherboard
    Yep, Laptop has one.
    Memory
    16 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Integrated Intel Iris XE
    Sound Card
    Realtek built in
    Monitor(s) Displays
    N/A
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    1 TB Optane NVME SSD, 1 TB NVME SSD
    PSU
    Yep, got one
    Case
    Yep, got one
    Cooling
    Stella Artois
    Keyboard
    Built in
    Mouse
    Bluetooth , wired
    Internet Speed
    72 Mb/s :-(
    Browser
    Edge mostly
    Antivirus
    Defender
    Other Info
    TPM 2.0
Yeah. I have limited knowledge of Optane as a brand, but the fact that 2 Lanes are used for actual NVME storage and 2 are used for the 32 GB of memory is probably "confusing" the enclosure driver. Intel would probably have to add support for the enclosure through an update to its drivers, but that's just my guess.
Yeah - I think this is probably it.

My PC came with optane nvme.

Still it is still useful for backup usb storage - even though slow it is as fast as my older hdd backup drives.
 
Last edited:

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 Pro + others in VHDs
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    ASUS Vivobook 14
    CPU
    I7
    Motherboard
    Yep, Laptop has one.
    Memory
    16 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Integrated Intel Iris XE
    Sound Card
    Realtek built in
    Monitor(s) Displays
    N/A
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    1 TB Optane NVME SSD, 1 TB NVME SSD
    PSU
    Yep, got one
    Case
    Yep, got one
    Cooling
    Stella Artois
    Keyboard
    Built in
    Mouse
    Bluetooth , wired
    Internet Speed
    72 Mb/s :-(
    Browser
    Edge mostly
    Antivirus
    Defender
    Other Info
    TPM 2.0
I have two redundant optane drives now after replacing them. Was wondering what to do with them but sounds like using them for back up isn't good then. I was wondering if I could install them in a real slow low powered computer to speed it up?
Sure, why not if pc supports it.

Most older pcs do not support nvme and require tradition SATA SSDs.

There are converters but all the ones for laptops I have seen do not support nvme with m connection (nvme/irst).

edit: have found a couple at £15.

There are desktop converters e.g.
1678570664633.png
 
Last edited:

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 Pro + others in VHDs
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    ASUS Vivobook 14
    CPU
    I7
    Motherboard
    Yep, Laptop has one.
    Memory
    16 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Integrated Intel Iris XE
    Sound Card
    Realtek built in
    Monitor(s) Displays
    N/A
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    1 TB Optane NVME SSD, 1 TB NVME SSD
    PSU
    Yep, got one
    Case
    Yep, got one
    Cooling
    Stella Artois
    Keyboard
    Built in
    Mouse
    Bluetooth , wired
    Internet Speed
    72 Mb/s :-(
    Browser
    Edge mostly
    Antivirus
    Defender
    Other Info
    TPM 2.0
For various reasons, I replaced the 1 TB NVME Optane drive in my laptop with a normal 1 TB NVME (no optane drive) and laptop works great.

I put the optane nvme in a usb enclosure and it is seen ok, but when I copy to it (large or small files), I was getting write speeds of only around 80-100 MB/s on a usb 3.1 port, and often dropping as low as 20 MB/s.

The nvme drive now in laptop was in same usb enclosure and used to blitz along at writing of 500-600 MB/s.
I have just bought a new 1TB nvme (non optane drive) and put that in the enclosure - BOOM - write speeds back up to 500-600 MB/s!

My laptop does not have AHCI mode (no SATA slots). The internal NVMEs need IRST drivers.

When the optane drive was internal, it operated at typical nvme speeds - put it in a caddy and it is worse than a hard drive!

So my optane drive usb drive is only going to be used as for data backup syncing key folders where speed is not important (although it will take ages to do initial data transfer to it).

What I did notice is the optane drive runs very hot >75C when transferring data to it compared with <60 C for normal nvme drives.

I am not really looking for advice as I have replaced the drive, but I would be interested in other user experiences with optane nvme drives in a usb caddy?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    windows 11
    Computer type
    Laptop

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