Intel has confirmed that it is to launch storage devices based on the
3D XPoint technology, co-developed with Micron, next year under the
brand Intel Optane.
Intel unveiled 3D Xpoint in July this year,
promising a replacement for traditional NAND flash in non-volatile
memory which would offer a real 'universal memory.' Some 1,000 faster
than NAND flash, the hardware is claimed to be only marginally slower
than volatile dynamic RAM (DRAM) while also offering high endurance and
surviving write cycles that would have traditional solid-state drives
weeping. While both Intel and its partner Micron were eager to discuss
the benefits of the technology, both shied away from a launch date
beyond the promise that 'select customers' would be receiving hardware samples before the end of the year.
At the Intel Developer Forum this week, however, Intel's Brian Krzanich
has opened the kimono to reveal a promise: 3D Xpoint commercialisation
by next year, under the new brand name Intel Optane. Optane, Krzanich
explained, will be available for both enterprise and consumer use - with
a separate presentation detailing the gains in graphics performance
with Intel's Skylake chips promising that Optane would be of
considerable interest to gamers - in PCIe-connected and DIMM formats.
The former will be found in everything from servers and desktops to
ultra-portable devices, Intel hopes, while the DIMM format modules will
compete with other non-volatile memory devices in the enterprise sector.
While Krzanich confirmed a 2016 launch date for the Intel Optane
devices, and even demonstrated a prototype 3D Xpoint SSD claimed to be
seven times faster than Intel's best NAND flash device, he was quiet
when it came to pricing - but, despite the company's claims that
manufacturing of 3D Xpoint modules is inexpensive, expect to pay a
premium over NAND flash.
http://www.bit-tech.net/news/hardware/2015/08/19/intel-optane/1
No comments:
Post a Comment