With new BIOS update
Intel Optane Memory devices are now compatible with ASUS 200-series motherboards. In the beginning we will only see 16GB or 32GB M.2 caching devices. This new memory type can be used to speed up both SSDs and HDDs. Although it will be only compatible with desktop systems, we might soon find such caching devices in notebooks and mid-range PCs as well.
Intel Optane Memory will require BIOS support in order to function properly. So far ASUS has updated several motherboards BIOS and the list below contains all the models which are compatible. Although Optane Memory looks ideal for budget-friendly systems with slow HDDs, we have to mention that Intel's budget-friendly CPUs are not compatible. For example the the Celeron G3930, the Celeron G3950, the Pentium G4560 and the Pentium G4620 will not work with Optane Memory. Furthermore the "T" variants of those chips are not compatible as well.
According to Intel’s ARK database and the Optane Memory product page, only Kaby Lake Core series processors are compatible with Optane Memory. In other words the cheapest Intel CPU that works in combination with Optane Memory is the Core i3-7100. This CPU is 30 Euro more expensive than the budget-friendly Pentium G4620. The main difference between this two chips is the support for AVX and a 200 MHz difference in stock clock speeds. Since a 16GB Optane device costs around 65 Euros and the Intel Core i3 CPU is mandatory, we find a bit hard to sell to someone, since it pushes highly competitive price tags into a region what they don’t belong.
We’re generally a bit puzzled why Intel is only launching caching drives based on Optane memory. Since those drives appear to be really fast and expensive it would be just logical to assume that those are enthusiast grade products and that on the other hand would mean creating enthusiast grade products. Nevertheless Intel has chosen to put this enthusiast-grade hardware into the shape of an entry-level product. Looking at Optane memory from this angle makes us question whether it will be widely adopted.
Source: OC3D
Intel Optane Memory will require BIOS support in order to function properly. So far ASUS has updated several motherboards BIOS and the list below contains all the models which are compatible. Although Optane Memory looks ideal for budget-friendly systems with slow HDDs, we have to mention that Intel's budget-friendly CPUs are not compatible. For example the the Celeron G3930, the Celeron G3950, the Pentium G4560 and the Pentium G4620 will not work with Optane Memory. Furthermore the "T" variants of those chips are not compatible as well.
According to Intel’s ARK database and the Optane Memory product page, only Kaby Lake Core series processors are compatible with Optane Memory. In other words the cheapest Intel CPU that works in combination with Optane Memory is the Core i3-7100. This CPU is 30 Euro more expensive than the budget-friendly Pentium G4620. The main difference between this two chips is the support for AVX and a 200 MHz difference in stock clock speeds. Since a 16GB Optane device costs around 65 Euros and the Intel Core i3 CPU is mandatory, we find a bit hard to sell to someone, since it pushes highly competitive price tags into a region what they don’t belong.
We’re generally a bit puzzled why Intel is only launching caching drives based on Optane memory. Since those drives appear to be really fast and expensive it would be just logical to assume that those are enthusiast grade products and that on the other hand would mean creating enthusiast grade products. Nevertheless Intel has chosen to put this enthusiast-grade hardware into the shape of an entry-level product. Looking at Optane memory from this angle makes us question whether it will be widely adopted.
Source: OC3D
News by Luca Rocchi and Marc Büchel - German Translation by Paul Görnhardt - Italian Translation by Francesco Daghini
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