Intel Launches its Next-Gen Intel Optane 900p SSD

[Hawx]

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Today Intel is launching their first retail 3D XPoint based SSD - the Intel Optane SSD 900P Series. Unlike Optane Memory, which is a cache SSD, the Intel Optane 900P Series are full blown SSDs and will function as such. Initially, the 900P series will be offered in two capacities and two form factors - U.2 and Add-In-Card (AIC).

Source: https://www.tweaktown.com/news/59654/intel-launches-next-gen-optane-ssd-900p/index.html

 

 

 

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Rendering the same 7-second scene with a Samsung 960 Pro takes 2.7X longer than is does when using an Intel SSD 900P - 17.4 hours vs. 6.3 hours. That is indeed game changing.

Well, it's certainly fast. The latency is apparently what makes all the difference in general usage though.

 

A Star Citizen game package & ship, the Intel-exclusive Sabre Raven (which will be available to fly in SC's next major patch) is also bundled with the drive, which could potentially be a $170+ cashback if you aren't interested in holding on to it.

(this packaging looks really neat!)

 

EDIT: Review is now up:

https://www.anandtech.com/show/11953/the-intel-optane-ssd-900p-review

 

Jesus christ this drive is fast

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The low queue depth random read performance of the Optane SSD is several times faster than any flash-based SSD has attained. Mixed workloads that include a substantial component of random read operations also perform quite well, and throwing some write operations into a stream of reads barely impacts the read performance.

 

In many ways, the performance profile of the Optane SSD is far simpler than that of NAND flash based SSDs. The Optane SSD 900P performs just as well when it is full as when it is almost empty. It performs quite consistently over time, with far fewer high-latency outliers thanks to the lack of garbage collection stalls. Unlike with flash-based SSDs, it is not necessary to buy the largest model to get the highest possible performance; the 280GB model we tested should be very similar to the 480GB model (which we're waiting for review). It doesn't matter whether TRIM commands are used, and it's never necessary to perform a secure erase operation to restore degraded performance.

 

 

EDIT 3: And another good review: https://www.pcper.com/reviews/Storage/Intel-Optane-SSD-900P-480GB-and-280GB-NVMe-HHHL-SSD-Review-Lots-3D-XPoint

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The wait is over, the SSD 900P is here, and it's even more affordable than I was expecting. The product was well built and nicely packaged, but it's the 3D XPoint on the inside that enthusiasts are truly after, and it did not disappoint. Intel's 14-channel controller may limit the maximum straight-line throughput and random IOPS enabled by 3D XPoint, but the package remains extremely nimble and consistent, with low queue depth latencies coming in nearly an order of magnitude faster than the highest performing NAND-based SSDs.

 

[porina]

I NEED ONE!!!!!!11111

 

I've been debating raid 0 the existing 32 GB optane modules, but a proper SSD like this of course would be so much better. Not cheap, but if you need the performance, there is no alternative. Will of course wait for benchmarks but I'd expect some record low queue depth random read rates.

[ImNotThere]

how would raid work on these? would there be much scaling or would there be latency between thr two ssds?

[Bananasplit_00]

there is already basically no reason to get NVME over SATA for anything but 4K video work so why should anyone but creative proffessonals but this?

[porina]

7 minutes ago, Bananasplit_00 said:

there is already basically no reason to get NVME over SATA for anything but 4K video work so why should anyone but creative proffessonals but this?

I need my games to load 2 seconds faster. Seriously. Home user use cases are more limited by low queue depth random read speeds, and optane offers an order or magnitude improvement over conventional SSDs in that specific area. We go from tens of MB/s to hundreds.

 

I've done some rough calculations, and while this new SSD will still be very expensive compared to even high end consumer NVMe ones, it is still about half that of the Optane accelerator modules so quite an improvement still.

[MrRavens]

Oh yaaaa...a Star Citizen ship........can't wait to use it when the game releases...             _/s

 

xP

[DocSwag]

Finally, an optane product worth considering!!!

 

Still kinda expensive but at least it makes sense.

30 minutes ago, porina said:

I need my games to load 2 seconds faster. Seriously. Home user use cases are more limited by low queue depth random read speeds, and optane offers an order or magnitude improvement over conventional SSDs in that specific area. We go from tens of MB/s to hundreds.

 

I've done some rough calculations, and while this new SSD will still be very expensive compared to even high end consumer NVMe ones, it is still about half that of the Optane accelerator modules so quite an improvement still.

I'm just gonna leave this here.

http://techreport.com/review/30813/samsung-960-pro-2tb-ssd-reviewed/5

[Princess Luna]

39 minutes ago, Bananasplit_00 said:

there is already basically no reason to get NVME over SATA for anything but 4K video work so why should anyone but creative proffessonals but this?

They shouldn't but since people buy based on propaganda and likes burning money on expensive NVME M.2 or PCI-e drives to pair it with a GTX 1060 for that "fastest" gaming experience Intel would be silly not to profit on it.

[GoodBytes]

Meh.. I'll wait for the 4K model. 900p is just not enough.

[porina]

6 minutes ago, DocSwag said:

I'm just gonna leave this here.

http://techreport.com/review/30813/samsung-960-pro-2tb-ssd-reviewed/5

Is the take away point meant to be the difference between those SSDs, particularly in game load times, is basically nothing? Without numbers on hand, I think we're in the ball park of 30MB/s for a budget branded SATA SSD, to maybe 50MB/s for a high end NVMe SSD, when it comes to QD1 random reads. The 32GB optane modules were in the hundreds. It may be questioned how much is due to sequential vs. random, but I'm willing to try this one out myself.

 

I don't play the game much, but when I've done testing with GTAV benchmark, there is a visible difference in dynamic loading stutter between cheap SATA SSDs and a 960 Evo. Right now I mostly game off SATA SSDs due to price and am wondering if that was suboptimal, should have got something faster. I don't have an unlimited budget, but the one in this thread is within reach for testing.

 

I'm thinking here... I also have the FFXIV:Stormblood benchmark, and I think that reports a load time value too. Some of my systems have multiple drives in them, so I could try running it off each and see what if any difference there is. That way system variables would be controlled also. For example, my main system has 1 AHCI, 2 different SATA SSDs, and one HD. My VR system has one NVMe, one SATA SSD.

[shermantanker]

1 hour ago, LtRavens said:

Oh yaaaa...a Star Citizen ship........can't wait to use it when the game releases... 

 

xP

One day... my money is on 2021. I don't doubt they will pull it off, buuut it is going to take awhile.

[The Benjamins]

1 minute ago, shermantanker said:

One day... my money is on 2021. I don't doubt they will pull it off, buuut it is going to take awhile.

people who thought it would only take 2-3 years were insane.

 

This looks like a awesome drive but right now I just want cheaper SSDs not faster ones. I am also leaning towards having M.2 only in my next system.

[Agosto]

Mother of TBW

 

I'd like to have 1-2 TB Optane drive, even at SATA 3 speeds, just for the endurance (at a decent price)

[shermantanker]

9 minutes ago, The Benjamins said:

people who thought it would only take 2-3 years were insane.

 

This looks like a awesome drive but right now I just want cheaper SSDs not faster ones. I am also leaning towards having M.2 only in my next system.

Agreed. I watch their gameson and citizen con streams every year to keep up a bit, but otherwise I only gave them a dollar during the OG kickstarter.

 

And as far as the SSD I think I would rather buy a 1TB 960 or something.

[OriAr]

Holy shit

Do I need this? Probably not.

Do I want this? HELL YEAH

 

[EvilTidaLWaveZ]

I'm over it.

[ChickenCake248]

I'm wondering if it would be possible to set aside part of the drive to act as a traditional 32gb Intel optane drive, using it as cache for a hdd. Or, alternatively if this could be split into many caches for many large hdd's. New LTT archive build?

[The Benjamins]

6 minutes ago, ChickenCake248 said:

I'm wondering if it would be possible to set aside part of the drive to act as a traditional 32gb Intel optane drive, using it as cache for a hdd. Or, alternatively if this could be split into many caches for many large hdd's. New LTT archive build?

why if you have enough space for this to be the boot drive and to have the important programs on?

[Aytex]

The plugs in the Star citizen Citezencon2017 was so funny, there was some creep looking at the drive with weird eyes 

https://clips.twitch.tv/HeadstrongOilyTofuJKanStyle

[Tech_Dreamer]

Mmmmm. Me Likey.

[Aytex]

@Hawx wait is this hawx from r/starcitizen dsicord?

[porina]

https://www.anandtech.com/show/11953/the-intel-optane-ssd-900p-review/7

https://www.pcper.com/reviews/Storage/Intel-Optane-SSD-900P-480GB-and-280GB-NVMe-HHHL-SSD-Review-Lots-3D-XPoint/Performa-1

 

Look at the low QD random read on that!!! This is exactly why I'm hyped for these.

 

In a quick look, I see one UK place doing pre-orders, but their asking price is waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay above even 1:1 based on Intel list. Intel, don't do a Coffee Lake on this!

[AnonymousGuy]

I'm waiting for the 905p 1.5TB.  The price tag on it is painful, however.

[leadeater]

10 hours ago, porina said:

I NEED ONE!!!!!!11111

Why not 4 of them 

 

Why does cool stuff have to cost so much grrr.

[porina]

3 minutes ago, leadeater said:

Why not 4 of them 

 

Why does cool stuff have to cost so much grrr.

I just want it for the random read speeds. Not sure getting multiples will help that much, even if cost wasn't a consideration.