Intel Optane Memory

[fatehsingh]

Can I use Intel Optane Memory 16GB module on MSI A320M-PRO-VD-PLUS?. Yes I know as of now Intel Optane Memory module is supported for intel KabyLake CPU's with M.2 support slot and the MOBO I mentioned earlier don't have such specs. So can I integrate Intel Optane memory on the same MOBO by using external PCIE to M.2 card?

 

[BubblyCharizard]

you could in theory, but the board would only see it as a standard m.2 SSD....I doubt that intel will allow AMD to support optane as a cache drive on their boards for a few years at least

 

your best bet is find a cheap m.2 SSD 

[porina]

You can run the module as a rather small SSD in any mobo with M.2 slot. If you want to use it for cacheing capability, of course the Intel solution will not work, but 3rd party ones might.

[fatehsingh]

36 minutes ago, porina said:

You can run the module as a rather small SSD in any mobo with M.2 slot. If you want to use it for cacheing capability, of course the Intel solution will not work, but 3rd party ones might.

So can I configure any SSD for cacheing?. If yes then please provide solution too.

[porina]

Other companies have provided similar software solutions before, but I don't remember the names of any of them as they didn't interest me.

[TonyStark]

If you want to use it like a ram drive, then wouldn't a ram drive be a good idea ? Given the fact that you have suffient RAM on your machine that is.

[fatehsingh]

1 hour ago, TonyStark said:

If you want to use it like a ram drive, then wouldn't a ram drive be a good idea ? Given the fact that you have suffient RAM on your machine that is.

Yeah ram drive would be a good option until it is an non-volatile memory. Our traditional RAM sticks do cache files but when it is electrically off then it becomes empty which is not the case with Intel Optane. 

[TonyStark]

well....the RAM drives can store their data on a hard drive image and can resume operation after the image has been loaded (everytime you power down  your ram drive the contents can be saved as an image and when it is powered up the image is loaded back on). I think the time required to load the image back to the ram drive is not that significant compared to the speed benefit you gain.