Thursday, July 28th 2022
Intel to Shut Down Optane Memory Business, Retire 3D XPoint Memory
Intel's pioneering 3D X-point Memory, which sought to bridge the gap between non-volatile Flash memory, and volatile DRAM, stares at an untimely demise, as Intel plans to wind up both its Optane Memory business, as well as further development of 3D XPoint. The industry's reception of Optane Memory has been lukewarm; while cheap NVMe SSDs have driven Optane out of the client segment. Intel in its Q2-2022 Financial Results release, announced that it has initiated the winding down of the Optane Memory business, and that the company is incurring a $559 million "Optane Memory Impairment" charge this quarter.
3D XPoint faces technological competition from the latest crop of 3D-stacked Flash memory, which is achieving over 200 layers of density; while the latest generation of PCI-Express Gen 5.0 controllers enable data-rates in excess of 10 GB/s, and certain enterprise-relevant features of PCIe Gen 5. In a statement released to AnandTech, Intel says: "We continue to rationalize our portfolio in support of our IDM 2.0 strategy. This includes evaluating divesting businesses that are either not sufficiently profitable or not core to our strategic objectives. After careful consideration, Intel plans to cease future product development within its Optane business. We are committed to supporting Optane customers through the transition."
Source:
AnandTech
3D XPoint faces technological competition from the latest crop of 3D-stacked Flash memory, which is achieving over 200 layers of density; while the latest generation of PCI-Express Gen 5.0 controllers enable data-rates in excess of 10 GB/s, and certain enterprise-relevant features of PCIe Gen 5. In a statement released to AnandTech, Intel says: "We continue to rationalize our portfolio in support of our IDM 2.0 strategy. This includes evaluating divesting businesses that are either not sufficiently profitable or not core to our strategic objectives. After careful consideration, Intel plans to cease future product development within its Optane business. We are committed to supporting Optane customers through the transition."
73 Comments on Intel to Shut Down Optane Memory Business, Retire 3D XPoint Memory
Yes, Optane was interesting, but it was way way way too expensive to be competitive.
It's obviously superior in terms of IOPS compared to current NAND based flash, but at 3-4x the cost, it's just not going to sell.
Personally I believe Intel messed up by pushing it for caching as well, no-one really asked for that.
Any chance of BAE Systems' Ovonyx Memory coming to the market? Basically the same thing as Optane (both were developed off the same patents).
1. The inventor and original patents holder of the particular kind of Phase Change 'crosspoint' deserves some credit. (Micron and Intel's 'work' extends from patents once held by the solar energy company owned by the inventor)
2. Before Micron and Intel got to the tech, British Military Industrial Contractor BAE Systems developed Ovonyx PCM off the previously mentioned's patents. (I wonder if this is related to Intel not licensing the technologies?)
3. Micron was instrumental in materializing Optane / 3DXpoint. Both on the engineering side, as well as manufacturing. (Their divestment and 'distancing' from Optane were sadly the beginnings of Optane's death throes)
And they had what 7-8 years to figure that out :rolleyes:
I also agree that its failure is squarely on Intel's shoulders, and that 'the giant' Intel had the best chance at market penetration and proliferation of PCM.
(I'd say Micron 'had a part', but [with no evidence] I just *know* Intel did something to sour their relationship.)
On the bright side: as long as there's not more weird legal troubles surrounding 3DXpoint-Optane PCM, 'workaround' and competing PCM IPs will have a chance at the market. Thankfully, 3DXpoint/Optane/Ovonyx PCM isn't the only prospective option for Phase Change Memory in general.
They were marketing Optane as an alternative to NAND & DRAM in some cases, without putting in the legwork to make it more accessible/universal & cheap(er) as compared to the incumbents.
Intel, like most 'Big Players in Industry' are 'disconnected' from the wants and needs of their consumer base. Related: The marketing they used to try and push 'cache modules' as 'system memory' in OEM PCs was awful.
I'm unabashedly a fan of the technology; I otherwise wish Intel to 'pound sand'.
Yes, the tech itself wasn't bad, it just took too long to get to a point where it made sense from a usage perspective and by then, Micron had already thrown in the towel.
On that note, Intel keeping it exclusive in an attempt at regaining lost server-space market share hurt its adoption. (I'm not sure about the engineering hurdles to having Optane platform-agnostic and 'DDR#-intercompatible')
And yes, nothing will reach those IOPS for quite a while, sorry to see it go.
Also, fanboyism has nothing to do with buying into Optane. Early adopters or tech-enthusiasts were around since forever. Remember when CD-ROM drives were >$1,000? Some people bought those, too.
As mentioned in my next comment above, I'm not against the technology, but Intel made a lot of terrible products based on it, as they were trying to figure out how to sell it.The stuff Micron just announced should have better life span, but nothing like this.They were a lot more when they launch, so they sat on the shelves collecting dust until Intel had a fire sale. Competitive pricing matters.