Intel Optane Persistent Memory 512GB Module Can be Yours for $7816

[Vya Domus]

It will win in circumstances where classical memory hierarchy runs out of faster memory.

That comes with many caveats, for example assuming that memory access is somewhat predictable and caching can be done effectively. Unfortunately that's not always the case.

 

[londiste]

That comes with many caveats, for example assuming that memory access is somewhat predictable and caching can be done effectively. Unfortunately that's not always the case.

Well, that depends. These Optane DIMMs get closer to DRAM with latency than they do with bandwidth. Caching may not always be needed. Optane DIMMs will not work by themselves and server needs to have some DRAM in it either way.

It is still early for a comprehensive set of tests of what they are but there are some preliminary simple testing done on this, for example:
https://www.nextplatform.com/2019/03/18/researchers-scrutinize-optane-memory-performance/

Often enough these persistent DIMMs are compared against SSDs rather than DRAM. While it may seem suspicious, the gap between RAM and SSD is really the level in the memory hierarchy these are going after:
https://www.storagereview.com/super...optane_dc_persistent_memory_first_look_review

 

[FordGT90Concept]

Density difference actually sums it up pretty well.

8x64GB DDR4 is $3k+: https://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&IsNodeId=1&N=100007952 601318765
These Optane DIMMs can give you the same capacity in one memory slot, leaving room for expansion.

DDR4 supports "through silicon via" which means stacking registered chips. By the time DDR5 catches on, there will likely be 512 GB sticks of DDR4 for servers. Back in mid 2018, Samsung was already working on 256 GB.

DDR4 compared to 3D Xpoint or NAND runs hotter and requires more pathways in the PCB so they can't be packed in like sardines.

 

[R0H1T]

Well, that depends. These Optane DIMMs get closer to DRAM with latency than they do with bandwidth. Caching may not always be needed. Optane DIMMs will not work by themselves and server needs to have some DRAM in it either way.

It is still early for a comprehensive set of tests of what they are but there are some preliminary simple testing done on this, for example:
https://www.nextplatform.com/2019/03/18/researchers-scrutinize-optane-memory-performance/

Often enough these persistent DIMMs are compared against SSDs rather than DRAM. While it may seem suspicious, the gap between RAM and SSD is really the level in the memory hierarchy these are going after:
https://www.storagereview.com/super...optane_dc_persistent_memory_first_look_review

Those benchmarks don't touch the much more trivial & proven performers like primocache, the part about "persistent" memory is also overblown. If you need "power loss protection" for your servers you're probably not in the right business!

 

[kastriot]

I have no idea how TPU still allows you to shitpost in such glorious freedom, but i envy your unique ability to do so.

This type of technology has to start from somewhere, and while being delayed, its nice to know that its here. Optane has some very unique characteristics that can't be found in other products of the NAND world. Could be interesting for workstations in the future once the tech becomes a little more available and affordable

I envy you too being able to use s**t word without any consequences but again i guess user with so many messages has some privileges eh?

 

[Fx]

According to Tom's Hardware Intel's own pricing guidance puts prices to (with street prices obviously higher, especially right now when this stuff is brand new):
128GB - $577
256GB - $2,125
512GB - $6,751
Yes. You cannot drop this directly into any normal DDR4 slot though, it needs support from motherboard and CPU which today is limited to Enterprise.
Optane DIMMs are slower than DRAM but they are also much cheaper for the same amount. Persistence is the second part of what Optane DIMMs are about. There are a number or use cases where either of these is very-very useful. Whether this technology makes it to desktop we will have to see in the future.

It has made it to desktop. They use Optane technology in NUCs.

 

[jabbadap]

It has made it to desktop. They use Optane technology in NUCs.

That intel named Optane SSD Cache as "memory" is unfortunate and confusing naming scheme, which have very little to do with these Optane DC Persistent memory DIMMs.

 

[Fx]

That intel named Optane SSD Cache as "memory" is unfortunate and confusing naming scheme, which have very little to do with these Optane DC Persistent memory DIMMs.

Interesting. If this true (which I do not doubt), I stand corrected. I never looked into it much, but I did know that I hated it because it performed like crap. This was added insult because my employer purchased expensive NUCs with SATA SSDs for "optane" when it could have just bought NVMe drives for the same price or less.

 

[jabbadap]

Interesting. If this true (which I do not doubt), I stand corrected. I never looked into it much, but I did know that I hated it because it performed like crap. This was added insult because my employer purchased expensive NUCs with SATA SSDs for "optane" when it could have just bought NVMe drives for the same price or less.

Well yeah those nucs were sold with bundled m.2 Optane "memory" drives(I.E. NUC7i7BNHX1).

Anandtech's Ian Cutress has these Optane DIMMs, so i'm quite eager to see how 3d Xpoint perform when pcie boundary is removed.