Next gen Intel Optane memory modules coming in Q2 2019

Intel’s initial Optane memory products that were designed to help increase mechanical storage drive caching speeds did not have the desired impact, so the company went ahead and expanded the line with faster enterprise SSDs targeting the enthusiast market. As the NVMe standard is becoming a mainstream feature for desktops as well as laptops nowadays, Intel intends to upgrade caching products to the faster PCIe Gen 3 X4 interface and provide a significant speed boost.

According to Anandtech, the current Optane Memory M10 module will be replaced with a new M15 one, codenamed Carson Beach. Besides the upgrade from PCIe Gen 3 X2 to X4, the M15 module will pack 16 to 128 GB of storage space in M.2 2280 form factor and 16 to 64 GB on M.2 2242 form factor. As for the new Optane SSD 815P codanemd Bombay Beach, which is replacing the current 800P model, the capacities will remain the same 58 and 118 GB. These new devices still require a Kaby Lake or newer platform plus a Windows OS that is compatible with the Optane memory storage drivers.

In addition to these new devices, Intel will also launch a new product called Optane Memory H10 that combines NAND and 3D XPoint memory chips. Unlike the Optane Mxx drives that help with the HDD caching, the new H10 products will provide caching for the onboard QLC NAND memory. Storage capacities in this case include 16 GB Optane cache + 256 GB QLC NAND and 32 GB cache + 512 GB / 1 TB QLC NAND. Intel states that the H10 will require a Whiskey Lake or Coffee Lake platform and the initial renders suggest that the module will be identified as two separate NVMe devices, which could potentially split the performance to two PCIe Gen 3 X2 lanes.

Even though the M15 and 815P were not officially announced, these products should be launched together with the H10 some time in Q2 2019.

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