> Even a few years on, I'm missing Optane drives because there is still no functional alternative...... they would have created a set of enterprise customers who would still be buying the things in 2040.
I guess many on HN are software developers looking at Optane.
In reality Optane was simply not cost effective. Optane came at a time when DRAM cost / GB was at its peak, the idea to developers could have slower DRAM that is non-volatile is great, until they realise slower DRAM causes CPU performance regression. Optane Memory, even on its roadmap in future product will always effectively be another layer between DRAM and NAND ( Storage ). And they could barely make profits when DRAM was at its peak. I dont think people realise there is near "4x" price difference between the height of DRAM price in ~2016 ish to ~2023.
In terms of Optane Storage, it was again at NAND's cost /GB peak and it was barely completing or making profits. Most would immediately point out it has lower latency and better QD1 performance. But Samsung showcased with Z-NAND, which is specifically tuned SLC NAND you can get close enough performance, far higher bandwidth and QD32 results, while using much lower power. And has a reliable Roadmap that is alongside the NAND development. Even Samsung stopped development of Z-NAND in 2023.
The truth is the market isn't interested in Optane enough at the price/ performance and feature it was offering. And Intel's execution for Optane, they have either over promised ( as they do in that era ) and fail to deliver on time or they are basically lying about the potential. And fail to bring down cost of fabbing it, which they blame Micron but in reality it is all on Intel.
The industry have also repeatedly stated they are not interested in a technology that is single sourced by either Intel or Micron. Unlike NAND and DRAM.
Intel was giving away Optane and pushing to Facebook and other Hyperscaler. But even then they couldn't even fill the minimum order for Micron and had to pay hundreds of millions per year for empty fabs.
I guess many on HN are software developers looking at Optane.
In reality Optane was simply not cost effective. Optane came at a time when DRAM cost / GB was at its peak, the idea to developers could have slower DRAM that is non-volatile is great, until they realise slower DRAM causes CPU performance regression. Optane Memory, even on its roadmap in future product will always effectively be another layer between DRAM and NAND ( Storage ). And they could barely make profits when DRAM was at its peak. I dont think people realise there is near "4x" price difference between the height of DRAM price in ~2016 ish to ~2023.
In terms of Optane Storage, it was again at NAND's cost /GB peak and it was barely completing or making profits. Most would immediately point out it has lower latency and better QD1 performance. But Samsung showcased with Z-NAND, which is specifically tuned SLC NAND you can get close enough performance, far higher bandwidth and QD32 results, while using much lower power. And has a reliable Roadmap that is alongside the NAND development. Even Samsung stopped development of Z-NAND in 2023.
The truth is the market isn't interested in Optane enough at the price/ performance and feature it was offering. And Intel's execution for Optane, they have either over promised ( as they do in that era ) and fail to deliver on time or they are basically lying about the potential. And fail to bring down cost of fabbing it, which they blame Micron but in reality it is all on Intel.
The industry have also repeatedly stated they are not interested in a technology that is single sourced by either Intel or Micron. Unlike NAND and DRAM.
Intel was giving away Optane and pushing to Facebook and other Hyperscaler. But even then they couldn't even fill the minimum order for Micron and had to pay hundreds of millions per year for empty fabs.