Intel teases next-gen Optane tech, requires Kaby Lake

Intel's upcoming Optane memory technology is one of the most exciting products of the last few years, with the company developing the technology with Micron.

Intel and Micron use 3D XPoint technology that promises super-fast speeds with high capacity, and now we're getting closer to Optane becoming a reality. Intel recently revealed you will need a new 200-series chipset motherboard with specific M.2 slots, and a Kaby Lake-based processor. You'll also need to make sure your motherboard has a BIOS that supports Intel's Rapid Storage Technology (RST) driver v15.5 or higher.

The required 200-series motherboard also need to have an M.2 type 2280-S1-B-M or 2242-S1-B-M storage connector linked to a PCH Remapped PCI-E controller with two or four lanes and B-M keys meeting Non Volatile Memory Express (NVMe) v1.1 standards.

How does Optane work? It's a blend of storage with performance of DRAM but the benefits of traditional SSDs. Think DRAM-fast memory speeds, with data retention when the system is turned off, instead of your RAM being flushed with each reboot.

An Intel spokesperson reached out to us, saying: "We take any competition seriously but as we've learned, consumers usually take a 'wait and see' approach on performance claims for untested products. 7th Gen Intel® Core™ delivers the best experiences, and with 8th Gen Intel Core and new technologies like Intel® Optane™ memory coming soon, Intel will not stop raising the bar".