Is Intel Optane Faster Than NVMe SSDs?

Overview of Intel Optane and NVMe SSDs

Intel Optane and NVMe (Non-Volatile Memory Express) Solid State Drives (SSDs) are both powerful storage solutions designed for different use cases. However, do they offer distinct advantages that make one faster than the other? This article aims to provide a detailed comparison to help you decide which one is best suited for your needs.

Technology and Performance Characteristics

Intel Optane

Intel Optane technology utilizes 3D XPoint memory, which is significantly faster than the NAND flash used in most traditional SSDs. Its key feature is extremely low latency, making it highly suitable for applications that require quick data access.

While Optane drives do not always surpass the raw throughput of the fastest NVMe SSDs, they often outperform them in random read/write operations due to their minimal latency. This makes Optane particularly advantageous in scenarios involving heavy workloads, such as data center caching and high-performance computing (HPC).

NVMe SSDs

NVMe SSDs are built on NAND flash memory, connected to the system via the NVMe interface, which allows for high data transfer speeds. These drives can achieve sequential read/write speeds of up to 3000 MB/s and over 7000 MB/s, especially with the PCIe 4.0 and 5.0 interfaces.

Due to their higher throughput, NVMe SSDs are generally better suited for general-purpose storage, gaming, and tasks that benefit from high sequential read/write speeds. However, their latency can be higher in random access scenarios compared to Optane drives.

Conclusion: Specific Use Cases

Faster Performance: Intel Optane may provide faster performance in specific tasks that demand low latency and high IOPS (Input/Output Operations Per Second). Conversely, NVMe SSDs excel in scenarios that require high sequential read/write speeds.

Best Choice: The decision between Optane and NVMe SSDs depends on your specific workload and requirements. For high-performance computing and workloads with frequent random access, Optane is often the preferable choice. For general storage needs, NVMe SSDs are typically more suitable due to their higher throughput.

Comparative Analysis: Intel Optane vs NVMe

Latency and Small Block Performance

When comparing Intel Optane to NVMe SSDs, one notable difference lies in latency. Intel Optane drives have a much lower latency, making them excel in reading small 4K blocks more quickly. This is particularly advantageous for applications that require frequent small data accesses.

For small writes, Optane offers an advantage because it does not need to manage processes like wear leveling, free erase block management, write cache RAM, and FTL (Flash Translation Layer) mapping. Optane can write to the destination immediately, which enhances its performance in small write operations.

Linear Read Speed

While Intel Optane drives are excellent for small block performance, their linear read speed is generally not as fast as that of NVMe SSDs. The Optane 905p, for example, typically tops out at about 2 GB/s for large file reads, compared to the 970 Pro, which can reach speeds of 3.5 GB/s. This limitation arises from Intel’s controller design but is not inherently a fundamental impediment. Intel and Micron are currently working on faster versions for PCIe 4 or possibly skipping straight to PCIe 5.

Summary

In summary, neither Intel Optane nor NVMe SSDs can be categorically declared faster across all scenarios. The choice between them should be based on the specific needs of your workload and application. For those requiring ultra-low latency and frequent small I/O operations, Intel Optane is often the better choice. For widespread, high-speed file operations, NVMe SSDs are typically more suitable.