I forgot to make a video about this $150,000 server
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Get 20% off DeleteMe US consumer plans when you go to joindeleteme.com and use promo code LTT at checkout. DeleteMe International Plans: international.joindeleteme.com Get 35% off a UGREEN NASync 4800 Plus at bit.ly (40% OFF on 3.26 8am -28 8am PDT) (up to 35% OFF 3.28-5.9) During a round of spring cleaning we found a heavy box with an expensive surprise, Optane! Discuss on the forum: linustechtips.com ► GET MERCH: lttstore.com ► GET EXCLUSIVE CONTENT ON FLOATPLANE: lmg.gg ► SPONSORS, AFFILIATES, AND PARTNERS: lmg.gg ► EQUIPMENT WE USE TO FILM LTT: lmg.gg ► OUR WAN PODCAST GEAR: lmg.gg FOLLOW US --------------------------------------------------- Twitter: twitter.com Facebook: @LinusTech Instagram: @linustech TikTok: @linustech Twitch: twitch.tv MUSIC CREDIT --------------------------------------------------- Intro: Laszlo - Supernova Video Link: youtube.com iTunes Download Link: itunes.apple.com Artist Link: soundcloud.com Outro: Approaching Nirvana - Sugar High Video Link: youtube.com Listen on Spotify: spoti.fi Artist Link: youtube.com Intro animation by MBarek Abdelwassaa @mbarek_abdel Monitor And Keyboard by vadimmihalkevich / CC BY 4.0 geni.us Mechanical RGB Keyboard by BigBrotherECE / CC BY 4.0 geni.us Mouse Gamer free Model By Oscar Creativo / CC BY 4.0 geni.us CHAPTERS --------------------------------------------------- 0:00 - Intro 1:05 - UGREEN! 1:27 - LTT Intro 1:33 - Optane Refresher 2:47 - Memory Mode 3:40 - Memory Mode Example 5:55 - App Direct Mode 7:12 - A Quick Rant About MoBo Settings 8:30 - Storage Mode/Mixed Mode 12:13 - Why Optane Died 17:52 - DeleteMe! 18:45 - Outro
The video opens with Linus and the LMG crew uncovering a surprising relic from spring cleaning: a $150,000 Intel server rack filled with two CPUs, eight SSDs, and a massive 6.3 terabytes of RAM, all featuring Optane persistent memory modules. They recount receiving the system from Intel three years prior, doing a quick unboxing, and then leaving it for a deeper dive that never happened. The host clarifies that what looks like RAM is actually Optane PMEM, which Intel labeled as a memory storage solution, and explains the context around Optane’s rise and shuttering in 2022. The segment then segues into a basic refresher on Optane, distinguishing between metal memory, storage devices, and the elusive middle ground Optane occupied. The discussion pivots to how Optane behaves in memory mode, appearing as RAM to the OS, and the inherent security caveats of restarting with Optane in this mode, since each boot can regenerate encryption keys and wipe data, albeit with resilience to data loss due to its endurance. The host demonstrates a practical workflow showing how memory mode interacts with demanding apps like SOLIDWORKS flow simulation, highlighting the RAM requirements, the latency tradeoffs, and how Optane’s ultra-low latency can benefit certain workloads even if it’s not true DRAM.
Topics · technology · hardware · data_storage · computing_history
Questions answered
- What is Optane memory and how does it differ from standard RAM or SSDs?
- Optane memory, specifically Optane Persistent Memory, functions as a middle ground between RAM and storage. In memory mode it appears as RAM to the OS, but retains persistence and different latency characteristics than DRAM. In storage mode it presents as an SSD with much lower latency than NAND, enabling high-speed storage access. App Direct mode exposes Optane directly to applications for custom usage, though this requires specialized software.
- Why did Optane decline in the market despite its low latency?
- Optane arrived later than competing memory technologies, forcing a trade-off with memory bandwidth. The high cost of Optane modules paired with RAM, alongside a global DRAM shortage and later competition from AMD EPYC platforms with more memory channels, reduced its appeal. Additionally, Intel discontinued Optane, leaving inventory and limited production, which diminished market momentum.