Frequently Asked Questions for Intel® Optane™ SSD 800P Series
Terminology
| Abbreviation | Term | Definition |
| NVMe* | Non-Volatile Memory Express | The next-generation specification used to access SSDs through the PCI Express bus with greater throughput and lower latency. |
| PCIe* | Peripheral Component Interconnect Express | A standard connection found on most systems that supports the high speed of the NVMe SSD. |
| UEFI | Unified Extensible Firmware Interface | A specification for system firmware, meant to replace legacy BIOS, that provides software layer between the operating system and the system firmware. |
| CSM | Compatibility Support Module | A UEFI firmware feature that enables legacy BIOS-style booting by emulating a BIOS environment. |
Click or the topic for details:
Hardware and software
Where can I find drivers for my Intel® Optane™ SSD 800P Series with PCI Express* NVMe*?
The standard NVMe in-box drivers that are available for most operating systems support Intel® SSDs. We don't have a vendor-unique driver for these products. If you have a 6th Generation Intel® Core™ Processor with flexible input/output support in the system BIOS, you can also use the Intel® Rapid Storage Technology (Intel® RST) driver.
For Linux*, consult your OS vendor for more information about available NVMe drivers and support.
What are the hardware and software requirements for using the Intel Optane SSD 800P Series as a boot drive?
The requirements for using the Intel Optane SSD 800P Series as a boot drive are:
- PCIe NVMe storage-capable hardware motherboard support for the M.2 B-M Key form factor. Consult your system or motherboard vendor for more information
Note There may be multiple M.2 connectors available, but that doesn't mean all of them support the NVMe standard. Consult your motherboard vendor and user manual for the right connections - System BIOS that supports UEFI 2.3.1 or later with NVMe support
- GPT drive format (see how to install OS to GPT)
- Microsoft Windows 7* or Windows® 10 operating system
Note Other OS supporting the requirements above may function properly, but we haven't yet validated them. - Compatible NVMe driver available during OS installation for the drive to be detected
What are the hardware and software requirements for using the Intel Optane SSD 800P Series as a secondary drive or data drive?
The requirements are below:- PCIe NVMe storage-capable hardware motherboard support for the M.2 B-M Key form factor. Consult your system or motherboard vendor for more information.
Note There may be multiple M.2 connectors available, but that doesn't mean all of them support the NVMe standard. Consult your motherboard vendor and user manual for the right connections. - System BIOS that supports UEFI 2.3.1 or later with NVMe support
- Microsoft Windows 7 or Windows 10 operating system
Note Other OS supporting the requirements above may function properly, but we haven't yet validated them. - Compatible NVMe driver installed within the OS for the drive to be detected
What motherboards has Intel tested with the Intel Optane SSD 800P Series?
See the product compatibility page for more information.Installation
How do I install the Windows operating system on the Intel Optane SSD 800P Series?
See the Intel® Solid State Drives with PCIe* NVMe* Boot Installation Guide for more information.Why can't I see the Intel Optane SSD 800P Series on the first restart after installing my operating system?
BIOS settings may be the issue. Make sure:- The Intel Optane SSD 800P Series is the first boot device.
- You have enabled UEFI in BIOS.
- You used the UEFI installation method on your installation media.
How do I connect the M.2 B-M Key form factor to the system/motherboard?
Consult with your Motherboard/System Vendor to determine the proper M.2 slot that supports NVMe* devices and BIOS settings.
In addition, please refer to the Proper Handling Techniques and Precautions for Your M.2 Device.
Operating system
How do I install the Windows 7 OS on the Intel® Optane™ SSD 800P Series drive as a boot drive?
Windows 7 doesn't contain a native NVMe driver for the OS installation as Windows 8.1* and later do.To see the NVMe drive, depending on the system configuration:
| Note | You may need to add USB drivers to the Windows 7 image. See the <Installation Guide>. |
- Use the Intel® Rapid Storage Technology (Intel® RST) driver. Install the driver during Windows 7 installation.
| Note | This method only works on platforms that support flexible input/output (remapping). These platforms include 6th Generation Intel® Core™ Processors and later. |
What operating systems are validated for boot functionality with the Intel Optane SSD 800P Series?
Operating systems that have been tested for system boot functionality are 64-bit versions of:- Windows 7
- Windows 10
- RHEL* 7.3
- Ubuntu* 17.04
Can I install Linux on the Intel Optane SSD 800P Series?
We have tested boot functionality on a subset of Linux operating systems. Functionality on all Linux-based OS isn't guaranteed. If you encounter an issue, refer to the Linux vendor support page or contact support.Can I migrate my operating system to the Intel Optane SSD 800P Series drive?
You can migrate your OS as long as your current OS is set up and installed with the proper UEFI settings. Otherwise, we recommend reinstalling the OS.General Questions
Why is the capacity of the modules listed as 58GB and 118GB?
The module uses a small portion of memory media management and maintenance. The listed capacities are the values that align with the IDEMA standard per the available LBA count. The total user capacity remains constant throughout the life of the drive.
What is the difference between the Intel® Optane™ Memory Series and the Intel® Optane™ SSD 800P Series?
The main difference is that the Intel® Optane™ SSD 800P Series is a discrete storage device enabling dedicated storage of select files and applications. It’s a standalone PCIe NVMe SSD similar to other M.2 PCIe SSD’s in the market when It comes to hardware requirements. Whereas Intel® Optane™ Memory is used as an accelerator to accelerate slow storage like HDD. It augments storage performance automatically using Intel’s Software Driver and presents itself to the OS as one volume.
As primary storage, the Intel® Optane™ SSD 800P Series is designed to store files and applications. Intel® Optane™ memory is a system accelerator, used to cache commonly used applications and files stored on slower primary storage devices, like SATA HDDs and SSDs, for faster access. These series of products provide users with options that allow them to select the best option for their needs.
Can I use the Intel® Optane™ SSD 800P Series as a system accelerator with Intel® Optane™ Memory/Intel® Rapid Storage Technology (Intel® RST) software?
The Intel® Optane™ Memory/Intel® Rapid Storage Technology (Intel® RST) software won't block system acceleration from being enabled on the Intel® Optane™ SSD 800P Series drives. But this configuration isn't comprehensively validated or supported, so functionality won't be guaranteed
