Is Intel SRT being discontinued? What's the replacement?

[SinanDira]

Hello, folks! It looks like things have changed since I was last in the tech scene in 2012. I was a big advocate of Intel's Smart Response Technology when it came out, which allows you to set a 19-64 GB SSD as a cache for your system drive. The unparalleled advantage of this setup is that it combines a massive storage space with most of the SSD's boundless speed at a very low cost.

However, I just came to learn that Intel's Rapid Storage Technology (SRT's control panel) has no SSD caching option in Windows 10 not because of a problem in my setup or anything, but because it's intended to be that way. More surprisingly, although SRT is listed as a feature of the Z270 chipset, the official system requirements on the setup guide (last reviewed: 09-Nov-2017) only state that it works with chipsets 6, 7 and 8 and Windows 7 and 8.1, and I can at least confirm the latter part about Windows.

Strangely enough, reverting a few versions back for Rapid Storage Technology brought the SRT (SSD caching) option back for me on Windows 10, which indicates that there's nothing wrong with the hardware or Windows 10 itself. Then, why would Intel be removing it? Is that what they're doing or am I missing anything here? And is there a replacement technology that I'm not yet aware of?

P.S. I'm bringing up the question for the sake of my 8th gen Intel computer I intend to build in Q1 2018. It would be great if I could keep my SSD caching setup the way it is now; 32 GB for 1 TB HDD.

[Bad 💀 Motha]

Caching is dead, just put OS on SSD, done.

[Seven7]

Caching not dead yet - Intel Optane replace SRT... Games of Marketers: buy, obey! We want more money!

[Los.Injurus.Bob.Blunderton]

Intel RST smart caching has been replaced by intel optane. It's more expensive, but has higher IOPS.
It's not only intel drives supported, either, but do check the QVL for it.
You can still use virtual memory / pagefile though on any SSD or HDD you set the system to use, regardless.

[Washell]

Putting a cache between the CPU/RAM and the storage media is only relevant when the cache media is too expensive to be used as the actual storage media. With the current prices for 100 to 500 GB SSD's, that no longer holds for most people.

Both of Intel's cache solutions are short term fixes for a very specific market, and it's almost always better (as a consumer), to just wait the 6 to 12 months for prices on the larger drives to drop than to invest in a sub-optimal solution.

[SinanDira]

引用自 Beamng.mapper.Bob.Blunderton：

Intel RST smart caching has been replaced by intel optane. It's more expensive, but has higher IOPS.
It's not only intel drives supported, either, but do check the QVL for it.
You can still use virtual memory / pagefile though on any SSD or HDD you set the system to use, regardless.

How does Optane Memory compare to SRT? Does it have just the same effect? I'm kind of bewildered because the product page does not really illustrate a clear image for me.

引用自 Washell：

Putting a cache between the CPU/RAM and the storage media is only relevant when the cache media is too expensive to be used as the actual storage media. With the current prices for 100 to 500 GB SSD's, that no longer holds for most people.

Both of Intel's cache solutions are short term fixes for a very specific market, and it's almost always better (as a consumer), to just wait the 6 to 12 months for prices on the larger drives to drop than to invest in a sub-optimal solution.

If you're referring to SSD caching, then it's far from sub-optimal. I can pay $50 for an SSD that can only accommodate Windows, or pay slightly less to accelerate a 1TB drive that has all of my music and games and lets me access them for 80% of the SSDs speed.

I surely do prefer SSD caching as a full solution over using an SSD out of the box.

[[☥] - CJ -]

Yeah, Optane is practically the same thing
Except with the Optane Modules theyre getting a piece of the action.

But even without SRT there is still this https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA0AJ1C41134 and others like it.

It doesnt use SRT but its very similar
It uses sandisks own software to do the same exact thing, so nothing you have to do to setup SRT has to be done.

I personally used it myself a few years back, it works pretty well.
The only problem is, with it being 32GB you have to clear the cache now n then when it comes to large games that get cached to it, that aside it works flawlessly.

[SinanDira]

♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ man. I am so excited about the idea of getting an 8th gen quad-core for the same price of a 7th gen dual-core, but I don't wanna throw my SSD away and get charged an extra 80 bucks for that Optane.

Can anybody tell me that I'm wrong and that there's a way around it?

[Bad 💀 Motha]

引用自 SinanDira：

♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ man. I am so excited about the idea of getting an 8th gen quad-core for the same price of a 7th gen dual-core, but I don't wanna throw my SSD away and get charged an extra 80 bucks for that Optane.

Can anybody tell me that I'm wrong and that there's a way around it?

You dont need that stuff, just put OS on the SSD, done.

[Seven7]

When SRT appeared 7 years ago, it showed its effectiveness only under a certain scenario, while on the other hand it resulted in a catastrophic decrease in speed. iOptane possible, don't have these drawbacks, but it requires for maximum efficiency the availability of both a conventional HDD of high capacity, and SSD, i.e. need a motherboard with two M2 and iOptane support

But the fact is that iOptane is needed only for a certain circle of users, mostly professional, it is targeted as a cheaper? alternative to the fast and capacitive NVME SSD connected to the PCI-E

For the rest of the usual users, SSD M2 is more than enough, due to improved technology and falling prices, caching does not really make much sense for ordinary users, this is what Bad_Motha mean in the very first message, saying that caching is dead.