For the first time Intel is offering their Optane memory coupled with traditional NAND storage in a single package, which makes it an ideal candidate for space-constrained applications such as the thin-and-light HP notebook our review sample arrived in. Yes, Optane Memory H10 with Solid State Storage is here, and while we have already covered the benefits of Optane and its faster-than-lightning 3D Xpoint memory technology the unique pairing of this ultra low-latency cache and larger QLC storage in a single M.2 package is worthy of a fresh look.

The Optane Memory H10 with Solid State Storage module is available in three sizes; with 256 GB, 512GB, and 1TB to be available from select OEMs. For the smallest 256GB capacity the Optane memory onboard is 16GB, and this doubles to 32GB for the larger capacities. Rather than bridging the two different technologies on the package itself Intel has left them as discrete devices and created a bifurcated storage device as a result; internally separate storage devices, the Optane and QLC NAND storage devices split the external PCIe Gen3 x4 connection. A compatible system will see these as two separate PCI Gen3 x2 storage devices, and the Optane cache is handled completely in software.