Benchmarks: Storage
We mentioned the 512GB Intel Optane Memory H10 M.2 SSD earlier in the review, and we find it an interesting if unusual choice for a modern, high-performance laptop. What sets this particular Intel SSD apart is that it combines 512GB of QLC NAND with a 32GB Optane memory chip on a single M.2 board, allowing for hot data to be cached in memory for ultra-fast access.
Cached storage itself isn't new, yet while the benefits can be profound when applied to traditional mechanical storage, the advantage when caching an already fast SSD is less obvious. Synthetic benchmarks such as CrystalDiskMark show little gain, and common tasks such as Windows boot aren't appreciably quicker with Optane enabled. There are occasions where the cache can accelerate workloads - opening the same files regularly will result in quicker load times - but for random tasks the SSD component isn't the quickest. At this price point, and given the target audience, might a faster 1TB drive be preferred?