Intel Turbo Memory

Intel Turbo Memory is a technology introduced by Intel Corporation that uses NAND flash memory modules to reduce the time it takes for a computer to power up, access programs, and write data to the hard drive. During development, the technology was codenamed Robson.[1] It is supported by most of the Core 2 Mobile chipset series, but not by the newer Core i Series mobile chipsets.

Overview

The technology was publicly introduced on October 24, 2005, at the Intel Developer Forum (IDF) in Taiwan when a laptop that booted up almost immediately was demonstrated.[2] The technology attempts to decrease hard drive usage by moving frequently accessed data over to the flash memory. Flash memory can be accessed faster than hard drives and requires less power to operate, thereby allowing laptops to operate faster while also being more power efficient.[3][4]

The Turbo memory cache connects to a motherboard via a mini-PCIe interface. It is designed to leverage features introduced in Windows Vista, namely ReadyBoost (a supplementation of RAM-based disk caching by dedicated files on flash drives, except on the 512 MB version) and/or ReadyDrive (a non-volatile caching solution, i.e. an implementation of a hybrid drive, as long as the main storage isn't already one);[5] as ReadyBoost is backed by temporary files on generic storage volumes, it is unofficially possible to destinate this space for general purpose storage.[6]

Turbo Memory is not compatible with previous versions of Windows (with only a no-op driver that merely acknowledges the device existing for Windows 2000 and XP);[7] Linux support is limited to a third-party experimental MTD driver only supporting 2 GB modules.[8]

Availability

Intel Turbo Memory was made available on May 9, 2007, on the Intel's Santa Rosa platform and their Crestline (GM965) chipsets. Intel Turbo Memory 2.0 was introduced on July 15, 2008, on Intel's Montevina platform and their Cantiga (GM47) chipsets. It is available in 1, 2, and 4GB modules. It is supported in the Intel 965 Express chipset, and the Intel 4 Series Express chipsets (2GB and 4GB modules only).

Several retailers, such as Acer,[9] Asus,[10] Dell,[9] Lenovo,[11] Sager,[12] Toshiba,[9] etc., sold laptops enabled with the Intel Turbo Memory technology.

Reception

A review in AnandTech largely concurred with some OEM criticism finding that "it basically does nothing for the user experience".[13] HP refused to use the technology.[14] Ars Technica wrote in 2009 that Turbo Memory "never took off",[15] and CNET similarly pronounced that it was "never widely adopted",[16] because "Turbo Memory (and Turbo Memory 2.0) wasn't cheap, and it definitely wasn't worth the cost."[17]

In 2009 Intel had announced the successor to Turbo Memory for the 5-Series mobile chipsets, codename Braidwood. However, the series was launched without this technology. The ThinkPad lineup built on the first generation Intel Core-i platform features lands to connect a Braidwood module, however no production ThinkPad motherboard had the connector populated.[18] In 2011, The Register wrote "I think we can say Braidwood has sunk without trace."[19]

See also

References
  1. Gruener, Wolfgang (March 16, 2007). "Intel's Robson gets a real name: Turbo Memory". TG Daily. Archived from the original on January 7, 2009. Retrieved March 5, 2009.
  2. Nystedt, Dan (October 17, 2005). "Intel slashes PC power-up times". Macworld. Archived from the original on September 25, 2012. Retrieved March 5, 2009.
  3. "Intel Discloses Technologies To Make The Internet More Personal And Mobile" (Press release). Intel Corporation. March 7, 2006. Retrieved May 10, 2006.
  4. Loh, Victor; Case, Loyd (March 10, 2006). "Intel's Robson Boosts Hard Drive Performance". ExtremeTech. Retrieved March 5, 2009.
  5. "Intel Turbo Memory". Dell. Retrieved 18 March 2023.
  6. swarfega (2009-11-05). "Windows 7 using Intel Turbo Memory (Robson) as [a persistent RAM disk]". SevenForums. Retrieved 19 March 2023.
  7. "Release notes - Disabling tool for Intel Turbo Memory" (txt). Lenovo. 2009-06-11. Retrieved 19 March 2023. Windows XP/2000 operating systems do not support Intel Turbo Memory. [...] This package is to eliminate the Yellow Exclamation (!) in Device Manager.
  8. Ekman, Erik. "turbomem: Incomplete Linux driver for Intel Turbo Memory Controller ("Robson") PCIe card". GitHub. Retrieved 19 March 2023.
  9. David, Meyer (June 4, 2007). "HP says no to Intel's Turbo Memory". ZDNet.co.uk. Retrieved March 5, 2009.
  10. Lo, Harry (July 24, 2007). "Asus Now Offers Intel Turbo Memory on Notebooks". HotHardware.com. Retrieved March 5, 2009.
  11. "Notebook features short descriptions". Archived from the original on June 20, 2012. Retrieved March 5, 2009.
  12. "The new Sager NP8660 notebook". Sager Notebook Computer. Archived from the original on February 14, 2012. Retrieved March 5, 2009.
  13. Investigating Intel's Turbo Memory: Does it really work?, AnandTech
  14. HP says no to Intel's Turbo Memory, CNET
  15. Intel's new flash tech to bring back Turbo Memory, for real, Ars Technica
  16. Crothers, Brooke (6 June 2009). "Intel 'Braidwood' chip targets snappier software". CNET. Retrieved 1 March 2020.
  17. Intel's 'Braidwood'--Turbo Memory done right?, CNET
  18. "X201 tablet mod: adding a 3rd (and maybe 4th) mini PCIe". thinkpads.com Support Community. 20 April 2015. Retrieved 2 November 2017.
  19. Intel trying a flash cache again, The Register
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