Intel now needs to use AMD CPUs to test its PCIe 4.0 SSDs

TweakTown picked up news on Twitter that Intel is already sending out PCI Express 4.0 capable Optane SSDs to developers. To use these disks, you need a PC with a PCI Express 4.0 capable motherboard and processor, something that's currently only offered by AMD. It's unknown when Intel will roll out its first PCI Express 4.0 platform, it doesn't seem like this will arrive before 2021. This implies Intel is likely using AMD hardware in its labs to test its newest SSDs.

Intel technical marketing performance engineer, Frank Ober, tweeted (above) that Intel can send PCIe 4.0-capable SSDs to developers, but they'll need PCIe 4.0-capable CPUs and motherboards to test them. The super-fast new Alder Stream SSDs (an updated version of their Optane drive tech, with second-gen 3D XPoint technology).

@glcst would you like to test on gen2 pcie 4 capable optane ssd to see your code's potential? Then I can set that up for you. Send me a private email when you are ready... @axboe has his own...

— Frank Ober (@fxober) 24 december 2019