Intel 'Turbo Memory' tries to speed up Windows

SANTA CLARA, Calif.--Intel's newest version of Turbo Memory is trying to do what Windows doesn't do: transparently optimize Windows for flash memory storage.

At the Flash Memory Summit in Santa Clara, Calif., Intel will be demonstrating its latest version of Turbo Memory based on flash memory to accelerate application performance in Windows.

Intel Turbo Memory dashboard

(Credit: Intel)

Intel is offering a "dashboard" for Windows that allows the user to choose and control which applications or files are loaded into the Intel Turbo Memory cache (based on flash memory chips) for performance acceleration. Intel calls this "User pinning."

Custom pinning profiles can be created to pin applications or files that match the user's activity, according to Intel. Data intensive programs, gaming, digital media editing and productivity software are examples of applications that will see the most benefit, according to Intel.

Intel is trying to address a longstanding shortcoming of Windows: its inability to take full advantage of flash storage devices. "There are issues related to taking full advantage of the speed of a (flash drive)," said Troy Winslow, marketing manager for the NAND Products Group at Intel, in an interview at the Flash Memory Summit.

Avi Cohen, managing partner at Avian Securities, said he believes this should be an innate part of the operating system. "The more interesting way is to have it built into the operating system," said Cohen. "I don't think it gains much traction because I don't think users want to sit there and start selecting what goes where," he said. "It was a valiant effort by Intel to accelerate the move toward solid state on PC," Cohen added.

Winslow, however, said that Intel "has shipped million of units" of Turbo Memory and that he expects some notebook makers to integrate it into high-end lines.

Interestingly, Windows Vista does have a feature called "ReadyBoost" that can "use storage space on some removable media devices, such as USB flash drives, to speed up your computer," according to Microsoft documentation. This documentation can also be found in "Windows Help and Support" as part of any copy of Vista.

"When you insert a compatible device, the AutoPlay dialog box will offer you the option to speed up your system using Windows ReadyBoost," the Microsoft documentation says.

In related news, Intel announced a new Z-P230 PATA (Parallel ATA) SSD drive that comes in 4 gigabyte (GB) and 8GB capacities, with a 16GB version following in September. Pricing is $25 for the 4GB version for 1,000 unit quantities and $45 for 1,000 unit quantities for the 8GB version.

[Ormond Otvos]

I have Turbo on my 50 mHz Intel chip right now!

[alenas]

This is just a marketing JOKE.
I have Intel Turbo Memory on my ThinkPad T61p. At first it was blue screening all the time. Then i disabled ReadyBoost - blue screens disapeared. Then there were new drivers, after update ReadyDrive stopped working. Now i have the latest (few day old) version of ITM drivers - but still - it blue screens with ReadyBoost - and you can not enable ReadyDrive.

So INTEL - do we need class action - so you would at least create a driver that would not blue screen? And do not give us more bu115hit about your new Turbo Memory - cause only fools would believe that it works...

[Lerianis]

Excuse me, but Turbo Memory does work... otherwise, high-end developers like Alienware (who make sure their computers boot and load before shipment) wouldn't be including it.

If you are getting a blue-screen... look more towards some conflict between Readyboost and something ELSE on your computer.

[08Rabbit]

@ Lerianis
Alienware is owned by dell.
High end is out the window. :D

[qingyunyun]

No matter how this is a new echnology,and it is raw,but it is perfect one day!

[ethana2]

I can't wait 'till Ubuntu ships LogFS or something for SSD's by default. That's the Right Way to do it, using a flash file system instead of a disk file system.

[sal-magnone]

FUD.

My Alienware notebook come with 1GB ReadyBoost. It works perfectly.

I've had this box for almost a year now - 0 blue screens.

BTW: VISTA DOES use this memory well. Try it on a 512mb or 1gb box. You can easily measure the difference. It works less on 2gb and over box because the system has lot's of faster memory to do caching already. You have to be pegging the RAM to notice the difference.

[jscott418]

You know I do not see and specifications here to back up the hype. This sounds like another tweak and that's all. I am personally tired of all these little programs that do basically nothing and yet run and take up CPU cycles. How many have seen network helpers, and backup managers, and maintenance programs come on computer's from computer manufactures. The so called value added software. Only to find out many of these helper's are already in the OS?? This Turbo boosts sounds like the same thing.

[binaryspiral75]

Funny thing though... it may be a marketing hype - but when it boils down to actual data - the flash is going to be a few hundred thousand times faster than your laptop's hard drive. And if I can choose which apps to cache, even more of a bonus.

[jbhardman]

"Interestingly, Windows Vista does have a feature called "ReadyBoost" that can "use storage space on some removable media devices, such as USB flash drives, to speed up your computer," according to Microsoft documentation. This documentation can also be found in "Windows Help and Support" as part of any copy of Vista."

What the hell is he talking about? Did this guy just wake up from a sleep since 2006? Did he really just discover ReadyBoost and find it an interesting find?

[John B Jr]

Readyboost causes the BSOD. I was getting "random" blue screens. I finally traced it to the Windows OneCare Backup, and Readyboost -- that combination causes BSOD 100% of time. Have removed ReadyBoost, and no problems with Onecare backups, or BSOD.