One of the biggest bottlenecks in modern consumer PC's is undoubtedly the Hard Drive. So often we sit there waiting with CPU at 11% usage, RAM at 33% usage, HDD at 100% usage sounding more like a jet plane while it spools up.

Intel has come up with pretty unique solution to this problem, in the form of Intel Optane.

These nifty little blue sticks are pretty unique. The idea behind Optane is that they are as fast as one of the modules on your RAM sticks, but the memory isn't volatile like RAM (so it stays on the flash when the system is turned off). Through some fairly clever algorithms, your PC will decide what is to be stored on the Optane modules. This is typically files from programs that are used the most!

So how much gain is to be had from this stick of Optane? Intel has reported that general performance in regards to loading times can be improved by up to 21 times that of a simple system with just a hard drive installed.

Pretty exciting stuff but there is a catch… There are some requirements that you need to fulfill in order to be able to use one of these guys:

* 7th Gen Intel Core CPU
* Motherboard with an Intel 200 Series Chipset
* Spare M.2 type 2280 slot
* Windows 10 64-Bit

If you have all of the above, the next step is deciding what capacity you require. There are two variants available to date – a 32GB and a 16GB model. The larger the capacity you grab the more can be stored on your Optane. Intel recommends the 32GB Module to gamers who are playing more than one game at a time (not at the exact same time :P).

Installing your new Optane Module is a pretty simple affair:

* Locate your free M.2 slot
* Remove the retainer screw in the motherboard
* Plug in the Optane stick with the sticker side up
* Screw down the retainer screw when the stick is gently pressed flat against the motherboard

Once done installing jump onto your motherboards driver page and download the latest Optane Drivers, install and enable. Done!

If you have bought a PC in the last 6 months it is pretty likely that you are going to be able to accelerate it with the addition of an Optane Module. Check out which Gorilla Rigs are Optane ready!

It is a relatively low price for the amount of performance you can expect from the little blue Module. Highly recommended after my testing with a 16GB unit. Happy gaming!