[NUC] Installing Optane™ Memory on NUC Kits

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Supported NUCs

NUC products with Intel Optane memory pre-installed

Product NamesSupport for Optane™ Memory
NUC 10 Performance Mini PC - NUC10i7FNHJA 
NUC 10 Performance Mini PC - NUC10i5FNHF6 
NUC 10 Performance Mini PC - NUC10i5FNHJA 
NUC 10 Performance Mini PC - NUC10i3FNHF6 
NUC 10 Performance Mini PC - NUC10i3FNHFA 
NUC 10 Performance Mini PC - NUC10i3FNHJA 
NUC 8 Mainstream-G mini PC (NUC8i7INHJA) 
NUC 8 Mainstream-G mini PC (NUC8i5INHJA) 
NUC 7 Home, a Mini PC with Windows® 10 - NUC7i3BNHXF 
NUC 7 Enthusiast, a Mini PC with Windows® 10 - NUC7i7BNHXG 
NUC 7 Home, a Mini PC with Windows® 10 - NUC7i5BNHXF 
NUC Kit NUC7i3BNHX1 with Optane™ Memory 
NUC Kit NUC7i5BNHX1 with Optane™ Memory 
NUC Kit NUC7i7BNHX1 with Optane™ Memory
Intel Optane Memory is pre-installed 
BIOS version is Intel Optane Memory ready


NUC products with Intel Optane memory supported (not pre-installed)

Product NamesSupport for Optane™ Memory
NUC 12 Pro X Kit - NUC12DCMv9 
NUC 12 Pro X Kit - NUC12DCMv7 
NUC 12 Extreme Kit - NUC12DCMi9 
NUC 12 Extreme Kit - NUC12DCMi7 
NUC 10 Performance kit - NUC10i7FNH 
NUC 10 Performance kit - NUC10i7FNHN 
NUC 10 Performance kit - NUC10i7FNK 
NUC 10 Performance kit - NUC10i7FNKN 
NUC 10 Performance kit - NUC10i5FNH 
NUC 10 Performance kit - NUC10i5FNHN 
NUC 10 Performance kit - NUC10i5FNK 
NUC 10 Performance kit - NUC10i5FNKN 
NUC 10 Performance kit - NUC10i3FNH 
NUC 10 Performance kit - NUC10i3FNHN 
NUC 10 Performance kit - NUC10i3FNK 
NUC 10 Performance kit - NUC10i3FNKN
BIOS version is Intel Optane Memory ready
NUC Kit NUC9VXQNX 
NUC Kit NUC9V7QNX 
NUC Kit NUC9i9QNX 
NUC Kit NUC9i7QNX 
NUC Kit NUC9i5QNX
BIOS version is Intel Optane Memory ready
NUC 7 Enthusiast, a Mini PC with Windows® 10 - NUC7i7BNKQ 
NUC 7 Home, a Mini PC with Windows® 10 - NUC7i5BNKP 
NUC Kit NUC7i3BNH 
NUC Kit NUC7i5BNH 
NUC Kit NUC7i7BNH

You can configure Intel Optane Memory after completing the following:

NUC 8 Mainstream-G mini PC (NUC8i5INHPA) 
NUC 8 Mainstream-G mini PC (NUC8i7INHPA) 
NUC 8 Mainstream-G kit (NUC8i5INHP) 
NUC 8 Mainstream-G kit (NUC8i7INHP) 
NUC 8 Mainstream-G kit (NUC8i5INHZ) 
NUC 8 Pro Kit NUC8v7PNH 
NUC 8 Pro Kit NUC8v5PNH 
NUC 8 Pro Kit NUC8i3PNH 
NUC Kit NUC8i7BEH 
NUC Kit NUC8i5BEH 
NUC Kit NUC8i3BEH 
NUC Kit NUC8i3CYSM 
NUC Kit NUC8i3CYSN 
NUC Kit NUC7i7DNHE 
NUC Kit NUC7i5DNHE 
NUC Kit NUC7i3DNHE 
NUC 7 Business, a Mini PC with Windows® 10 Pro - NUC7i3DNHNC
BIOS version is Intel Optane Memory ready

You need:

  • One of the supported NUC models from the table above
  • Intel Optane Memory (M.2 format)
  • 2.5-inch (6.35cm) SSD or HDD SATA drive
  • Windows® 10, 64-bit* operating system
  • Optane™ technology software
NoteIf the Rapid Storage Technology (RST) is installed, you must remove it before you install Intel Optane Memory.
Install the operating system
  1. Install Windows® 10, 64-bit* on the 2.5-inch SATA drive.
    • Don't install the operating system on the Intel Optane Memory.
  • Install the current device drivers for your NUC from Download Center:
    • Chipset Device Software
    • Management Engine Consumer driver
    • HD Graphics driver
    • Bluetooth Technology-based driver
    • Wireless Technology-based driver
    • Gigabit Ethernet Controllers driver
    • Realtek* High Definition Audio driver
    • Realtek Card Reader driver
    • ITE Tech* Consumer Infrared driver
    • Thunderbolt™ Bus driver (for NUC7i5BNH, NUC7i5BNHX1, NUC7i7BNH, NUC7i7BNHX1 only)
Configure Optane™ Memory
  1. Download and install the Optane™ Memory software.
  2. Restart the NUC after the installation is complete.
  3. When Windows* restarts, a dialog box to complete the setup displays. Select Yes to continue.

Optane™ memory window

  1. Select Enable.

Enable

  1. Select Yes on the warning screen.

Select Yes on the warning screen

  1. When the process is finished, select Restart.

click Restart

NoteWhen the NUC reboots, the BIOS automatically changes to support Intel Optane Memory*. 
* NUC 8 Mainstream-G NUC8ixINH has a different BIOS settings layout. To set up SATA Mode Selection, please go Advanced -> Storage tab.

 

User-added image

 

View setup information and statistics in the Intel Optane Memory application. To do this, open the software in either of the two ways shown below: 
 

The Windows Start menuOpen it from the Windows Start menu
Right-click the Intel Optane Memory icon on the Windows Taskbar and select 
Open Optane™ memory application.
Open Intel Optane memory application


open the Optane™ memory application

 

     
View a demo of installing the Intel Optane Memory

See how to install the Intel Optane Memory module.

Removing Intel Optane Memory

To remove Intel Optane Memory, first disable it.

NoteIf Intel Optane Memory is not disabled before removing, it may result in data loss and cause the NUC not to boot.

To disable Intel Optane Memory:

  1. Open the Intel Optane Memory application and select Disable.

Intel Optane Memory application 
 

  1. Restart the Intel NUC to ensure Intel Optane Memory is disabled.

Intel Optane Memory is disabled 
 

  1. Shut down the NUC.
  2. Follow the Changing an M.2 SSD or Intel Optane Memory Module instructions within the User Guide.
Troubleshooting
What are you seeing?Why are you seeing it?How to fix it
Error when starting your NUC: 
Warning! System detected a request to change SATA mode from Intel Optane to AHCI. This may result in lost or damaged data. Are you sure you want to proceed? (N) No or (Y) Yes.
The Chipset SATA Mode option in BIOS was changed to AHCI. 

This happens if you used the F9 key in BIOS Setup to set BIOS to default values.
Press the N key when you see this error. The BIOS change is discarded and your NUC continues to boot into Windows normally.
Error when trying to install the Intel Optane Memory software: 
Unsupported System Drive 
Unsupported System Drive
When you install Windows® 10 version 1607 for the first time with your NUC connected to LAN, Windows asks if you want to update to version 1703. 
Update to version 1703
Fix this issue by following the directions in this article. Another option is to not update to version 1703. Instead, use the normal Windows Update procedure.

 

Related topics
Warranty Process for NUC Kits with Optane™ Memory Pre-Installed
Optane™ Memory Home Page
User and Installation Guide for Optane™ Memory
Frequently Asked Questions about the Optane™ Memory Technology
Error Codes and Messages while Enabling and Disabling Optane™ Memory