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You can use an Intel Optane SSD 800P 118GB as a Windows boot drive, provided the computer’s M.2 slot supports PCIe NVMe and its firmware supports UEFI NVMe boot. But “118GB Optane” does not identify the model: check the label or hardware inventory before following 800P-specific advice. Use UEFI mode and GPT for Windows Setup, and check the motherboard or system manual to confirm the slot can boot from NVMe.
First identify which Optane device you have
Intel Optane products with similar capacities can serve different purposes. The Intel Optane SSD 800P is a standalone NVMe SSD that Intel documents as a boot-drive candidate. Optane Memory and M10 modules are generally discussed as acceleration devices, while H10 and H20 combine Optane and QLC NAND portions and require specific platform firmware support.
Read the exact model from the module label or check the system’s hardware inventory. Do not assume a device is an 800P just because it is an Intel Optane module with a nominal capacity near 118GB.
| Product family | What to check before installing Windows |
|---|---|
| Optane SSD 800P | Intel lists boot-drive prerequisites: a PCIe NVMe-capable M.2 connection that supports booting, UEFI 2.3.1 or later with NVMe support, and GPT formatting. Intel Optane SSD 800P FAQ. |
| Optane Memory or M10 | Do not confuse using a module as a boot disk with enabling Optane acceleration. Acceleration depends on supported CPU and chipset, BIOS support, and the matching Intel RST configuration. Intel’s compatibility tables cover Optane Memory and M10 devices; verify support for your exact system. Intel Optane Memory compatibility information. |
| H10 or H20 | Check that the system BIOS supports both portions of the module. On an unsupported system, only the QLC NAND portion may be recognized; “Optane Memory Ready” alone does not establish H-series support. Intel H-series support information. |
Check the computer before installing
An M.2 connector is not enough to establish compatibility: some M.2 slots do not support NVMe, and some systems may not boot from the slot even if they recognize a drive. Consult the motherboard or computer manual for the specific connector and confirm PCIe NVMe support and boot support. For the 800P, Intel’s stated requirements include UEFI 2.3.1 or later with NVMe support and GPT. Intel Optane SSD 800P FAQ.
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Back up anything on the Optane drive before setup. Installing Windows may require deleting existing partitions on the selected target, which erases their contents.
Install Windows in UEFI mode on a GPT disk
- Prepare the installer. Create Windows installation media using the method appropriate to your Windows version, then connect it to the computer.
- Choose the UEFI installer entry. Open the system’s one-time boot menu or firmware boot menu and select the USB entry identified as UEFI. The exact key and label vary by manufacturer.
- Select the Optane target. In Windows Setup, choose the Optane SSD as the installation destination. Verify the disk by its listed capacity and other identifying details so you do not erase another drive.
- Install to the intended disk. If you want a clean installation and have backed up the target, remove its existing partitions in Setup, select the resulting unallocated space, and continue. Windows Setup creates the partitions it needs for a UEFI installation.
- Confirm the boot result. After setup, use Windows Boot Manager associated with the Optane disk as the boot target. In Windows Disk Management, check the disk’s partition style: right-click the disk label, select Properties, open Volumes, and confirm Partition style reports GUID Partition Table (GPT).
Intel’s UEFI guidance describes booting Windows Setup in UEFI mode and checking for GPT after installation. Its MBR/legacy-mode warning applies to Optane system acceleration; that feature is distinct from simply booting Windows from an 800P SSD. For a straightforward Optane setup, UEFI and GPT are the appropriate path. Intel guidance on UEFI and GPT for Optane.
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If Windows Setup cannot see the drive
Start by checking firmware and storage-controller configuration rather than assuming the module is defective. If the computer uses Intel VMD to manage storage, Windows Setup may need the matching Intel RST VMD driver before it can list the drive.
- Check the BIOS or UEFI settings. Look for the storage-controller or VMD configuration described in your computer or motherboard documentation. Names and available options vary by platform.
- Get the platform-matched driver. Download the applicable Intel RST/VMD driver from the system or motherboard vendor, or use Intel’s package for the matching platform. Avoid choosing a driver solely because it contains “RST” or “VMD” in its name.
- Load the driver in Setup. At the drive-selection screen, choose Load driver, provide the driver files on removable media, and then check whether Setup lists the Optane SSD.
- Keep the installed configuration consistent. Do not casually change VMD or storage-controller settings after Windows is installed. Intel warns that changing the BIOS configuration described in its VMD guidance after installation can cause an “Inaccessible Boot Device” error. Follow a platform-specific migration procedure and make a backup before changing modes. Intel VMD and RST driver guidance.
If the drive still does not appear, recheck the exact module model, slot capabilities, firmware support, and driver match with the computer or motherboard vendor. A detected M.2 device is not necessarily a supported boot device.
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- Snappy PC experience with short boot times, fast application launches, extraordinary gaming experience and responsive browsing
- Pair Intel Optane memory with storage media (HDD, SSD), to get amazing performance and responsiveness without compromising storage capacities
- Supported on 7th Gen Intel Corei3 processor and above
- Requires Optane Ready Motherboard and storage drive such as HDD and/or SSD
- A computer with Intel Optane memory adapts to your everyday computing activities to make your repetitive tasks increasingly faster, smoother and easier to accomplish
Windows 11 and Optane: check platform and driver support
Optane support under Windows 11 depends on the platform generation and driver combination, not just on whether Windows Setup can install the operating system. Intel’s article, last reviewed April 25, 2025, lists driver 17.11.0.1000 for supported 8th- and 9th-generation systems performing an upgrade or clean installation, and driver 18.6.1.1016 for supported 10th- and 11th-generation systems. It says 7th-generation platforms are not supported for Windows 11. These are Intel’s stated Optane compatibility conditions, not a complete Windows 11 eligibility check; also verify the PC’s OS requirements with its manufacturer or Microsoft. Intel Windows 11 and Optane compatibility guidance.
Plan the drive’s role in a home lab
Treat the 800P as a small boot disk, not as a promise of a particular amount of free space. The nominal 118GB capacity is not the same as space available for Windows, updates, applications, logs, virtual machines, or snapshots. Whether it is enough depends on the Windows build and the lab’s intended role. Decide in advance which workloads and data belong on other storage, and check available space after installation before adding them.
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The cited Intel material establishes boot prerequisites; it does not establish a current Windows space budget or a performance, endurance, reliability, or value advantage over modern SSDs. Do not choose the drive for those claims without evidence for the exact device and workload.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Booting Windows is not the same as enabling Optane acceleration
A successful Windows boot from an 800P does not mean Optane acceleration is enabled. Acceleration has additional platform, BIOS, driver, and configuration requirements, which differ by product family. For example, Intel’s December 2019 M/H installation guide describes an acceleration configuration that requires UEFI with CSM disabled, GPT on every drive in the volume, and at least 5MB of continuous unallocated space at the end of an accelerated drive. That is a requirement in that specific acceleration guide, not a reason to reserve space when installing Windows on an 800P as an ordinary boot SSD. Intel Optane Memory H-Series installation guide.
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