Z790 Optane caching legacy guide for SA builders needs a balanced parts plan, not a random basket. Map the CPU, GPU, RAM, SSD, cooling, and monitor target to the budget so SA builders know where to spend first.
Optane caching is a legacy path on Z790; most SA builders should skip it and buy a normal NVMe SSD instead. A 1TB or 2TB Gen 4 TLC drive around R1,100-R4,500 is simpler, faster and easier to support than pairing old cache hardware with modern storage. Keep Optane only for maintaining an existing older system.
Optane caching was useful when hard drives were slow and SSD capacity was expensive. Modern NVMe drives now deliver thousands of MB/s, low latency and enough capacity for Windows, apps and games without a separate cache layer. On a Z790 build, adding complexity to save an old hard drive is rarely the best value move.
Optane support depends on platform, BIOS, drivers and the exact module. That creates more failure points than a standard Samsung 990 Pro, Crucial T500, WD_BLACK SN850X or Kingston KC3000-class SSD. If the cache breaks or the driver stack changes, recovery can be awkward for a normal gaming PC.
Use a 1TB NVMe boot drive if budget is tight, or start at 2TB if the system will hold several AAA games. Keep the old hard drive only for cold storage or backups. If the PC targets 144Hz gaming, invest saved money into the GPU or monitor because storage caching will not create extra FPS.
No. A normal NVMe SSD is cleaner and usually faster for real use. Optane caching is now mainly a legacy maintenance topic.
It can on supported older setups, but the gain is not worth the complexity for most new buyers. Replacing the boot drive with NVMe is simpler.
Use a TLC NVMe SSD for Windows and apps. Add a larger game-library SSD if capacity becomes the limit.
If the system is already on Z790, spend the storage budget on one reliable NVMe boot drive instead of rebuilding an old caching setup.
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