Which SSD controller is better: Phison, SMI, InnoGrit, Maxio, Realtek?
Maxio MAS0902A is currently the most common controller for solid-state drives of the classic 2.5-inch format with a SATA connection interface. Can work with both types of flash memory: three-bit TLC and four-bit QLC. The first is used in SSDs up to 512 GB, the second - up to 2 TB. Performance parity is achieved through parallelization across a larger number of flash memory chips. The controller delivers sequential read and write speeds of large files up to 550 MB/s. And random small files are processed at speeds of up to 100 thousand IOPS. Alternatives: Phison S11T, SMI SM2259XT, RayMX RM1135.
SMI SM2263XT is a junior NVMe controller from Silicon Motion, not to be confused with the end disk manufacturer Silicon Power. Unlike SATA controllers, SMI based on RISC architecture is based on more familiar ARM cores. Designed for M.2 SSD with PCI-Express 3.0 bus, it delivers speeds of up to 2500 MB/s and 200 thousand IOPS. Does not require a separate RAM buffer chip, instead uses part of the PC's system-wide memory - a technology called HMB. Its main competitor is the Phison E13T with an integrated cache and a fixed volume of virtual SLC array. Calculated using the formula 1 GB for every 64 GB of SSD capacity.
Realtek RTS5766DL and Marvell 88SS1093 are faster PCIe 3.0 controllers up to 3500 MB/s, but also rarer. These two companies are known more for their Ethernet controllers than for SSDs. The disadvantage of both SSD controllers is their relatively coarse technical process, which is why they heat up more than the initial PCIe 4.0 solutions with a fine technical process. But installation of a metal radiator by the SSD manufacturer from the factory or after purchase by the user completely eliminates this drawback. Alternatives: Phison E12, SMI SM2262EN, Samsung MJX.
InnoGrit IG5220 - also known as RainierQX, a representative of the new wave of mid-price SSD controllers. It is not much more expensive than PCIe 3.0, but it already works on the fourth generation bus, which, in addition to PCs and laptops, is required for the PlayStation 5 game console. It provides performance up to 5000 MB/s and 500 thousand IOPS, respectively. Instead of a separate cache, Host Memory Buffer technology is used, and the virtual Single Level Cell array has three gradations. The first third of the free disk space is recorded at full speed, the second third is five times slower, and the last third is already ten times slower. Alternatives: Phison E16, Phison E21T, SMI SM2267.
Samsung Elpis and SanDisk 20-82-10034-A1 - used exclusively in drives by Samsung and Western Digital, which previously bought SanDisk. These are older PCIe 4.0 controllers with speeds of 7000 - 7500 MB/s and 750 thousand - 1 million I/O operations per second. Such a high IOPS is achieved by a separate LPDDR4 RAM buffer chip with a capacity of a full gigabyte and flash memory with a 3D layout of 200+ layers. Freely available alternatives to any other SSD brands are Phison E18, SMI SM2269, InnoGrit IG5236 and Maxio MAP1602A. The latter is the cheapest because it uses cost-effective HMB technology.
Phison E26 - the first and so far the only really existing PCI-Express 5.0 SSD controller. In theory, it can produce speeds of up to 14,000 MB/s, but in practice it accelerates only to 11 - 12 thousand MB/s, preferably with fan cooling. It can work with RAM cache in dual-channel 16+16-bit mode, which increases the IOPS to 1.5 million. Supports hardware data encryption according to the TCG Opal standard with the AES 256-bit algorithm. Other PCIe 5.0 controllers SMI SM2508 and Yingren S900 so far exist only on paper; there is not a single SSD based on them on sale. And Samsung and WD/Sandisk haven't even announced their new flagships yet.
SMI SM2320 is a single-chip system that combines SSD and USB controllers. Designed for external solid-state drives for which compactness is primarily important. The USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 standard provides theoretical speeds of up to 20 Gbps, which in practice equals 2000 MB/s. But given the rarity of these ports on computers, SSD manufacturers are often limited to half USB 3.2 Gen 2 mode (10 Gbps, 1000 MB/s). The SMI SM2320 has no direct analogues; as an alternative, you have to use a combination of two separate controllers, for example SSD Phison plus USB ASMedia or JMicron.
The Lexar NM800 Pro is a solid-state drive that operates at the limit of PCI-Express 4.0 x4 bus bandwidth. Provides sequential reading speeds for large files of 7500 MB/s and writing speeds of 6500 MB/s. And random processing of small files can reach 1.3 million IOPS. Built on the InnoGrit IG5236 controller, manufactured using a 12-nanometer process technology.
The flash memory uses 3D TLC manufactured by Micron with a 176-layer layout. By the way, Lexar was previously a subsidiary brand of Micron, but over time it completely separated. Additionally, a 2 TB Foresee LPDDR4X operational buffer chip is installed. It is thanks to this that a high rate of I/O operations per second is achieved and the service life of the SSD is extended.
The manufacturer provides a five-year warranty, and the rewrite resource is 1000 TB for the 1 TB model. The width and thickness of the radiator are selected in such a way that, in addition to desktop PCs, it fits into the Sony PlayStation 5 game console. But for laptops you will have to buy another modification of the same SSD, completely devoid of a radiator.
| Telemart.ua | 7 650 ₴ | To Store |
| A-techno.com.ua | 7 615 ₴ | To Store |
| Stylus.ua | 7 636 ₴ | To Store |
| Цифра | 7 403 ₴ | To Store |
| Tviy-Dim.com | 8 309 ₴ | To Store |
ADATA Legend 970 is an SSD with the latest PCIe 5.0 interface, which is twice as fast as PCIe 4.0 and five times as fast as PCIe 3.0. Provides the same linear read and write speed of 10000 MB/s. Of course, after the virtual SLC array is full, the writing speed slows down, which is typical for all modern solid-state drives without exception.
Built on the only really existing PCIe 5.0 controller Phison E26. While competing controllers Silicon Motion and Yingren have not yet reached the assembly line production stage. In theory, the Phison E26 can deliver even 12 GB/s, but in this case overheating and throttling are likely. Therefore, the limitation of 10 GB/s seems quite justified. The flash memory used is 232-layer.
The disk is equipped with two heatsinks at once: a thin one on the back side of the printed circuit board and a ribbed one on the front. Additionally, a small fan is installed so that the SSD can operate at maximum speed for a long time. To unlock the potential of PCIe 5.0, you need a motherboard with an Intel Z690/Z790 or AMD B650E/X670 chipset.
Transcend ESD320A is a miniature external solid-state drive with a metal case and a retractable USB connector in the classic Type-A format. Built on a single-chip Silicon Motion SM2320 system, combining the functions of an SSD controller and an NVMe-to-USB converter. Whereas competing drives use two separate chips, making them larger.
Produces sequential read and write speeds of 1050 and 950 MB/s, respectively. But to do this, you must connect to a USB 3.2 Gen2 or Thunderbolt port. In the case of USB 3.0, the speed will decrease by about half, which is also not bad. Compatibility with the obsolete but still widespread USB 2.0 (only 30 MB/s) is also maintained.
Suitable for desktop computers, laptops, game consoles, and via an OTG adapter for smartphones and tablets. Or you can immediately buy the Transcend ESD330C model with the newfangled USB Type-C port, the speeds will be exactly the same. The proprietary Transcend Elite application will protect personal data with an ultra-secure AES-256 cryptographic algorithm.
Articles, reviews, useful tips
All materials
