At FMS 2024, Phison gave us the usual updates to its customer flash solutions. The E31T Gen 5 mainstream controller has already been seen at several shows, starting with Computex 2023, while a native USB4 flash controller for high-end PSSDs was shown at CES 2024. The new solution on display was the E29T Gen 4 DRAM-less mainstream controller. Phison believes that performance can still be achieved on the Gen 4 platform with a low-cost DRAM-less solution.
| Phison NVMe SSD Controller Comparison | |||||||||
| E31T | E29T | E27T | E26 | E18 | |||||
| Market segment | Mainstream consumers | High-class consumer | |||||||
| Production Process |
7nm | 12nm | 12nm | 12nm | 12nm | ||||
| Processor cores | 2x Cortex R5 | 1x Bark R5 | 1x Bark R5 | 2x Cortex R5 | 3x Cortex R5 | ||||
| Error correction | 7th generation LDPC | 7th generation LDPC | 5th generation LDPC | 5th generation LDPC | 4th generation LDPC | ||||
| THIMBLE | NO | NO | NO | DDR4, LPDDR4 | DDR4 | ||||
| Host Interface | PCIe 5.0 x4 | PCIe 4.0 x4 | PCIe 4.0 x4 | PCIe 5.0 x4 | PCIe 4.0 x4 | ||||
| NVMe version | NVMe 2.0 | NVMe 2.0 | NVMe 2.0 | NVMe 2.0 | NVMe 1.4 | ||||
| NAND Channels, Interface Speed | 4 channels, 3600 tons/sec |
4 channels, 3600 tons/sec |
4 channels, 3600 tons/sec |
8 channels, 2400 tons/sec |
8 channels, 1600 tons/sec |
||||
| Maximum capacity | 8TB | 8TB | 8TB | 8TB | 8TB | ||||
| Sequential reading | 10.8 GB/s | 7.4 GB/s | 7.4 GB/s | 14GB/s | 7.4 GB/s | ||||
| Sequential write | 10.8 GB/s | 6.5 GB/s | 6.7 GB/s | 11.8 GB/s | 7.0 GB/s | ||||
| 4KB Random Read IOPS | 1500 thousand | 1200k | 1200k | 1500 thousand | 1000 thousand | ||||
| 4KB Random Write IOPS | 1500 thousand | 1200k | 1200k | 2000 thousand | 1000 thousand | ||||
Compared to the E27T, the most significant change is the use of a newer LDPC engine that provides longer SSD lifespan, as well as compatibility with the latest QLC flash memory, and additional power optimizations.
The company also showed off the U21 USB4 PSSD reference design (complete with a MagSafe-compatible enclosure) along with the usual CrystalDiskMark benchmark results. We’ve learned that PSSDs based on the U21 controller are very close to reaching retail.
Phison is known for leading the way in introducing SSD controllers based on the latest and greatest interface options – whether that’s PCIe 4.0, PCIe 5.0, or USB4. Competition usually comes from first-tier vendors opting for their own in-house solution or Silicon Motion stepping in a few quarters later as the market moves forward with a more power-efficient solution. With the E29T, Phison aims to ensure it continues to have a viable foothold in the mainstream Gen 4 market with its latest LDPC engine and support for the highest available NAND flash speeds.
