The SSD controller is responsible for where and how data is stored in the SSD’s physical memory cells (NAND) and has an important influence on performance and lifespan. SSDs can have a DRAM cache. The DRAM (dynamic random-access memory) is used by the controller to cache management data and the mapping table (which data is located where in memory) and speeds up access to the memory cells. The absence of a DRAM cache therefore leads to slower access times. For more affordable DRAM-less NVMe SSDs, the HMB (Host Memory Buffer) technology provides a remedy. Here, the computer’s RAM is used as an intermediate buffer for the mapping table.
Here you will find information and datasheets for various SSD controllers used in the SSDs we tested:
| Company | Controller | DRAM | Interface | Max read | Max write | Download |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FADU | FC3081 | No | Gen 3.0x4 | 3400 MB/s | 2400 MB/s | Download datasheet |
| FADU | FC4121 | No | Gen 4.0x4 | 7050 MB/s | 4200 MB/s | Download datasheet |
| FADU | FC5161 | No | Gen 5.0x4 | 14000 MB/s | 10000 MB/s | Download datasheet |
| InnoGrit | IG5208 | No | Gen 3.0x4 | 1750 MB/s | 1500 MB/s | Download datasheet |
| InnoGrit | IG5216 | No | Gen 3.0x4 | 3400 MB/s | 3000 MB/s | Download datasheet |
| InnoGrit | IG5220 | ✓ Yes | Gen 4.0x4 | 5100 MB/s | 5000 MB/s | Download datasheet |
| InnoGrit | IG5222 | No | Gen 4.0x4 | 7400 MB/s | 6800 MB/s | Download datasheet |
| InnoGrit | IG5236 | ✓ Yes | Gen 4.0x4 | 7400 MB/s | 6400 MB/s | Download datasheet |
| Marvell | 88NV1120 | No | SATA | 530 MB/s | 410 MB/s | Download datasheet |
| Marvell | 88SS1074 | ✓ Yes | SATA | 540 MB/s | 490 MB/s | Download datasheet |
| Marvell | 88SS1092 | ✓ Yes | Gen 3.0x4 | 3200 MB/s | 2500 MB/s | Download datasheet |
| Marvell | 88SS1098 | ✓ Yes | Gen 3.0x4 | 3600 MB/s | 3000 MB/s | Download datasheet |
| Marvell | 88SS1100 | ✓ Yes | Gen 3.0x4 | 3600 MB/s | 3000 MB/s | Download datasheet |
| Marvell | 88SS1321 | ✓ Yes | Gen 4.0x4 | 3900 MB/s | 3300 MB/s | Download datasheet |
| Marvell | 88SS1322 | No | Gen 4.0x4 | 3900 MB/s | 3300 MB/s | Download datasheet |
| Marvell | Bravera SC5 | ✓ Yes | Gen 5.0x4 | 14000 MB/s | 9000 MB/s | Download datasheet |
| Maxio | MAP1001 | ✓ Yes | Gen 3.0x4 | 3500 MB/s | 3000 MB/s | Download datasheet |
| Maxio | MAP1002 | No | Gen 3.0x4 | 2400 MB/s | 2000 MB/s | Download datasheet |
| Maxio | MAP1003 | ✓ Yes | Gen 3.0x4 | 2400 MB/s | 2000 MB/s | Download datasheet |
| Maxio | MAP1202 | No | Gen 3.0x4 | 3500 MB/s | 3000 MB/s | Download datasheet |
| Maxio | MAP1602 | No | Gen 4.0x4 | 7400 MB/s | 6500 MB/s | Download datasheet |
| Maxio | MAP1608 | No | Gen 4.0x4 | 5000 MB/s | 4500 MB/s | Download datasheet |
| Maxio | MAP1806 | No | Gen 5.0x4 | 14500 MB/s | 14000 MB/s | Download datasheet |
| Maxio | MAS0901 | ✓ Yes | SATA | 560 MB/s | 530 MB/s | Download datasheet |
| Maxio | MAS0902 | No | SATA | 560 MB/s | 530 MB/s | Download datasheet |
| Maxio | MAS1102 | No | SATA | 560 MB/s | 530 MB/s | Download datasheet |
| Phison | PS3110-S10 | ✓ Yes | SATA | 560 MB/s | 530 MB/s | Download datasheet |
| Phison | PS3111-S11T | No | SATA | 550 MB/s | 500 MB/s | Download datasheet |
| Phison | PS3112-S12 | ✓ Yes | SATA | 550 MB/s | 530 MB/s | Download datasheet |
| Phison | PS5012-E12C | ✓ Yes | Gen 3.0x4 | 2000 MB/s | 1600 MB/s | Download datasheet |
| Phison | PS5012-E12S | ✓ Yes | Gen 3.0x4 | 3400 MB/s | 3100 MB/s | Download datasheet |
| Phison | PS5013-E13T | No | Gen 3.0x4 | 2500 MB/s | 2100 MB/s | Download datasheet |
| Phison | PS5015-E15T | No | Gen 3.0x4 | 3400 MB/s | 3000 MB/s | Download datasheet |
| Phison | PS5016-E16 | ✓ Yes | Gen 4.0x4 | 5000 MB/s | 4400 MB/s | Download datasheet |
| Phison | PS5018-E18 | ✓ Yes | Gen 4.0x4 | 7400 MB/s | 7000 MB/s | Download datasheet |
| Phison | PS5019-E19T | No | Gen 4.0x4 | 3700 MB/s | 3000 MB/s | Download datasheet |
| Phison | PS5021-E21T | No | Gen 4.0x4 | 5000 MB/s | 4500 MB/s | Download datasheet |
| Phison | PS5025-E25 | ✓ Yes | Gen 4.0x4 | 7200 MB/s | 7000 MB/s | Download datasheet |
| Phison | PS5026-E26 | ✓ Yes | Gen 5.0x4 | 14000 MB/s | 11800 MB/s | Download datasheet |
| Phison | PS5027-E27T | No | Gen 4.0x4 | 7400 MB/s | 6700 MB/s | Download datasheet |
| Phison | PS5028-E28 | ✓ Yes | Gen 5.0x4 | 14900 MB/s | 14500 MB/s | Download datasheet |
| Phison | PS5029-E29T | No | Gen 4.0x4 | 7400 MB/s | 6600 MB/s | Download datasheet |
| Phison | PS5031-E31T | No | Gen 5.0x4 | 10800 MB/s | 10800 MB/s | Download datasheet |
| Realtek | RTS5766DL | No | Gen 3.0x4 | 3200 MB/s | 2200 MB/s | Download datasheet |
| Realtek | RTS5772DL | No | Gen 4.0x4 | 6000 MB/s | 5000 MB/s | Download datasheet |
| Realtek | RTS5776DL | No | Gen 4.0x4 | 7400 MB/s | 7400 MB/s | Download datasheet |
| Realtek | RTS5781DL | No | Gen 5.0x4 | 10000 MB/s | 10000 MB/s | Download datasheet |
| Realtek | RTS5782 | ✓ Yes | Gen 5.0x4 | 14000 MB/s | 12000 MB/s | Download datasheet |
| Silicon Motion | SM2246EN | ✓ Yes | SATA | 540 MB/s | 487 MB/s | Download datasheet |
| Silicon Motion | SM2246XT | No | SATA | 520 MB/s | 300 MB/s | Download datasheet |
| Silicon Motion | SM2258 | ✓ Yes | SATA | 560 MB/s | 520 MB/s | Download datasheet |
| Silicon Motion | SM2258XT | No | SATA | 540 MB/s | 450 MB/s | Download datasheet |
| Silicon Motion | SM2259 | ✓ Yes | SATA | 560 MB/s | 520 MB/s | Download datasheet |
| Silicon Motion | SM2259XT | No | SATA | 560 MB/s | 520 MB/s | Download datasheet |
| Silicon Motion | SM2259XT2 | No | SATA | 560 MB/s | 520 MB/s | Download datasheet |
| Silicon Motion | SM2261XT | No | Gen 3.0x4 | 1750 MB/s | 1500 MB/s | Download datasheet |
| Silicon Motion | SM2262EN | ✓ Yes | Gen 3.0x4 | 3500 MB/s | 3000 MB/s | Download datasheet |
| Silicon Motion | SM2263EN | ✓ Yes | Gen 3.0x4 | 2400 MB/s | 1700 MB/s | Download datasheet |
| Silicon Motion | SM2263XT | No | Gen 3.0x4 | 2400 MB/s | 1700 MB/s | Download datasheet |
| Silicon Motion | SM2264 | ✓ Yes | Gen 4.0x4 | 7500 MB/s | 7000 MB/s | Download datasheet |
| Silicon Motion | SM2267 | ✓ Yes | Gen 4.0x4 | 3900 MB/s | 3500 MB/s | Download datasheet |
| Silicon Motion | SM2267XT | No | Gen 4.0x4 | 3900 MB/s | 3500 MB/s | Download datasheet |
| Silicon Motion | SM2268XT | No | Gen 4.0x4 | 7400 MB/s | 6500 MB/s | Download datasheet |
| Silicon Motion | SM2268XT2 | No | Gen 4.0x4 | 7400 MB/s | 6700 MB/s | Download datasheet |
| Silicon Motion | SM2269XT | No | Gen 4.0x4 | 5100 MB/s | 4800 MB/s | Download datasheet |
| Silicon Motion | SM2321 | No | USB 3.2 Gen 2x1 | 1050 MB/s | 1000 MB/s | Download datasheet |
| Silicon Motion | SM2322 | No | USB 3.2 Gen2 x2 | 2100 MB/s | 2000 MB/s | Download datasheet |
| Silicon Motion | SM2324 | No | USB 4.0 | 4000 MB/s | 4000 MB/s | Download datasheet |
| Silicon Motion | SM2504XT | No | Gen 5.0x4 | 11500 MB/s | 11000 MB/s | Download datasheet |
| Silicon Motion | SM2508 | ✓ Yes | Gen 5.0x4 | 14500 MB/s | 13600 MB/s | Download datasheet |
| Silicon Motion | SM3265 | No | USB 3.2 Gen1 | 130 MB/s | 0 MB/s | Download datasheet |
| Silicon Motion | SM3280 | No | USB 3.2 Gen1 | 350 MB/s | 0 MB/s | Download datasheet |
| Silicon Motion | SM3281 | No | USB 3.2 Gen1 | 200 MB/s | 0 MB/s | Download datasheet |
| Silicon Motion | SM3282 | No | USB 3.2 Gen1 | 440 MB/s | 430 MB/s | Download datasheet |
| SK Hynix | Aries | ✓ Yes | Gen 4.0x4 | 7000 MB/s | 6500 MB/s | Download datasheet |
| TenaFE | TC2200 | No | Gen 4.0x4 | 4800 MB/s | 4800 MB/s | Download datasheet |
| TenaFE | TC2201 | No | Gen 4.0x4 | 7300 MB/s | 7300 MB/s | Download datasheet |
| TenaFE | TC2311 | ✓ Yes | Gen 5.0x4 | 14000 MB/s | 14000 MB/s | Download datasheet |
| YEESTOR | YS9082HC | No | SATA | 550 MB/s | 450 MB/s | Download datasheet |
| YEESTOR | YS9085N | No | SATA | 550 MB/s | 510 MB/s | Download datasheet |
| YEESTOR | YS9203 | No | Gen 3.0x4 | 3600 MB/s | 3000 MB/s | Download datasheet |
| YEESTOR | YS9205 | No | Gen 3.0x4 | 3600 MB/s | 3200 MB/s | Download datasheet |
| YEESTOR | YS9501 | No | Gen 5.0x4 | 14500 MB/s | 12000 MB/s | Download datasheet |