The SSD controller is responsible for where and how the data is stored in the physical storage cells (NAND) of the SSD and has an important influence on the performance and lifetime of the SSD. SSDs can have a DRAM cache. The DRAM (Dynamic-Random Access Memory) is used by the controller to cache the management data and mapping table (what data is where in memory) and speeds up access to the memory cells. The lack of a DRAM cache therefore leads to slower access times. The remedy for the more cost-effective DRAM-less NVMe SSDs is HMB (host memory buffer) technology. Here, the computer's RAM is used as a buffer for the mapping table.
Here you can find information and data sheets about various SSD controllers of 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 data sheet |
| FADU | FC4121 | no | Gen 4.0x4 | 7050 MB/s | 4200 MB/s | Download data sheet |
| FADU | FC5161 | no | Gen 5.0x4 | 14000 MB/s | 10000 MB/s | Download data sheet |
| InnoGrit | IG5208 | no | Gen 3.0x4 | 1750 MB/s | 1500 MB/s | Download data sheet |
| InnoGrit | IG5216 | no | Gen 3.0x4 | 3400 MB/s | 3000 MB/s | Download data sheet |
| InnoGrit | IG5220 | ✓ yes | Gen 4.0x4 | 5100 MB/s | 5000 MB/s | Download data sheet |
| InnoGrit | IG5222 | no | Gen 4.0x4 | 7400 MB/s | 6800 MB/s | Download data sheet |
| InnoGrit | IG5236 | ✓ yes | Gen 4.0x4 | 7400 MB/s | 6400 MB/s | Download data sheet |
| Marvell | 88NV1120 | no | SATA | 530 MB/s | 410 MB/s | Download data sheet |
| Marvell | 88SS1074 | ✓ yes | SATA | 540 MB/s | 490 MB/s | Download data sheet |
| Marvell | 88SS1092 | ✓ yes | Gen 3.0x4 | 3200 MB/s | 2500 MB/s | Download data sheet |
| Marvell | 88SS1098 | ✓ yes | Gen 3.0x4 | 3600 MB/s | 3000 MB/s | Download data sheet |
| Marvell | 88SS1100 | ✓ yes | Gen 3.0x4 | 3600 MB/s | 3000 MB/s | Download data sheet |
| Marvell | 88SS1321 | ✓ yes | Gen 4.0x4 | 3900 MB/s | 3300 MB/s | Download data sheet |
| Marvell | 88SS1322 | no | Gen 4.0x4 | 3900 MB/s | 3300 MB/s | Download data sheet |
| Marvell | Bravera SC5 | ✓ yes | Gen 5.0x4 | 14000 MB/s | 9000 MB/s | Download data sheet |
| Maxio | MAP1001 | ✓ yes | Gen 3.0x4 | 3500 MB/s | 3000 MB/s | Download data sheet |
| Maxio | MAP1002 | no | Gen 3.0x4 | 2400 MB/s | 2000 MB/s | Download data sheet |
| Maxio | MAP1003 | ✓ yes | Gen 3.0x4 | 2400 MB/s | 2000 MB/s | Download data sheet |
| Maxio | MAP1202 | no | Gen 3.0x4 | 3500 MB/s | 3000 MB/s | Download data sheet |
| Maxio | MAP1602 | no | Gen 4.0x4 | 7400 MB/s | 6500 MB/s | Download data sheet |
| Maxio | MAP1608 | no | Gen 4.0x4 | 5000 MB/s | 4500 MB/s | Download data sheet |
| Maxio | MAP1806 | no | Gen 5.0x4 | 14500 MB/s | 14000 MB/s | Download data sheet |
| Maxio | MAS0901 | ✓ yes | SATA | 560 MB/s | 530 MB/s | Download data sheet |
| Maxio | MAS0902 | no | SATA | 560 MB/s | 530 MB/s | Download data sheet |
| Maxio | MAS1102 | no | SATA | 560 MB/s | 530 MB/s | Download data sheet |
| Phison | PS3110-S10 | ✓ yes | SATA | 560 MB/s | 530 MB/s | Download data sheet |
| Phison | PS3111-S11T | no | SATA | 550 MB/s | 500 MB/s | Download data sheet |
| Phison | PS3112-S12 | ✓ yes | SATA | 550 MB/s | 530 MB/s | Download data sheet |
| Phison | PS5012-E12C | ✓ yes | Gen 3.0x4 | 2000 MB/s | 1600 MB/s | Download data sheet |
| Phison | PS5012-E12S | ✓ yes | Gen 3.0x4 | 3400 MB/s | 3100 MB/s | Download data sheet |
| Phison | PS5013-E13T | no | Gen 3.0x4 | 2500 MB/s | 2100 MB/s | Download data sheet |
| Phison | PS5015-E15T | no | Gen 3.0x4 | 3400 MB/s | 3000 MB/s | Download data sheet |
| Phison | PS5016-E16 | ✓ yes | Gen 4.0x4 | 5000 MB/s | 4400 MB/s | Download data sheet |
| Phison | PS5018-E18 | ✓ yes | Gen 4.0x4 | 7400 MB/s | 7000 MB/s | Download data sheet |
| Phison | PS5019-E19T | no | Gen 4.0x4 | 3700 MB/s | 3000 MB/s | Download data sheet |
| Phison | PS5021-E21T | no | Gen 4.0x4 | 5000 MB/s | 4500 MB/s | Download data sheet |
| Phison | PS5025-E25 | ✓ yes | Gen 4.0x4 | 7200 MB/s | 7000 MB/s | Download data sheet |
| Phison | PS5026-E26 | ✓ yes | Gen 5.0x4 | 14000 MB/s | 11800 MB/s | Download data sheet |
| Phison | PS5027-E27T | no | Gen 4.0x4 | 7400 MB/s | 6700 MB/s | Download data sheet |
| Phison | PS5028-E28 | ✓ yes | Gen 5.0x4 | 14900 MB/s | 14500 MB/s | Download data sheet |
| Phison | PS5029-E29T | no | Gen 4.0x4 | 7400 MB/s | 6600 MB/s | Download data sheet |
| Phison | PS5031-E31T | no | Gen 5.0x4 | 10800 MB/s | 10800 MB/s | Download data sheet |
| Realtek | RTS5766DL | no | Gen 3.0x4 | 3200 MB/s | 2200 MB/s | Download data sheet |
| Realtek | RTS5772DL | no | Gen 4.0x4 | 6000 MB/s | 5000 MB/s | Download data sheet |
| Realtek | RTS5776DL | no | Gen 4.0x4 | 7400 MB/s | 7400 MB/s | Download data sheet |
| Realtek | RTS5781DL | no | Gen 5.0x4 | 10000 MB/s | 10000 MB/s | Download data sheet |
| Realtek | RTS5782 | ✓ yes | Gen 5.0x4 | 14000 MB/s | 12000 MB/s | Download data sheet |
| Silicon Motion | SM2246EN | ✓ yes | SATA | 540 MB/s | 487 MB/s | Download data sheet |
| Silicon Motion | SM2246XT | no | SATA | 520 MB/s | 300 MB/s | Download data sheet |
| Silicon Motion | SM2258 | ✓ yes | SATA | 560 MB/s | 520 MB/s | Download data sheet |
| Silicon Motion | SM2258XT | no | SATA | 540 MB/s | 450 MB/s | Download data sheet |
| Silicon Motion | SM2259 | ✓ yes | SATA | 560 MB/s | 520 MB/s | Download data sheet |
| Silicon Motion | SM2259XT | no | SATA | 560 MB/s | 520 MB/s | Download data sheet |
| Silicon Motion | SM2259XT2 | no | SATA | 560 MB/s | 520 MB/s | Download data sheet |
| Silicon Motion | SM2261XT | no | Gen 3.0x4 | 1750 MB/s | 1500 MB/s | Download data sheet |
| Silicon Motion | SM2262EN | ✓ yes | Gen 3.0x4 | 3500 MB/s | 3000 MB/s | Download data sheet |
| Silicon Motion | SM2263EN | ✓ yes | Gen 3.0x4 | 2400 MB/s | 1700 MB/s | Download data sheet |
| Silicon Motion | SM2263XT | no | Gen 3.0x4 | 2400 MB/s | 1700 MB/s | Download data sheet |
| Silicon Motion | SM2264 | ✓ yes | Gen 4.0x4 | 7500 MB/s | 7000 MB/s | Download data sheet |
| Silicon Motion | SM2267 | ✓ yes | Gen 4.0x4 | 3900 MB/s | 3500 MB/s | Download data sheet |
| Silicon Motion | SM2267XT | no | Gen 4.0x4 | 3900 MB/s | 3500 MB/s | Download data sheet |
| Silicon Motion | SM2268XT | no | Gen 4.0x4 | 7400 MB/s | 6500 MB/s | Download data sheet |
| Silicon Motion | SM2268XT2 | no | Gen 4.0x4 | 7400 MB/s | 6700 MB/s | Download data sheet |
| Silicon Motion | SM2269XT | no | Gen 4.0x4 | 5100 MB/s | 4800 MB/s | Download data sheet |
| Silicon Motion | SM2504XT | no | Gen 5.0x4 | 11500 MB/s | 11000 MB/s | Download data sheet |
| Silicon Motion | SM2508 | ✓ yes | Gen 5.0x4 | 14500 MB/s | 13600 MB/s | Download data sheet |
| SK Hynix | Aries | ✓ yes | Gen 4.0x4 | 7000 MB/s | 6500 MB/s | Download data sheet |
| TenaFE | TC2200 | no | Gen 4.0x4 | 4800 MB/s | 4800 MB/s | Download data sheet |
| TenaFE | TC2201 | no | Gen 4.0x4 | 7300 MB/s | 7300 MB/s | Download data sheet |
| TenaFE | TC2311 | ✓ yes | Gen 5.0x4 | 14000 MB/s | 14000 MB/s | Download data sheet |
| YEESTOR | YS9082HC | no | SATA | 550 MB/s | 450 MB/s | Download data sheet |
| YEESTOR | YS9085N | no | SATA | 550 MB/s | 510 MB/s | Download data sheet |
| YEESTOR | YS9203 | no | Gen 3.0x4 | 3600 MB/s | 3000 MB/s | Download data sheet |
| YEESTOR | YS9205 | no | Gen 3.0x4 | 3600 MB/s | 3200 MB/s | Download data sheet |
| YEESTOR | YS9501 | no | Gen 5.0x4 | 14500 MB/s | 12000 MB/s | Download data sheet |