What SATA 6Gbps SSD controllers support 3D TLC NAND?

[cbn]

Beside Samsung's MGX (dual core) and MEX (triple core) controllers found in the 850 EVO SSDs, what SATA 6Gbps SSD controllers support 3D TLC NAND?

So far here is what I have found:

1. Silicon Motion SM2258 (DRAM buffer, four channel, 40nm process tech):

2. Silcon Motion SM2259 (an update version of the Silicon Motion SM2258). This one is used in the Intel 545s and ADATA IM2S33D8.

3. Phison S11 (DRAM-less, single core, two channel, 40nm process tech)

4. Marvell 88NV1120 (DRAM-less, two channel, 28nm process tech)

5. JMicron JMF680 (DRAM buffer, four channel):

http://www.anandtech.com/show/9369/...-sata-6gbps-jmf815-pcie-controllers-next-year

Maxiotek MK8115 (a dram-less version of the four channel Jmicron JMF680 controller).

6. Sandforce SF3514 and SF3524 (DRAM buffer, four channel, "MLC, TLC, 3D from top flash memory manufacturers")

http://www.seagate.com/files/www-co...us/docs/sandforce-sf3500-ds-1852-1-1505us.pdf

7. SM2258 XT (DRAM-less, four channel, 40nm process tech)

NOTE: As hojnikb pointed out in another thread, SLC cache is not mentioned in the current product brief for SM2258XT, which is surprising.

8. Marvell 88SS1074 (DRAM buffer, quad channel, 28nm process technology)

9. Marvell 881079 (essentially a Marvell 88SS1074 with components that would normally be on the SSD PCB now integrated into the controller)

10. Phison S10? See link in this post. EDIT: This drive released with Phison S10 and Toshiba 3D TLC (DRAM buffer, quad core, eight channel, 55nm process tech)

11. Phison S12. http://www.tomshardware.com/news/phison-e12-s12-ssd-controller,35356.html

Thank you Glaring Mistake (post #15) for bringing this info to the thread.

12. Phison S13:

https://www.phison.com/en/solutions/consumer/pc-laptop/sata

 

[Johnny Lucky]

I maintain a consumer ssd database that is listed in forums around the world. The database includes controller and flash memory identification. Here is the link:

http://www.johnnylucky.org/data-storage/ssd-database.html

The database also includes links to technical reviews divided into two groups - English Language reviews and reviews in many other languages. This is strictly a hobby so there is no advertising. Updates are done almost daily.

 

[cbn]

Considering how popular the Phison S10 (DRAM buffer, quad core, eight channel, 55nm process tech) was for planar TLC drives I am surprised the company hasn't listed it compatible with 3D TLC yet:

http://www.phison.com/English/newProductView.asp?ID=246&SortID=63

NAND Flash Support
Supports 1x/1ynm flash

 

[hojnikb]

anyone knows whats up with this ?

supports 1x/1y/1z/2x/2ynm MLC, TLC and SLC*

apperently, according to the latest sm2246en datasheet, it supports tlc as well ? wasnt sm2258 designed especially for that ?

 

[Glaring_Mistake]

anyone knows whats up with this ?



apperently, according to the latest sm2246en datasheet, it supports tlc as well ? wasnt sm2258 designed especially for that ?

SM2246EN supports 2D/3D MLC NAND and 2D TLC NAND (was updated to support 3D MLC NAND).

SM2256 supports 2D MLC/TLC NAND (and if updated will support 3D MLC/TLC NAND).

SM2258 will support 2D/3D MLC/TLC NAND.

Skipped SLC since it doesn't tend to be very relevant for consumers but this explains which of them supports what.

Don't know why SM2246EN wasn't considered for use with TLC NAND though.
Maybe they thought it's ECC was too weak?

 

[hojnikb]

Possibly, 2246en doesn't have ldpc.

 

[Glaring_Mistake]

Possibly, 2246en doesn't have ldpc.

True, but Phison S10 seems to be even more popular than the SM2256 despite it using BCH ECC.

 

[hojnikb]

True, but Phison S10 seems to be even more popular than the SM2256 despite it using BCH ECC.

Thats right, S10 doesn't support ldpc. Must be cheap and good enough for TLC to be so popular then.

 

[cbn]

Updated list with Maxiotek MK8115 and Silicon Motion SM2258XT.

 

[cbn]

Updated list with Marvell 88SS1074. This controller is used in the Crucial MX300:

http://www.anandtech.com/show/10274/the-crucial-mx300-750gb-ssd-review-microns-3d-nand-arrives

 

[PandaBear]

SLC is easy, if your controller support MLC it would support SLC for sure.

In reality it is really the firmware that supports them, and whether it needs additional processing / IP in hardware to support the extra work for 3D and TLC NANDs and more channels to compensate for the slow down using 3D and TLC.

 

[cbn]

Updated OP with Marvell 881079:

http://www.anandtech.com/show/11029/marvell-show-the-88ss1079-controller-an-updated-88ss1074

At CES, Marvell announced an updated version of its popular 88SS1074 SATA SSD controller in the 88SS1079. There's no significant change to performance or features as far as we are told, but it moves a few components that were required on the PCB side onto the controller die, saving cost and perhaps to a small extent, power. Fewer components on the PCB will also make layout a bit easier for an M.2 SSD, but the space saved is not so large as to allow for an extra NAND package,

 

[cbn]

One thing I notice looking at the controllers in the OP is that there is no eight channel controller available (that I know of).

Phison S10 is eight channel, but it doesn't support 3D NAND.

 

[cbn]

Updated opening post with Silicon Motion SM2259 and link to a post with some info about possible support for Phison S10.

 

[Glaring_Mistake]

Didn't know where exactly to post this since it touches on topics in several threads, but anyway; the replacement for the S10 is likely going to be released early next year: http://www.tomshardware.com/news/phison-e12-s12-ssd-controller,35356.html

It supports 3D TLC/QLC NAND; likely because the ECC has been improved, like for example going from BCH to LDPC.

 

[cbn]

Didn't know where exactly to post this since it touches on topics in several threads, but anyway; the replacement for the S10 is likely going to be released early next year: http://www.tomshardware.com/news/phison-e12-s12-ssd-controller,35356.html

It supports 3D TLC/QLC NAND; likely because the ECC has been improved, like for example going from BCH to LDPC.

Awesome. This is great news! (Opening post updated).

 

[cbn]

Updated OP with Link to Gigabyte SSD using Phison S10 and Toshiba 3D TLC.