![\"\"](\"https:\/\/phisonblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Dominating-the-Game-of-Game-Load-Times-Banner.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n
About the I\/O+ technology<\/h3>\n
I\/O+ technology is a group of custom firmware innovations that optimize the SSD for sustained read workloads that run for hours, Phison\u2019s I\/O+ technology does not compromise classical workloads as shown in the benchmarks on display today. Moreover, the biggest gains seen with I\/O+ technology are on tasks that emphasize medium to large IO (Input\/Output) in the 32K to 1MB block size range. Smaller block size data can also benefit from I\/O+ technology also when the transfers are streamed<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Workloads with high performance benefits<\/h3>\n\n- DirectStorage gaming<\/li>\n
- Compiling code<\/li>\n
- Rendering video special effects<\/li>\n
- Rescaling video for different platforms<\/li>\n
- Machine learning<\/li>\n
- Disk-based crypto mining<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
<\/p>\n
E18 with I\/O+ technology at FMS 2022<\/h3>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/phisonblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Phison-E18-IO-performance4-1920-x-1200.jpg\")
<\/h3>\n<\/h3>\n<\/h3>\nI\/O+ technology and DirectStorage gaming<\/h3>\n
DirectStorage from Microsoft<\/a> is a new API that allows games to take advantage of speedy NVMe SSDs. This API (Application Programming Interface) has already been proven in console gaming and will be a real game changer on PCs where the system has more powerful components. Users will notice near non-existent load times right away but the performance benefits go far beyond stopwatch level performance.<\/p>\nDirectStorage will allow game developers to stream the data from the SSD to the GPU much like your TV does video service today from servers. GPU makers will also be able to reduce the amount of DRAM (that often makes up as much as 50% of the video card\u2019s cost). By constantly fetching textures during gameplay, DirectStorage uses the SSD like a large cache instead of being limited to expensive system DRAM. This translates into a sustained read workload at the drive level during a gaming session.<\/p>\n
With I\/O+ technology, games can run monstrous 12-plus hour sessions with no drop in the available bandwidth that must stay steady to eliminate visual hitching or stutters during gameplay. There are also benefits for non-gaming workloads, too. For example, the chrome browser source code can compile data significantly faster when using I\/O+ technology firmware.<\/p>\n
<\/h3>\n<\/h3>\nWhat the reviewers uncovered<\/h3>\n
For the rest of this blog, we want to highlight what these reviewers uncovered about the Phison I\/O+ technology with quotes from their respective stories. To augment their reviews, we will weigh in with our own insights.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
What Tom’s Hardware had to say<\/a><\/h4>\nBelow is a chart that tells the tale. Below are some Tom\u2019s Hardware excerpts from Shane Downing\u2019s story titled: The DirectStorage Advantage: Phison I\/O+ SSD Firmware Preview<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/phisonblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Phison-IO-Technology-img.png\")
<\/h3>\n
Source:\u00a0 Tom’s Hardware<\/a><\/p>\nThe first DirectStorage-enabled game, Forspoken, won’t arrive until January 2023. Still, Phison gave us access to an early version of its new firmware that will transform some existing Phison-powered SSDs into DirectStorage-capable devices.<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\nPhison\u2019s new game-optimized I\/O+ firmware could be coming soon to an SSD near you, bringing DirectStorage-class performance to the masses.<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\nThe Phison evaluation sample with I\/O+ firmware performed mostly as expected, matching drives with similar hardware while demonstrating impressive improvements in the Iometer tests. We would expect this firmware to be overall superior with some further refinement \u2014 even if they are minor, improvements aimed at scheduling and flash management should bring general uplifts in classic workloads.<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n <\/p>\n
What TweakTown had to say<\/a><\/h4>\nBelow is a chart that shows where the I\/O+ stands. Below are some Tweaktown excerpts from Jon Coulter\u2019s story titled: Phison I\/O+ Technology Preview – DirectStorage\u00a0 Gaming Companion<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/phisonblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/10154_35_phison-technology-preview-directstorage-gaming-companion.png\")
<\/h3>\n
<\/p>\n
E18 with I\/O+ technology at FMS 2022<\/h3>\n<\/h3>\n<\/h3>\n<\/h3>\nI\/O+ technology and DirectStorage gaming<\/h3>\n
<\/h3>\n<\/h3>\n<\/h3>\nI\/O+ technology and DirectStorage gaming<\/h3>\n
I\/O+ technology and DirectStorage gaming<\/h3>\n
DirectStorage from Microsoft<\/a> is a new API that allows games to take advantage of speedy NVMe SSDs. This API (Application Programming Interface) has already been proven in console gaming and will be a real game changer on PCs where the system has more powerful components. Users will notice near non-existent load times right away but the performance benefits go far beyond stopwatch level performance.<\/p>\n DirectStorage will allow game developers to stream the data from the SSD to the GPU much like your TV does video service today from servers. GPU makers will also be able to reduce the amount of DRAM (that often makes up as much as 50% of the video card\u2019s cost). By constantly fetching textures during gameplay, DirectStorage uses the SSD like a large cache instead of being limited to expensive system DRAM. This translates into a sustained read workload at the drive level during a gaming session.<\/p>\n With I\/O+ technology, games can run monstrous 12-plus hour sessions with no drop in the available bandwidth that must stay steady to eliminate visual hitching or stutters during gameplay. There are also benefits for non-gaming workloads, too. For example, the chrome browser source code can compile data significantly faster when using I\/O+ technology firmware.<\/p>\n For the rest of this blog, we want to highlight what these reviewers uncovered about the Phison I\/O+ technology with quotes from their respective stories. To augment their reviews, we will weigh in with our own insights.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Below is a chart that tells the tale. Below are some Tom\u2019s Hardware excerpts from Shane Downing\u2019s story titled: The DirectStorage Advantage: Phison I\/O+ SSD Firmware Preview<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Source:\u00a0 Tom’s Hardware<\/a><\/p>\n The first DirectStorage-enabled game, Forspoken, won’t arrive until January 2023. Still, Phison gave us access to an early version of its new firmware that will transform some existing Phison-powered SSDs into DirectStorage-capable devices.<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n Phison\u2019s new game-optimized I\/O+ firmware could be coming soon to an SSD near you, bringing DirectStorage-class performance to the masses.<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n The Phison evaluation sample with I\/O+ firmware performed mostly as expected, matching drives with similar hardware while demonstrating impressive improvements in the Iometer tests. We would expect this firmware to be overall superior with some further refinement \u2014 even if they are minor, improvements aimed at scheduling and flash management should bring general uplifts in classic workloads.<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n <\/p>\n Below is a chart that shows where the I\/O+ stands. Below are some Tweaktown excerpts from Jon Coulter\u2019s story titled: Phison I\/O+ Technology Preview – DirectStorage\u00a0 Gaming Companion<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n<\/h3>\n
<\/h3>\n
What the reviewers uncovered<\/h3>\n
What Tom’s Hardware had to say<\/a><\/h4>\n
<\/h3>\nWhat TweakTown had to say<\/a><\/h4>\n
<\/h3>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/phisonblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Embracing-the-Future-of-Gaming-Banner.jpg\")
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/phisonblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Gen-5-Technology.jpg\")