International CES 2024 is right around the corner and all the leading analysts tell us to prepare for an onslaught of AI. AI, like all new buzz-word technology from year’s past like VR, 3D, DirectStorage, etc. requires innovative storage solutions powerful enough to feed data at the rates that make the technology possible.
Phison, a leader in NAND flash solutions, is excited to introduce the first 14+GB/s consumer SSD solution. Code named “Max14um”, the new solution builds off the success of the PS5026-E26 controller shipping today in 10GB/s and 12GB/s performance levels.
From inception, E26 was always designed to reach 14GB/s. Many challenges had to be overcome to bring this product to market since many of the other components required to reach these speeds were not available when we first launched the series at CES 2023. Even when the other components were available, Phison had to keep within specific power requirements for the M.2 standard and that meant redesigning and optimizing other components on the drive to reach 14GB/s with the same reliability and endurance Phison is known for.
Gen5 performance – to the max
In early 2023, Phison partners shipped the first PCIe Gen5 SSDs. All consumer SSDs that shipped in 2023 utilized the Phison PS5026-E26 controller. The early launch edition SSDs shipped with Micron’s amazing B58R 3-bit per cell (TLC) NAND memory running at 1600MT/s. The combination delivers just over 10GB/s or 2.5GB/s faster than the best PCIe Gen4 products available. Our partner Micron later released the potent B58R variant running at 2000MT/s and allowed the Phison E26 controller to scale to 12GB/s.
In early 2024, Micron will release the fastest NAND flash to date, B58R running at 2400MT/s. It will propel the E26 controller to the upper limits of the PCIe (Gen5) bus, just North of 14.6GB/s!
Accelerating applications today – but built for the future
The E26 Max14um solution is the first SSD in history to surpass 1,000MB/s in all three UL PCMark 10 storage tests. The solution also sets records in 3Dmark’s storage test, also well over 1,000MB/s. These tests utilize real-world data storage traces from applications to measure the true performance of the storage system. The only storage faster is RAM disks, but good luck fitting today’s games in a partitioned section of system memory.
Gaming is one area where end users will experience enhanced performance with the E26 but professional software users also benefit greatly from loading media files at the maximum speed of PCIe Gen5. E26 is the cheat code to a better user experience.
Future applications will increase the need for lower latency and higher throughput already provided by the E26 controller today. At CES 2024, you will see the raise of AI and advanced data retrieval methods. These technologies still need to read data quickly from the storage system. At CES 2022 when we started to see the first DirectStorage games we proudly proclaimed, “The Future of Gaming Starts with Phison”. In 2024, we can also claim “The Future of AI Starts with Phison”.