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The main components of an SSD are main control, cache memory (optional), flash memory, and firmware. For an SSD, master control is also one of main components that determines performance and quality of an SSD.

The main control of an SSD is essentially CPU, most of which are ARM architecture, basically flagship main control. Representative works are 9187 from Marvell and MDX from Samsung. Of course ARM is not everything. Most of main class is RISC architecture or old ARM9 architecture. The SSD master control is mainly responsible for managing SSD garbage collection, wear balance, write balance, etc., and performance of master control is especially important for those SSDs that use white chips or even black chips, because if performance of master control is not enough, it is easy to cause freezes and other situations, and same for TLC, so we can often see a huge main controller in TLC era, which is much larger than MLC era, and this is reason.

1. SandForce

The SF master control is mostly known to us as SF-2281 and server as SF2582. However, main server control is out of scope of our discussion. Let's focus on SF2281. In fact, when it comes to SF2281, many people think that it is a hot chicken master, because performance of SSDs using this master is generally not very good. In fact, it is not. In terms of performance, SF2281 is a very powerful master controller. It has strong ECC capabilities. Even if particles are bad, it can be used well under its setting. Gold Firmware can support SLC up to 256GB. However, this is very bad for performance, and since SF2281 card is easy to open, it is commonly used by palisade manufacturers and third-party manufacturers, and low-cost products from these manufacturers are often black or white, resulting in terrible performance of SF2281 SSD, so that everyone considers it a hot chicken , and representative works are SV300 Jaxton or hungry shark OCZ. However, over time, the SF2281 master controller gradually disappeared from our field of vision, after all, it is too outdated.

2. Samsung Headquarters

Actually, there isn't much to say about Samsung's main control. Samsung's independent research and development is mainly used in its own products, there are no third-party products, so a simple understanding is enough. The SSD is relatively good, except for price.

3, Marvell

Although Marvell master control has been around for many years, it first became known to people with Micron's M4, which uses Marvell 9174 master control, and its high performance allows M4 to compete with Samsung 830. Quality SSD driven by SF2281, and JMF's large U-disk stand out from crowd. Firmware, though not very, but still becomes a classic. At present, main products of M family are 9187~9189 series main controllers, 1074 main controllers and NV1120 main controllers. Compared with previous one, 1074 can support TLC flash memory. Among TLC SSDs, except for Samsung's own main control, 1074 can be called best main control. Despite average score, it has a good write balance and write amplification, which can effectively extend life of TLC flash memory. And his masterpiece MX300 is a cheap and high-quality SATA SSD.

4. OCZ barefoot

The BF Master Controller is a proprietary branded controller launched by OCZ following acquisition of Indilinx. Also based on ARM architecture, it is mainly used in OCZ's own SSD, and performance difference between mainstream controllers is mainly frequency difference.

5, JMF

Actually, earliest copycat SSDs used JMF as main control, but because particles tend to be sharp and performance of main control is weak, these copycat SSDs can only be called large USB drives, while first turnover is JMF JMF667H, which has good performance and performance after being equipped with cache. In addition, card is easy to open, and has become first choice for many manufacturers' low-cost products. During TLC era, there was no movement from JMF.

6. Huirong Silicon Movement

Actually, SM's main control should be most popular among mainstream users. Its masterpiece SM2246 (only supports MLC) and current SM2256 are active in budget products of major manufacturers. The 2256 also has an improved version of SM2258 that adds 3D TLC support over 2256 and representative work is Intel 540S.

7. Fizon

Those who love homemade USB drives are familiar with Phison because one of two main controllers for homemade USB drives is from Yincan and other is from Phison. Phison controllers are PS3109 and PS3110, as well as PS5007, which now supports NVME. The main PS control is also active in various low cost products.

8, LAMD

LAMD was first known for master LAMD 87800AA, and its representative work is Neutron GTX of pirate ship. This SSD fully realizes powerful performance of 87800AA main control, and drive is full without a drop in speed. In a certain organization's write test, this is one of longest solid state drives, and there is no sign of speed. fall, except supported There are no other disadvantages, except for fewer functions. And it is currently owned by Hynix and its successor to masterpiece SH88800AA is PC300 I mentioned in garbage collection question.

9, intelligence

Actually until 530. Intel has always used SF master control, and since 730 Intel SSD has become its own master control. It is said to be its own, but in fact it is mainly an improvement on SF master control, and we basically have not seen its SSD , mastered by SF, is a new product. In terms of performance, Intel's SSD may not be strongest, but its stability and reliability are definitely best among SSDs, and outsourced 600p does not count.

10, Toshiba

In fact, Toshiba has always had its own main control. For example, Q300 pro, XG3, etc. all have their own main control. There are no performance issues with Toshiba's main control, but in NVME era, Toshiba's main control feels a bit too hot. This is...

Actually, basic control over SSDs is much more than what I mentioned. There are also many mainstream controllers from Zhaichang such as Speedmaster 360GB and some Team Group products used in Taiwanese systems that have never been heard of. To save money, I recommend buying Micron or OEM. Remember, try not to buy SSDs from mainland assembly plants.