Microchip introduced the high-speed SSD controller Flashtec NVMe 5016: up to 14 GB/s via PCIe 5.0

Microchip Technology has announced the Flashtec NVMe 5016 controller, designed to create high-performance enterprise-class SSDs with PCIe 5.0 (NVMe 2.0+) interface. Such drives can be used, including in data centers focused on resource-intensive AI tasks.

The 16-channel Flashtec NVMe 5016 controller, according to the developer, is capable of providing sequential information reading speeds of more than 14 GB/s. The IOPS (input/output operations per second) indicator for random reading by 4K blocks reaches 3.5 million. The controller supports both single-port PCIe 5.0 x4 and dual-port (two x2) configurations. The new product is designed primarily for drives in E.3 and U.2/U.3 form factors.

Image Source: Microchip

The controller can work with various types of flash memory chips, including QLC, TLC, MLC, SLC NAND (Toggle/ONFI 3200 MT/s). DDR5-5200 can be used as a buffer. Implemented LDPC/ECC error correction and end-to-end data integrity protection. The controller also includes an ML engine for intelligent drive control. The declared energy efficiency when processing data is 2.5 GB per 1 W. The Flashtec NVMe 5016 uses a 6nm process technology.

Image Source: Microchip

According to Microchip, the new controller is designed to support various enterprise applications, such as transaction and financial data processing, information mining, etc. There is support for ZNS, FDP, virtualization (PF/VF), SRIOV. The product’s flexibility and scalability help reduce the total cost of ownership of your storage infrastructure.

Trial deliveries of Flashtec NVMe 5016 have already begun. Developers have access to related kits – solutions PM35160-KIT and PMT35161-KIT with different NAND configurations, as well as an SDK.