Flashtec NVMe 3108: Halved PCIe 4.0 SSD controller for 6 GB on M.2

Microchip Introduces New 8-Channel Flashtec PCIe

The progressive change from Pcie 3.0 to Pcie 4.0 on SSD requires compatible controllers. Microchip has introduced the Flashtec Nvme 3108, another solution for enterprise Ssds. Compared to the current flagship Flashtec Nvme 3016, the number of Pcie lines and memory channels has been halved.

Microchip introduced the Flashtec Nvme 3016 two years ago. With 16 memory channels and transfer rates of more than 8 GB/s via Pcie 4.0 x8, the upper performance class was served.

Compact Flashtec Nvme 3108 with Pcie 4.0 x4

The new Flashtec Nvme 3108 is in many ways half a 3016 and offers only eight NAND channels and Pcie 4.0 x4. While the larger chip does not nearly exhaust the x8 interface, the four Pcie lanes of the Flashtec Nvme 3108 with potential for over 6 GB/s and more than one million IOPS are better exploited.

Halving the memory channels means that far less NAND flash can be addressed. Microchip speaks of Ssds with more than 64 TB, which is already close to the currently world’s largest SSD with 100 TB. NAND flash of the types SLC, MLC, TLC and QLC are supported via the interfaces Onfi and Toggle. Up to 128 GB DDR4 cache with up to 2,400 MT/s are also possible, the Nvme 3016 also allows DDR4-3200.

Flashtec Nvme 3108 compared to Flashtec Nvme 3016

The cuts compared to the 16-channel flagship also mean advantages: A smaller chip with lower power consumption enables use in compact form factors. For example, the Flashtec Nvme 3108 with a package area of 17 17 mm is to be used in Ssds in the M.2 or E1.S form factor. This is not possible with the 27 27 mm Nvme 3016.

According to Microchip, the Flashtec Nvme 3108 is now available to certain business customers for sampling. There is no information about upcoming Ssds with the new SSD controller.