Microchip recently announced the launch of its second PCIeGen5 enterprise-class SSD controller, the Flashtec5016. Like the 4016, this is a 16-channel controller, but with some key updates:
PCIe5.0 lanes: The 5016 operates in x4 or dual independent x2/x2 mode, while the 4016 operates in x8 or x4 or dual independent x4/x2 mode.
Support DRAM: 5016 supports four sets of DDR5-5200, while 4016 supports two sets of DDR4-3200.
Extended NAND support: 4016 supports 2400MT/sNAND, while 5016 supports 3200MT/sNAND.
Performance improvement: Compared with 4016's 3M+, 5016 can provide more than 3.5 million random read IOPS.
Microchip Flashtec5016 includes the Cortex-A53 core for SSD vendors to run custom applications related to SSD management. However, the CPU cluster has two more cores compared to the Gen4 controller. The DRAM subsystem includes ECC support (both out-of-band and online depending on the SSD vendor's needs).
At FMS2024, the company demonstrated the application of the neural network engine embedded in the Gen5 controller. Controllers typically employ a "read retry" operation that changes the read voltage when a flash read does not complete successfully. Microchip implemented a machine learning approach that utilizes the NN engine in the controller to determine the readout voltage based on the health history of the NAND block. This approach brings clear advantages in terms of read latency and power consumption (due to fewer errors on the first read).
The 4016 and 5016 use a single-chip root of trust to achieve hardware security. A secure boot process with dual signature verification ensures that the controller firmware cannot be maliciously tampered with in the field. The company also described the benefits of its controller's implementation of SR-IOV, flexible data placement, partitioned namespaces, and a "credit engine" approach for multi-tenant cloud workloads. These aspects are also covered in other presentations.
Microchip's press release cited statements from NAND suppliers including Solidigm, Kioxia and Micron. On the customer side, Longsys has been using Flashtec controllers and YMTCNAND in its enterprise products. The new 5016 controller is likely to further continue this partnership.