Why do Top SSD Manufacturers Insist on Using Branded Controllers and Chips?
As the wave of digitalization sweeps the globe, data storage has become a core requirement for businesses and individuals. As the core hardware in the storage field, the performance and reliability of SSDs directly determine the efficiency and security of data processing. However, with numerous SSD brands on the market and varying technological approaches, why do leading manufacturers generally choose to independently develop or collaborate with well-known brands to customize their controller chips, and rigorously screen NAND flash memory chips? This choice is a profound balance between technology, quality, and user experience. Bestoss, a manufacturer specializing in DDR memory and SSD storage solutions, leverages keen insight into industry trends and technological innovation to continuously provide partners with high-performance and highly stable storage products. This article will combine the current state of the industry with Bestoss' practical experience to reveal the key reasons why branded controllers and chips are the core competitive advantage of SSDs.
I. Controller Chip: The "Brain" of the SSD: How does it define the performance ceiling?
The controller chip is the decision-making center of the SSD, responsible for coordinating data transfer between flash memory chips and the host, managing the read and write strategies of storage units, optimizing garbage collection mechanisms, and ensuring data security. Its performance directly determines the SSD's sequential read and write speeds, random IOPS (input and output operations per second), power consumption, and lifespan.
1. Technical Barriers: From General-Purpose Solutions to Customized Breakthroughs
In the early days of the SSD market, controller chips were mostly provided by third-party vendors with general-purpose solutions, such as Silicon Motion and Phison. While these solutions quickly gained market share, they struggled to be deeply optimized for specific application scenarios. For example, data center-class SSDs must handle high-concurrency, low-latency read and write requests, while industrial control applications prioritize data persistence and stability in extreme environments. We have established strategic partnerships with controller chip vendors and are deeply involved in chip architecture design, prioritizing customer needs at the hardware level. For example, to meet the long-term storage and high-endurance requirements of the video surveillance industry, we customized our controllers with optimized write-leveling algorithms, increasing chip lifespan to 1.5 times the industry average. Hardware-accelerated encryption technology also ensures data security.
2. Algorithm Optimization: The Transformation from "Usable" to "Effective"
The controller chip's firmware algorithm is at the heart of SSD performance tuning. Bestoss's proprietary dynamic SLC caching algorithm adjusts cache capacity in real time based on user load. When continuously writing large files, the SLC cache area is automatically expanded to maintain high-speed transfers; in fragmented read/write scenarios, the cache is reduced to reduce chip wear. This technology improves random write performance of Bestoss enterprise-class SSDs by 23% compared to comparable products in mixed load tests, while reducing power consumption by 18%. Furthermore, by incorporating machine learning models to predict user behavior patterns, the controller can pre-allocate storage resources in advance, further reducing latency.
3. Compatibility and Ecosystem: Breaking the "Island Effect"
SSDs require deep compatibility with motherboards, operating systems, and upper-layer application software from different brands. Our controller chips, compatible with PCIe Gen4/Gen5 interface standards, supporting the NVMe 2.0 protocol and Open Channel 2.0 specifications, enable seamless integration with mainstream servers, edge computing devices, and industrial control systems. Furthermore, for operating systems like Linux and Windows Server, we provide customized drivers and performance tuning toolkits to help customers quickly complete deployment and verification.
II. NAND Chips: The "Cornerstone" of Data Storage: How Does This Affect Lifetime Value?
NAND flash memory chips are the storage medium of SSDs. Their technology generation (e.g., 3D TLC, QLC), manufacturing process (e.g., 176-layer, 232-layer), and quality grade (e.g., original chips, white chips, black chips) directly determine the SSD's capacity, speed, durability, and cost.
1. Quality Grading: From "Data Graveyard" to "Security Fortress"
The NAND chip market has a strict quality grading system: Original chips (e.g., Samsung, SK Hynix, Kioxia, etc., which produce and sell their own chips) undergo rigorous testing throughout the entire process and have the lowest bad block rate and the highest P/E cycle count (number of erase/write cycles). White chips are defective products rejected after original manufacturer testing and are typically packaged by third parties before entering the market. Black chips are defective products that fail testing and pose a risk of data loss. We insist on using original or equivalent-grade NAND chips. Using our proprietary particle screening system, we subject each flash memory chip to over 200 hours of extreme environmental testing (including high temperature, high humidity, and voltage fluctuations), ensuring a factory yield exceeding 99.97%. This strategy enabled Bestoss SSDs to achieve zero failures for over three years during a financial client's long-term stress test, far exceeding the industry average.
2. Technology Iteration: From "Capacity Race" to "Performance Balance"
As 3D NAND technology evolves to over 200 layers, single-chip capacity has surpassed 1Tb (128GB). However, the increase in layers also introduces issues such as write disturb and reduced data retention. Therefore, we employ multi-voltage domain design, intelligent error correction algorithms (LDPC), and dynamic charge pump technology to increase capacity while ensuring data reliability. For example, in the latest generation of PCIe 5.0 SSDs, Bestoss has achieved sequential read speeds exceeding 14GB/s by optimizing the collaboration between chips and controllers, while maintaining a random write endurance (DWPD) rating above 1.0 (meaning a full drive write per day with no performance degradation during the five-year warranty period).
3. Cost Control: From "Price War" to "Value War"
Customers sometimes prioritize TCO (total cost of ownership) over single-source purchase price. Through scaled procurement and vertical integration, Bestoss reduces unit costs while ensuring chip quality. To meet the needs of different industries, Bestoss offers dual product lines: performance-first (such as PCIe 5.0 SSDs) and cost-sensitive (such as SATA 3.0 SSDs), helping customers find the optimal balance between budget and performance.
III. Bestoss's Practice: From Technology Integration to Ecosystem Co-building
As a dedicated storage solutions provider, we understand that relying solely on the strengths of a single component is not enough to build long-term competitiveness. Therefore, from its inception, the company established a three-pronged technology strategy of "controller + chipset + firmware," achieving differentiated breakthroughs through the following initiatives:
1. Emphasizing both independent R&D and open collaboration
Bestoss' core team boasts an average of over 15 years of experience in the storage industry. In the field of controller chips, the company collaborates with manufacturers such as Phison and Marvell to develop customized solutions; in the field of chips, it has established strategic partnerships with Samsung and SK Hynix; and at the firmware algorithm level, it achieves full-chain optimization through its proprietary Bestoss Storage OS. For example, in a client project for autonomous driving, Bestoss achieved data recording latency of less than 50 microseconds by integrating a low-latency controller, automotive-grade chips, and AI acceleration firmware, meeting the real-time requirements of Level 4 autonomous driving.
2. Quality Control: From "Single-Point Inspection" to "Full Lifecycle Management"
Bestoss has implemented the ISO 9001 quality management system and IECQ QC 080000 hazardous substance control standards to establish a full-process traceability system covering raw material procurement, manufacturing, logistics, and after-sales service. Before leaving the factory, every SSD undergoes HALT (Highly Accelerated Lifetime Testing), HASS (Highly Accelerated Stress Screening), and compatibility testing (covering over 200 motherboard and operating system combinations). In addition, Bestoss offers a five-year limited warranty and data recovery services. Customers can use their unique serial number to check product status and repair records in real time.
IV. Future Outlook: Driving the Storage Revolution with Technological Innovation
With the widespread adoption of AI, 5G, and IoT technologies, data generation is growing exponentially. Gartner predicts that by 2025, the global datasphere will exceed 175ZB, with over 60% of this data being unstructured. This places higher demands on SSD capacity, speed, and intelligence.
Quality Builds Trust, Innovation Defines the Future
In the storage industry, there are no shortcuts—only by maintaining independent control over core technologies and strictly controlling the quality of every chip and component can we earn long-term customer trust. Bestoss will continue to position itself as a "B-side Storage Expert" and provide more efficient and reliable storage solutions to its global partners through continuous technological innovation and ecosystem collaboration. Contact our team for more product details and technical white papers, and unlock a new era of storage performance!
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