Realtek has new NVMe SSD controllers that can do 3.5GB/s

Realtek is working on new PCI Express 3.1 x4 NVMe controllers. The company already had products for low-end solid state disks but now the firm is moving up a notch with the RTS5762 and RTS5763DL, two models aimed at higher-performance disks.

So first up we have the RTS5762, that controller is pitched as the fastest client PCIe M.2 SSD controller in the world. This controller supports up to eight flash channels, 3D TLC/QLC NAND flash memory, and can do read speeds of over 3500MB/s and write speeds of over 3000MB/s. Very impressive figures.

Next the company also has the RTS5763DL, a more mainstream model with four NAND channels and support for 3D TLC and QLC NAND memory. Just like the RTS5762, this controller supports AES256 encryption, something you usually don't find on cheaper controllers. The RTS5763DL can deliver read speeds of over 2150MB/s and write speeds in excess of 1470MB/s. That's roughly on-par with the Silicon Motion SM2263XT.

While these numbers may not impress if compared to those offered by the RTS5762 and other high-end models, it should be noted that today’s entry-level PCIe SSDs based on Realtek’s RTS5760 can barely hit 1000 MB/s, thus competing successfully only against SATA drives that top out at 560 MB/s.

More details at AnandTech. The first disks with these new Realtek controllers are expected in 2019, but as a newcomer, Realtek will have to prove itself versus the more traditional firms in this market, which include Silicon Motion and Phison.