The first DRAM-less SSD controller to max out PCIe Gen5 is also a power efficiency… is attracting attention across the tech world. Analysts, enthusiasts, and industry observers are watching closely to see how this story develops.
This update adds another signal to a fast-moving sector where product decisions, platform changes, and competition can quickly shape the market.
Phison’s E37T controller is shaping up to be a powerful, yet efficient option in a market desperate for affordability.
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With SSD prices moving sharply upwards over the last few months, thanks to unrelenting AI demand across the board, consumers are increasingly looking to the lower end of the spectrum to bridge the gap between their budgets and the cost of modern SSDs.
The upcoming Phison E37T SSD controller could help tide things over. It happens to be the first Gen 5 DRAM-less SSD controller to max out bandwidth over the 4 lanes available to an M2 SSD on modern PCs, laptops, and consoles.
The consumer-centric offering at least partially solves the RAM crisis by delivering comparable performance to bleeding-edge DRAM-infused SSDs, while remaining economical on power.
Based on a recent interview with Tweaktown, which also received a review sample of Phison’s E37T, Phison was already monitoring the situation as it saw DRAM pricing propped up by insatiable AI demand and came prepared with a solution that caters to both performance users and gamers.
Phison’s Technical Marketing Director, Chris Ramseyer, stated: “We knew it was going to be a problem later on, looking ahead, for our flagship SSDs. And we needed a way, so we started working on a way.”
The E37T not only eliminates DRAM from the equation, much like the older E31T, which caps out at 10.3 GB/s, but also pushes to the ceiling of PCI-E 5.0 SSD read speeds at 14.9 GB/s while offering equally potent write speeds (13 GB/s).
With a peak power consumption rating of 3.4W and a sub-50% increase in IOPS compared to the E31T, it caters to consumers seeking enthusiast-grade performance without the cost of its older DRAM-equipped sibling, the E26.
Comparing the E37T to the E26 makes for an even starker picture. With less than a third of the peak power requirement of its predecessor, it also offers higher IOPS, peak read and write speeds, and circumvents the need for active cooling even as it supports much faster NAND flash (+33%).
While Phison is still testing the E37T and rolling out firmware updates across the board, some reviews are reporting mixed results, including a Tweaktown review that was unable to achieve over the mandated 5500 MB/s score on the PS5.
These issues are, however, expected to be ironed out when E37T-based SSDs finally hit the market later this year, in a future that seems increasingly DRAM-less for SSDs, at least until the current memory crisis abates.
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Rahim Amir is a UAE-based tech writer who enjoys building PCs as much as he enjoys writing about them. He has been professionally writing about PC hardware since 2023, focusing on buyer’s guides, hardware reviews, and sponsored content and features related to tech.
Having built hundreds of gaming PCs and being an avid gamer in his spare time, Rahim tends to have stronger opinions about hardware than most. This is particularly on display when he gets his way with powerful, but minimalistic RGB builds even as Small Form Factor (SFF) PCs come a close second.
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Why This Matters
This development may influence user expectations, future product strategy, and the competitive balance inside the broader technology industry.
Companies in adjacent segments often react quickly to similar moves, which is why stories like this tend to matter beyond a single announcement.
Looking Ahead
The full impact will become clearer over time, but the story already highlights how quickly the modern tech landscape can evolve.
Observers will continue tracking the next steps and how they affect products, users, and the wider market.
