Reports that the NVMe SSD Viper VPN100 (test) is sometimes delivered with less DRAM cache than specified, has confirmed the manufacturer Patriot Memory and apologized for the missing information. This is justified with a change of the controller due to bottlenecks in the semiconductor sector.
Customers uncover once again
A report by a Reddit user provided the impetus for Patriot's statement (PDF) following media reports. Accordingly, his recently acquired Patriot VPN100 is equipped with 2 TB with the Phison E12S and only 512 MB DRAM, while the manufacturer's data sheet (PDF) speaks of the Phison E12 and 2 GB DRAM cache.
According to the statement, Patriot decided last year to switch to the Phison E12S due to supply bottlenecks, which has less DRAM and is manufactured in a smaller package. Patriot assures that the promised values will be achieved with sequential read/write as well as with Random 4K IOPS and draws a direct comparison in a graphic.
Due to the ongoing manufacturing shortages affecting the global IC supply chain, Patriot decided in 2020 to use the Phison E12S controller in addition to the Phison E12 for the complete VPN100 series (256GB/512GB/1TB/2TB). We confirm that only the Viper SSD series is affected. The E12S uses less cache, but offers the same performance as the E12 controller because it is manufactured using the latest manufacturing processes and innovative firmware development.
Patriot Memory
A small DRAM cache usually doesn't interfere
Nevertheless, a smaller cache can also mean lower performance in certain scenarios (far removed from everyday consumer life). For this reason, the customer concerned was outraged. In addition, the E12S only supports slower but more economical DDR3L instead of DDR4 DRAM. However, a small DRAM cache is not a problem for low requirements with normal use. Even NVMe SSDs without their own DRAM cache, which instead use a tiny part of the main memory via host memory buffers (HMB), can convince without drastic loss of performance. A good example of this is the WD Blue SN550 (review). In the case of SATA SSDs without DRAM, for which the NVMe function HMB is not available, things look different again. The complete lack of the DRAM buffer can then even be the cause of system failures.
Sorry for secret changes
Patriot apologizes that the data sheets have not been adapted immediately and accepts responsibility for any inconvenience caused. Customers with questions about this can contact customer service at support@patriotmem.com. However, the statement does not reveal whether the manufacturer will take back the product without hesitation.
However, we do not deny that We did not update our fact sheets, which are available online for public viewing or reference, and should have done so immediately. We apologize for this and accept responsibility for any inconvenience caused to all partners and customers.
Patriot Memory
For the fourth quarter of 2021, Patriot has announced a successor that will replace the VPN100. This will probably also bury the now deteriorated image of the series. The new “Viper” should also use PCIe 3.0 x4 in the M.2 form factor.
Others make the same error
< p class = "p text-width"> Patriot is by no means the only manufacturer who changes important components in its SSDs without publicly announcing this. There was also a stir, for example, that Adata made changes to the controller and NAND of the SX8200 Pro so often that four different versions were in circulation. At PNY, the NAND flash was recently changed, which drastically reduced the TBW guarantee. The manufacturer had adapted the data sheets and website, but this was only known after loud criticism.