The Patriot Viper PV553 Gen5 NVMe SSD Finally Revealed!

Patriot Reveals Viper PV553 Gen 5 M.2 NVMe SSD and Teases Work-In-Progress DRAMless Gen 5 SSD at Computex 2023

The 2023 edition of Computex, held in Taipei, saw many hardware giants showcasing their latest and greatest tech innovations. Among them was Patriot, who took the chance to reveal two of their SSDs – the near-release Patriot Viper PV553 and a work-in-progress DRAMless Gen 5 SSD.

The Patriot Viper PV553 Gen 5 SSD

Following the success of the previous generation Viper VP4300, the new Viper PV553 Gen 5 SSD is sure to continue the legacy. The drive is a Phison E26 Controller SSD like many of its competitors, but Patriot claimed its performance numbers were slightly higher, although the company didn’t specify how this was achieved.

Specifications of the Patriot Viper PV553 Gen 5 SSD:

• Brand: Patriot
• Model ID: Viper PV553
• PCIe Gen: PCIe Gen 5 x 4
• Capacities: 1TB, 2TB, 4TB
• NAND: 3D TLC NAND
• Controller: Phison E26
• Memory: 2-4GB DDR4
• Reported Max Transfer (Seq R/W): 12.4GB/s / 11.8GB/s
• Reported Max IOPS (4K Random R/W): TBC
• Durability: TBC
• Includes Heatsink?: Yes, heatsink, aluminium panel surround, connected fan

The drive features an onboard fan and a proprietary, low-profile heatsink with an impressive vent design. We are yet to confirm, but it can be assumed that the drive is equipped with a 212 layer 3D TLC NAND, which can provide a performance boost over its competitors.

The Patriot DRAMless Gen 5 SSD (In Development)

Now, for the more surprising reveal: Patriot is already developing a DRAMless Gen 5 NVMe SSD. Despite being DRAMless (i.e., not having on-drive memory), Patriot claims that this SSD can still deliver impressive performance numbers: 12,000MB/s Sequential Read and 10,500MB/s Sequential Write, which makes it competitive with most other Gen 5 SSDs.

Specifications of the Patriot DRAMless Gen 5 SSD (prototype):

• Brand: Patriot
• Model ID: Prototype
• PCIe Gen: PCIe Gen 5 x 4
• Capacities: 1TB, 2TB, 4TB
• NAND: 3D TLC NAND
• Controller: Phison PS5031-E31T (TBC)
• Memory: No, DRAMLESS
• Reported Max Transfer (Seq R/W): 12GB/s / 10.5GB/s
• Reported Max IOPS (4K Random R/W): 1.5Million / 1.5 Million (Based on Phison Spec)
• Durability: TBC
• Includes Heatsink?: TBC

The SSD controller in the prototype of Patriot’s DRAMless Gen 5 SSD is anticipated to be the Phison PS5031-E31T, although this isn’t yet confirmed. This controller marks a significant evolution in SSD technology, supporting capacities up to 8TB as well as both TLC and QLC NAND types. Being a DRAMless controller, it uses a technique known as the Host Memory Buffer (HMB) to leverage the system’s DRAM to provide the necessary workspace for drive operation, thus eliminating the need for on-drive memory. As SSD controllers play a crucial role in managing data storage and retrieval, optimizing power use, and ensuring data integrity, the use of the Phison PS5031-E31T controller in a DRAMless Gen 5 SSD suggests Patriot’s commitment to innovation and performance. It will be interesting to see how the absence of onboard memory affects the drive’s real-world performance in various scenarios.

In addition to their advancements in Gen 5 SSD technology, Patriot didn’t overlook the still-relevant Gen 4 market at Computex 2023. The brand also showcased new Gen 4 SSD, the Patriot Viper VP4300 lite, a DRAMless alternative tot heir popular VP4300 SSD (which we reviewed in 2022 in the ARTICLE here and VIDEO here) continuing to push the boundaries of this well-established technology. Their commitment to serving a wide range of users is evident in this dual-focus approach. More information about these Gen 4 SSDs will be coming soon, so stay tuned to learn more about the expanded offerings from Patriot.

So, what is a DRAMless SSD?

SSDs function quite like computers. They have a CPU (the SSD Controller), storage space (the NAND where your data lives), and typically, memory to handle tasks on the fly. Some SSDs, designed for low sustained tasks or low-powered systems, or simply to hit a more affordable price point, operate without the memory or DRAM. While there are several Gen 3 and Gen 4 DRAMless SSDs, it’s unusual to see a Gen 5 DRAMless SSD this early in the generation. How does a DRAMless SSD match or surpass other Gen 5 SSDs that have DRAM? The answer lies in the current limitations of most systems supporting PCIe Gen 5. These systems cannot fully exploit the performance benefits of PCIe Gen 5, creating a kind of bottleneck. This may change over time, but as of now, it gives DRAMless SSDs a competitive edge, although they may not match DRAM SSDs in sustained operations.

As for the heatsinks on these drives, it’s anyone’s guess! The prototype Patriot showed was bare chips on a board, so no indications on the final heat dissipation solution. But it’s safe to say that it’s going to be interesting to find out how they tackle this! Please note that many of the specifications are to be confirmed (TBC) as they are not finalized or officially announced by Patriot yet. But stay tuned for more updates on these exciting SSD advancements!

When will the Patriot Viper PV553  SSD or DRAMless Gen 5 SSD Bwe Released, and how much will they be?

While Patriot has yet to announce an official price for the Viper PV553 Gen 5 SSD and the DRAMless Gen 5 SSD, industry insiders speculate that they may be competitively priced with other Gen 5 SSDs set to hit the market soon. Given the past pricing strategies of Patriot and the desire to gain an early foothold in the Gen 5 SSD market, it’s reasonable to expect a balance of performance and affordability. As for the release timeline, the targeted window appears to be Q3, potentially as early as September or October 2023. As always, these details are subject to change and will be confirmed as we approach the release date. Patriot continues to push the boundaries of SSD technology with their latest releases at Computex 2023. The Viper PV553 Gen 5 SSD looks promising, carrying the reputation of its predecessor and offering impressive performance numbers. But the true intrigue lies in the development of their DRAMless Gen 5 SSD. While still in its infancy, the prototype already promises competitive performance, and it’s clear that the tech world will be watching Patriot closely for updates. These advancements not only stand as a testament to Patriot’s innovation but also signal exciting times ahead for SSD technology as a whole. As we keep our eyes peeled for more information, one thing’s certain: the future of storage solutions is here, and it’s faster than ever.

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