Silicon Power UD90 500GB

The Silicon Power UD90 500GB M.2 2230 is a DRAM-less PCIe 4.0 x4 NVMe drive typically built around the Phison PS5021-E21T controller and 3D NAND. It uses Host Memory Buffer (HMB) to compensate for the lack of onboard DRAM. At 500GB the drive cannot fully saturate NAND channels, producing a large read/write asymmetry (high read throughput, limited write throughput). This 2230 SKU is commonly used as an upgrade for handheld gaming devices and ultraportables; component revisions (different controllers or NAND) and rapid thermal soaking under sustained loads have been reported.

Key Specifications

• Interface: PCIe Gen 4.0 x4 (NVMe 1.4)
• Controller: Phison PS5021-E21T (Reference)
• Sequential Speeds: 4700 MB/s Read, 1700 MB/s Write
• NAND Type: 3D NAND (Variable; typically Micron 176L TLC or QLC)
• DRAM Status: DRAM-less (HMB supported)
• Physical Characteristics: Single-sided M.2 2230 PCB

Hardware Alternatives

• TeamGroup MP44S: Functionally nearly identical to the UD90, often sharing the same firmware baseline and NAND configuration.
• Corsair MP600 Mini: Another E21T-based drive, often binned for slightly higher consistency in NAND selection.
• Sabrent Rocket 2230: Utilizes the same controller hardware but typically features firmware tuned for higher sustained write performance.
• Western Digital WD_BLACK SN770 500GB: A direct competitor in the DRAM-less PCIe 4.0 2230 space; uses a proprietary SanDisk controller and BiCS NAND, offering similar read speeds and typically higher sequential write speeds than the 500GB UD90.