PS3111-S11T - SATA 3 DRAM-Less SSD Controller | Phison
MPN: PS3111-S11T ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $18.5 | $18.50 |
| 10 | $15.9 | $159.00 |
| 100 | $13.4 | $1,340.00 |
| 500 | $11.8 | $5,900.00 |
| 1,000 | $10.2 | $10,200.00 |
PS3111-S11T Overview
A NAND flash controller is the central ASIC inside every SATA SSD: it arbitrates commands from the host over the SATA link, translates logical block addresses into NAND page/chunk/plane operations, runs the flash translation layer (FTL), manages garbage collection and wear leveling, and protects data through ECC. The PS3111-S11T sits in the controller hierarchy as a SATA interface SSD controller below DRAM-equipped flagship controllers such as Phison's E12/E18 PCIe NVMe family, and is positioned for entry-level 2.5", mSATA, CFast, and M.2 SATA client SSDs up to roughly 1 TB capacity using 3D MLC, TLC, or QLC NAND.
Key features include SATA 3.0 backward-compatible interface (1.5/3.0/6.0 Gb/s auto-negotiation), 32 MB embedded DRAM used as a write cache rather than FTL metadata, single-core hardware design without on-board DRAM, 2 NAND channels with 16 CE counts, and Phison's proprietary SmartECC and compression pipeline. Industrial-grade qualification makes it suitable for embedded and client segments. Operating support extends to mainstream 3D NAND nodes including 3D TLC and 3D QLC.
The PS3111-S11T is typically used as the SSD controller on reference designs implementing the SATA form factors Phison markets: 2.5" SATA SSD, mSATA (JEDEC MO-300), CFast, M.2 SATA, and Phison's μSSD (micro SSD). The same die is also reused in PS3111-S11 form-factor-specific variants such as PS3111-S11 mSATA and PS3111-S11 CFast modules, all sharing the same SATA 3 controller firmware family known to the PC-3000 SSD forensic toolset as SATAFIRM S11.
A common application is the SATA-to-USB bridge path where the controller exposes a SATA SSD behind a USB 3.0 enclosure chipset, providing external storage from a single chip. The S11T is also widely adopted in entry-level client SSDs (120 GB to 1 TB) and industrial-grade embedded modules. Choose this part when BOM cost and power are prioritized over peak throughput.
When designing around the PS3111-S11T, ensure the firmware variant matches the NAND vendor and process node to avoid compatibility issues. Place the 30 MHz external crystal within 5 mm of the XTAL pins, and ground the exposed thermal pad on the bottom of the package to a continuous copper pour to dissipate the controller's idle and active load power across the SSD PCB.
This page synthesizes Phison's official product brochure, distributor pricing as of 2026-10-21, pin-compatible Phison-family drop-in alternatives, and engineering design notes that go beyond the manufacturer brief.
Drop-in alternatives for PS3111-S11T — same package, pin-to-pin compatible. Different-package parts requiring PCB rework are excluded.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PS3111-S11
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PS3110-S11
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PS3111-S11T Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Part Number | PS3111-S11T |
| Manufacturer | Phison Electronics |
| Device Type | SATA 3 (6.0 Gb/s) NAND flash controller IC |
| Host Interface | SATA 3.0 (1.5 / 3.0 / 6.0 Gb/s auto-negotiation) |
| Maximum Link Rate | 6.0 Gb/s |
| Flash Channels | 2 |
| Chip Enable Counts | 16 CE |
| DRAM | Dram-less (32 MB embedded SDRAM used as write cache only) |
| CPU Core | Single-core |
| Internal Operating Frequency | 200 MHz maximum |
| External Crystal Frequency | 30 MHz |
| Supported NAND | 3D MLC, 3D TLC, 3D QLC |
| Maximum Capacity Supported | Up to 1 TB (module dependent) |
| Supported Form Factors | 2.5-inch SATA, mSATA (MO-300), CFast, M.2 SATA, μSSD |
| Proprietary Technologies | SmartECC, data compression, end-to-end data protection |
| Grade | Industrial-grade / client SSD |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| Operating Mode | DRAM-less firmware (SATAFIRM S11) |
PS3111-S11T standard Pin Configuration Guide
Pin configuration for PS3111-S11T (standard package). This digital IC includes GPIO, communication interfaces (UART, SPI, I2C), and power pins. Refer to the manufacturer datasheet for alternate pin functions and configuration options. Essential for embedded system design and PCB layout.
No detailed pinout data available for PS3111-S11T.
Refer to the datasheet for full pin configuration.
Typical Applications
PS3111-S11T is suitable for 6 applications: SATA-to-USB External SSD Bridge, Entry-Level 2.5-inch SATA SSD, Industrial-Grade Embedded SATA SSD, mSATA (JEDEC MO-300) Module, CFast Card SSD Module, Data Recovery and Forensic Workflows.
SATA-to-USB External SSD Bridge
Pair the PS3111-S11T with a USB 3.0-to-SATA bridge chipset (for example, the VIA VL716 or Realtek RTL9210) to expose a SATA SSD through an external USB-C enclosure, yielding a portable bus-powered SSD that retains the controller's full SATA 3 6.0 Gb/s pipeline and SmartECC protection. The PS3111-S11T's 200 MHz internal clock sustains sequential reads well above 400 MB/s even in DRAM-less mode, and its 2-channel/16-CE NAND interface populates TLC or QLC dies economically for capacities from 120 GB to 1 TB. Phison positions this controller in its SATA-to-USB bridge product family, so reference firmware and validation flows are already optimized for this exact use case.
Recommended
Entry-Level 2.5-inch SATA SSD
Build mainstream client SATA SSDs from 120 GB to 1 TB around the PS3111-S11T, leveraging its 2 NAND channels and 16 CE counts to populate 3D TLC and 3D QLC NAND in flexible configurations. The controller's DRAM-less firmware and proprietary compression pipeline reduce BOM cost by eliminating the external SDRAM chip, while Phison's SmartECC and end-to-end data protection provide reliable error handling across QLC endurance limits. The S11T has been adopted in entry-level client 2.5" SSDs from GoodRAM, Patriot, and similar ODMs, where the same die is reused across model revisions.
Recommended
Industrial-Grade Embedded SATA SSD
Use the PS3111-S11T in industrial-grade embedded SATA SSDs for point-of-sale terminals, industrial PCs, and edge gateways where stable long-term supply and reliable SATA 3 operation outweigh peak performance. Phison qualifies the S11T for industrial temperature segments and pairs the silicon with extended-life NAND sourcing, enabling SSD modules that operate continuously in 0C to 70C ambient. The embedded DRAM-less architecture also reduces power consumption and PCB complexity, which matters in fanless industrial enclosures.
Recommended
mSATA (JEDEC MO-300) Module
The PS3111-S11T is the controller Phison specifies for its PS3111-S11 mSATA module, which fully complies with the JEDEC MO-300 standard form factor and offers modular SATA SSDs for embedded laptops, mini-PCs, and industrial single-board computers. The 30 MHz external crystal and 200 MHz internal clock give the controller deterministic command latency for legacy SATA II hosts that benefit from the S11T's auto-negotiating interface. mSATA capacities from 16 GB up to 512 GB are achievable by populating the 16 CE counts across the two channels.
Recommended
CFast Card SSD Module
Build CFast-form-factor SSDs using the PS3111-S11T, leveraging its SATA 3 interface compliance with the CFast specification and its 2-channel NAND pipeline. CFast cards are widely used in industrial cameras, medical imaging, and aviation in-flight entertainment systems, where the S11T's industrial-grade qualification and Phison's SATA-to-USB bridge support provide flexible deployment across SATA, USB, and SATA-derived host connections. The DRAM-less firmware keeps card power under 2 W typical, suitable for compact CFast enclosures.
Recommended
Data Recovery and Forensic Workflows
Data recovery engineers and forensic investigators frequently encounter SSDs built on the PS3111-S11T because Phison's SATAFIRM S11 firmware base is well-supported by professional forensic tools such as PC-3000 SSD, which exposes the FTL, ECC, and XOR/AES-256 routines used by the S11T. Knowing the controller is S11T (rather than SM2258XT or PS5012-E12) immediately routes a recovery attempt through Phison-specific loaders and unlock procedures, dramatically shortening diagnostic time. The same architecture is now encountered in mainstream client SSDs that pass through second-hand markets.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PS3111-S11T — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PS3111-S11 | PS3110-S11 | PS5012-E12 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | BGA (S11T family) | BGA (S11 family) | BGA (S11 family) | BGA (E12 family) |
| Brand | Phison | Phison | Phison | Phison |
| Host Interface | SATA 3 (6.0 Gb/s) | SATA 3 (6.0 Gb/s) | SATA 3 (6.0 Gb/s) | PCIe 3.1 x4 NVMe |
| NAND Channels | 2 | 2 | 2 | 8 |
| Chip Enable Counts | 16 CE | 16 CE | 16 CE | 32 CE |
| DRAM | DRAM-less (32 MB write cache) | DRAM-less (32 MB write cache) | DRAM-less (32 MB write cache) | External DDR3/DDR4 DRAM |
| Internal Clock | 200 MHz | 200 MHz | 200 MHz | 667 MHz |
| Max Capacity Supported | Up to 1 TB | Up to 1 TB | Up to 1 TB | Up to 8 TB |
| Target Market | Entry-level client / industrial SSD | Entry-level client / industrial SSD | Entry-level client / industrial SSD | High-performance client/enthusiast NVMe |
Key Differentiators
- Same Phison die as mSATA and CFast reference designs (vs PS3111-S11 mSATA module)
- DRAM-less architecture reduces BOM cost (vs Phison PS5012-E12)
- Industrial-grade SATA 3 positioning (vs Consumer-only SATA controllers)
Design Notes
Place the 30 MHz external crystal within 5 mm of the XTAL pins on the PS3111-S11T, and route the two crystal traces symmetrically with grounded shielding to minimize duty-cycle distortion. Estimated: with a typical 10 pF load crystal, the S11T's internal oscillator should hold +/-50 ppm across the 0C to 70C industrial temperature range if the load capacitance matches the crystal specification. Keep the crystal trace length matched within 1 mm to preserve rise/fall symmetry of the 200 MHz internal clock derived from this reference.
Although the PS3111-S11T is DRAM-less and therefore lower power than flagship controllers, its 2-channel NAND pipeline at sustained 6 Gb/s link rates can still dissipate 1 to 2 W under continuous sequential write workloads. Estimated power dissipation for a 2.5-inch SATA SSD reference design is approximately 1.5 W at 480 MB/s sustained write, generating ~5C temperature rise above ambient on a typical FR-4 PCB with 4-layer copper pour. Bond the controller's exposed thermal pad (if present in the package) to a continuous top-layer copper plane with multiple thermal vias to the inner ground plane.
Because the PS3111-S11T is DRAM-less, the firmware variant MUST be matched to the NAND vendor and process node before firmware flashing: a firmware built for Micron 3D TLC will not work with a Samsung 3D QLC populating the same board. According to Phison's reference design notes, mismatched firmware can cause the controller to loop in a READY timeout and render the SSD invisible to the SATA host. Always re-flash firmware after a NAND source change, using Phison-validated firmware binaries only.
The PS3111-S11T requires a stable host-side 5 V supply (typical for SATA) plus onboard regulators generating its core and I/O rails; ripple on either rail directly impacts the S11T's SATA TX/RX eye margin. Estimated: hold ripple under 50 mV peak-to-peak on each rail, and use a 10 uF + 0.1 uF capacitor pair on each rail within 2 mm of the controller's supply pins. The SATA link's 6.0 Gb/s eye is sensitive to supply noise coupling into the PHY, so separate the controller supply from the NAND flash supply with ferrite beads if the SSD has separate rails.
Compliance Information
RoHS and REACH compliance per Phison product brochure. Lead-free and halogen-free assembly per Phison reference designs. AEC-Q100 is not applicable because PS3111-S11T is a storage controller IC, not an automotive-grade IC in the strict AEC-Q100 sense; refer to Phison's automotive-qualified SATA controller family for vehicle applications.
