Product showcase

If you remove the sticker on the backside then the SSD can be opened up by removing four screws. This will break warranty of course. Once removed it shows a full-sized PCB.

This 6Gbps storage unit makes use of TLC NAND (SanDisk Gen 2, Toggle). A total of four NAND flash memory ICs can be spotted on the top side of the PCB for this 240 GB model. Obviously the 480 GB model will have 8 ICs. The NAND FLASH partitions are assigned directly to the controller. 

Here we can see (well barely)the Marvell 88SS9190 SSD controller. The Marvell Monet is an 8-channel dual core controller. The labeling has been a little washed out unfortunately. This is an eight-channel controller with the ability of a possible 200MB/s per channel throughput, which is just a high value. That is good news for the smaller 240 GB SKU performance wise. Combined the bandwidth is just exceptional for single non RAID drive. The controller supports TRIM. 

As stated, the NAND used is SanDisk 2nd Gen 19nm TLC in architecture and originates from Sandisk themselves. A total of four to eight NAND flash memory ICs are present on the PCB. SanDisk doesn't list PE Cycles anymore with all the wearing technologies available, but we expect 2K to 3K P/E. 

You will also spot a RAM IC, bringing 256 or 512 MB of cache memory towards the controller for fast file write operations (respectively for the 240/480/960 GB SSD version). The DDR3 DRAM chip operates at 1333MHz. Below the backside of the PCB. As explained TLC memory is vertically stacked, meaning SanDisk can put more cells into one NAND IC. This allows them to use less components, making the product smaller and cheaper to produce.

The backside of the PCB is cleaned out of anything. The PCB has been completely overhauled and redesigned compared to the last generation SSDs (Extreme II).