Verbatim Vi550 2000GB

The Verbatim Vi550 S3 2000GB is a high-capacity, entry-level SATA III drive aimed at bulk storage and HDD replacement rather than high-performance workloads. It uses a DRAM-less architecture with controller-integrated SRAM and a pseudo-SLC caching strategy. The drive commonly ships with generic 2- or 4-channel controllers (frequently Phison S11 / PS3111-S11 or Maxio MAS0902) paired with commodity 3D NAND, prioritizing capacity and read reliability over sustained write performance and high IOPS.

Key Specifications

• Interface: SATA III 6Gb/s
• Sequential Read/Write: Up to 550 MB/s Read / 500 MB/s Write
• Controller Architecture: DRAM-less (typically Phison PS3111-S11 or Maxio MAS0902)
• NAND Type: 3D NAND (TLC or QLC, batch dependent)
• Form Factor: 2.5-inch (7mm z-height)
• Physical Characteristics: Plastic chassis; standard SATA power/data connector layout
• DRAM-less details: No dedicated SDRAM cache; uses controller-integrated SRAM and pseudo-SLC caching for burst performance
• Variability: Integrator model with variable controller and NAND vendors between batches, which can affect behavior like cache recovery and sustained write speeds
• Cache behavior: Write speeds can drop sharply once the SLC cache is saturated during extended large-file transfers (e.g., exceeding 15-20GB)

Hardware Alternatives

• Kingston A400 / PNY CS900 2000GB: These drives are the closest hardware relatives, often utilizing the same Phison S11 controller logic and similar NAND configurations, resulting in nearly identical performance profiles
• Crucial BX500 2000GB: A direct competitor in the DRAM-less category that typically uses Silicon Motion controllers (SM2258XT/SM2259XT) and exhibits similar cache-exhaustion behaviors
• Patriot Burst Elite: Another market alternative that frequently undergoes similar controller and NAND component rotation