The RTL9210B is famous in the enthusiast community for its superior power management compared to competitors like the JMicron JMS583.
The RTL9210B is not a simple protocol converter; it contains several key internal blocks as detailed in the 2021 block diagram:
A key advantage touted in the 2021 datasheet is the integrated power management unit (PMU). It generates all required core and I/O voltages from a single 3.3V or 5V input, reducing BOM cost and PCB area. rtl9210b datasheet 2021
If you are flashing a drive, these are the critical settings to look for:
You may see references to the RTL9210 vs RTL9210B. The RTL9210B is famous in the enthusiast community
For engineers selecting a bridge IC in 2021, the datasheet includes a competitive table (likely for internal use):
| Feature | RTL9210B | ASMedia ASM2362 | JMicron JMS583 | | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | | Max PCIe Speed | Gen 3 x2 | Gen 3 x2 | Gen 3 x2 | | UASP Support | Full | Full | Partial (no TRIM) | | Operating Temp (max) | 85°C | 70°C | 80°C | | 4Kn Drive Support | Yes (2021 FW) | No | Via beta FW | | Price (2021, 1k units) | $2.85 | $4.20 | $2.60 | A key advantage touted in the 2021 datasheet
The RTL9210B excels in temperature tolerance, while the ASM2362 offers slightly lower power at idle.
The 2021 datasheet highlights several improvements over the original RTL9210 (non-B) version. Core specifications include:
Note from 2021 Datasheet: The RTL9210B is not pin-compatible with the older RTL9210A. A full re-layout is required when migrating.