SSD Data Recovery
Phison PS5016-E16 Data RecoveryCorsair Force MP600 / Sabrent Rocket 4.0 / Gigabyte AORUS NVMe Gen4
The Phison PS5016-E16 was the first consumer PCIe Gen4 SSD controller, essentially an E12 with a Gen4 PHY bolted on. It has higher reported failure rates than its successors and is particularly prone to firmware corruption from thermal events. We recover Phison PS5016-E16-based SSDs using our PC-3000 system's Phison-specific firmware tools at our Austin lab.
Phison PS5016-E16 Technical Details
The Phison PS5016-E16 was the first consumer PCIe Gen4 SSD controller, essentially an E12 with a Gen4 PHY bolted on. It has higher reported failure rates than its successors and is particularly prone to firmware corruption from thermal events.
Phison PS5016-E16 Specifications
- Manufacturer
- Phison
- Interface
- NVMe Gen4
- DRAM Cache
- Yes
- Channels
- 8-channel
- NAND Types
- 3D TLC
First consumer Gen4 controller. Essentially an E12 with Gen4 PHY.
Recovery Feasibility
First consumer Gen4 controller. Essentially an E12 with Gen4 PHY.
Drives Using the Phison PS5016-E16
The following consumer SSDs use the Phison PS5016-E16. If your drive is on this list, the failure modes and recovery approaches described on this page apply to your situation.
Phison PS5016-E16 Drive Models
5 models affected
Failure Modes
Each failure mode has a different root cause and requires a different recovery approach. Identifying the correct failure mode is the first step in any recovery.
Firmware corruption
Higher reported failure rates than E12/E18. Particularly prone to firmware corruption from thermal events.
Symptoms you may notice
- NVMe SSD not detected
- Drive disappears under load
- Thermal throttling then failure
Related search terms
Thermal throttling damage
Sustained high temperatures can cause permanent firmware corruption or NAND degradation.
Symptoms you may notice
- Drive overheating
- Performance degradation then failure
- SSD not detected after overheating
Related search terms
How We Recover Phison PS5016-E16 SSDs
Firmware-Level Recovery
We recover Phison PS5016-E16-based SSDs using the PC-3000 SSD system with the Phison Active Utility. This provides direct access to the controller's diagnostic interface for firmware repair and FTL (Flash Translation Layer) reconstruction.
Firmware-level access preserves the NAND chip layout and avoids the complications of chip-off recovery. For most Phison PS5016-E16 failures, this is the primary recovery path.
Chip-Off Recovery
Chip-off is possible but complicated for Phison PS5016-E16 drives. Hardware encryption or proprietary NAND encoding reduces chip-off success rates compared to firmware-level recovery.
We attempt firmware-level recovery first and only proceed to chip-off when no other option exists.
First consumer Gen4 controller. Essentially an E12 with Gen4 PHY.
Pricing
SSD firmware and logical recovery for the Phison PS5016-E16 typically costs $300 to $500. Controller-level failures requiring advanced diagnostics are $500 to $1,500. Chip-off recovery, when viable, is $1,500 to $2,500.
See our full pricing breakdown for details. Our No Data, No Fee guarantee means you pay nothing if we cannot recover your files.
Hard Drive Data Recovery Standards & Verification
Our Austin lab operates on a transparency-first model. We use industry-standard recovery tools, including PC-3000 and DeepSpar, combined with strict environmental controls to make sure your hard drive is handled safely and properly. This approach allows us to serve clients nationwide with consistent technical standards.
Open-drive work is performed in a laminar-flow bench filtered to 0.02 µm, verified using TSI P-Trak instrumentation.
Transparent History
Serving clients nationwide via mail-in service since 2008.
Media Coverage
Our repair work has been covered by The Wall Street Journal and Business Insider, with CBC News reporting on our pricing transparency. Louis Rossmann has testified in Right to Repair hearings in multiple states and founded the Repair Preservation Group.
Aligned Incentives
Our "No Data, No Charge" policy means we assume the risk of the recovery attempt, not the client.
Technical Oversight
Louis Rossmann
Louis Rossmann's well trained staff review our lab protocols to ensure technical accuracy and honest service. Since 2008, his focus has been on clear technical communication and accurate diagnostics rather than sales-driven explanations.
We believe in proving standards rather than just stating them. We use TSI P-Trak instrumentation to verify that clean-air benchmarks are met before any drive is opened.
See our clean bench validation data and particle test videoFrequently Asked Questions
Why do Phison E16 SSDs fail more often than E18 drives?
Can thermal damage cause permanent data loss on an E16 SSD?
My Corsair MP600 is not detected after overheating. What happened?
What is the difference between E16 and E18 for recovery purposes?
How much does Phison E16 data recovery cost?
Other Phison Controllers
We also recover SSDs using these Phison controllers.
Phison PS3111-S11
SATASATAFIRM S11 firmware lockout
9 affected drive models
Phison PS3110-S10
SATAFTL corruption
4 affected drive models
Phison PS5012-E12
NVMe Gen3Firmware corruption from power loss
5 affected drive models
Phison PS5018-E18
NVMe Gen4Performance degradation bug
7 affected drive models
Phison PS5021-E21T
NVMe Gen4Permanent data loss bug
5 affected drive models
Not an SSD issue? We also recover hard drives, RAID arrays, and iPhones.
SSD Recovery Overview →Nationwide Mail-In Data Recovery Service
We serve all 50 states with secure mail-in data recovery. Ship your failed drive to our Austin lab using our free shipping kit, and we'll diagnose it within 24-48 hours. No geographic limitations—we've successfully recovered data for customers from Alaska to Florida.
Popular Service Areas
Phison PS5016-E16 SSD not working?
Ship it to our Austin lab for a free evaluation. No data, no charge.