<PAGE>
    AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON OCTOBER 5, 2000
                                                     REGISTRATION NO. 333-
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                            ------------------------

                                    FORM S-8

                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT

                                     UNDER

                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

                            ------------------------

                        SILICON STORAGE TECHNOLOGY, INC.

             (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

<TABLE>
<S>                             <C>                          <C>
          CALIFORNIA                                               77-0225590
   (State of Incorporation)                                     (I.R.S. Employer
                                                              Identification No.)
</TABLE>

                               1171 SONORA COURT
                          SUNNYVALE, CALIFORNIA 94086
                             PHONE: (408) 735-9110
                    (Address of principal executive offices)

                           1995 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN
                            (Full title of the plan)

                                    BING YEH
                     PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
                               1171 SONORA COURT
                          SUNNYVALE, CALIFORNIA 94086
                             PHONE: (408) 735-9110

               (Name, address, including zip code, and telephone
               number, including area code, of agent for service)

                            ------------------------

                                   COPIES TO:

                             MARK P. TANOURY, ESQ.
                               COOLEY GODWARD LLP
                             FIVE PALO ALTO SQUARE
                              3000 EL CAMINO REAL
                              PALO ALTO, CA 94036
                                 (650) 843-5000

                            ------------------------

                        CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                               PROPOSED MAXIMUM     PROPOSED MAXIMUM
        TITLE OF SECURITIES                AMOUNT TO BE         OFFERING PRICE     AGGREGATE OFFERING        AMOUNT OF
          TO BE REGISTERED                REGISTERED (1)         PER SHARE (2)          PRICE (2)        REGISTRATION FEE
<S>                                   <C>                     <C>                  <C>                  <C>
Common stock, no par value (together
  with associated preferred stock
  purchase rights)..................     3,000,000 shares          $24.59375           $73,781,250            $19,479
</TABLE>

(1) This Registration Statement shall cover any additional shares of Common
    Stock which become issuable under the plan set forth herein by reason of any
    stock dividend, stock split, recapitalization or any other similar
    transaction without receipt of consideration which results in an increase in
    the number of shares of the Registrant's outstanding Common Stock.

(2) Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the amount of the
    registration fee pursuant to Rule 457(h) of the Securities Act of 1933, as
    amended (the "Act"). The price per share and aggregate offering price are
    based the average of the high and low prices of the Registrant's Common
    Stock as reported on the Nasdaq Stock Market for October 3, 2000 (pursuant
    to Rule 457(c) under the Act).

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>
                INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE

    The following Registration Statement on Form S-8, filed by the Registrant
with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 5, 1995, SEC File No.
33-97802 and March 23, 2000, SEC File No. 333-33130, are incorporated by
reference into this Registration Statement.

                                    EXHIBITS

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
       EXHIBIT
       NUMBER           DESCRIPTION OF DOCUMENT
---------------------   -----------------------
<C>                     <S>
                  5.1   Opinion of Cooley Godward LLP.
                 23.1   Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP.
                 23.2   Consent of Cooley Godward LLP is contained in Exhibit 5.1 to
                        this Registration Statement.
                 24.1   Power of Attorney is contained on the signature pages.
                 99.1   1995 Equity Incentive Plan, as amended.
</TABLE>

                                       2
<PAGE>
                                   SIGNATURES

    Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the
Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all
of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Registration
Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly
authorized, in the City of Sunnyvale, State of California, on October 5, 2000.

<TABLE>
<S>                                                    <C>  <C>
                                                       SILICON STORAGE TECHNOLOGY, INC.

                                                       By:                 /s/ BING YEH
                                                            -----------------------------------------
                                                                             Bing Yeh
                                                              PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
</TABLE>

                               POWER OF ATTORNEY

    KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears
below constitutes and appoints Bing Yeh and Jeffrey L. Garon, and each or any
one of them, his true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of
substitution and resubstitution, for him and in his name, place and stead, in
any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including post-
effective amendments) to this Registration Statement, and to file the same, with
all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the
Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and
agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and
every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in connection therewith,
as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby
ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any of
them, or their or his substitutes or substitute, may lawfully do or cause to be
done by virtue hereof.

    Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the
capacities and on the dates indicated.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                  SIGNATURE                                    TITLE                       DATE
                  ---------                                    -----                       ----
<C>                                            <S>                                    <C>
                /s/ BING YEH                   President, Chief Executive Officer
    ------------------------------------         and Director (PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE    October 5, 2000
                  Bing Yeh                       OFFICER)

                                               Vice President Finance &
            /s/ JEFFREY L. GARON                 Administration, Chief Financial
    ------------------------------------         Officer and Secretary (PRINCIPAL     October 5, 2000
              Jeffrey L. Garon                   FINANCIAL AND ACCOUNTING OFFICER)

    ------------------------------------       Director
              Yasushi Chikagami

              /s/ RONALD CHWANG
    ------------------------------------       Director                               October 5, 2000
                Ronald Chwang

               /s/ YAW WEN HU
    ------------------------------------       Director                               October 5, 2000
                 Yaw Wen Hu

             /s/ TSUYOSHI TAIRA
    ------------------------------------       Director                               October 5, 2000
               Tsuyoshi Taira
</TABLE>

                                       3
<PAGE>
                                 EXHIBIT INDEX

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
       EXHIBIT
       NUMBER           DESCRIPTION OF DOCUMENT
---------------------   -----------------------
<C>                     <S>
                  5.1   Opinion of Cooley Godward LLP.
                 23.1   Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP.
                 23.2   Consent of Cooley Godward LLP is contained in Exhibit 5.1 to
                        this Registration Statement.
                 24.1   Power of Attorney is contained on the signature pages.
                 99.1   1995 Equity Incentive Plan, as amended.
</TABLE>

                                       4
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{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "SILICON STORAGE TECHNOLOGY INC", "cik": "0000855906", "assigned-sic": "3674", "irs-number": "770225590", "state-of-incorporation": "CA", "fiscal-year-end": "1231"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "S-8", "act": "33", "file-number": "333-47388", "film-number": "735397"}, "business-address": {"street1": "1171 SONORA CT", "city": "SUNNYVALE", "state": "CA", "zip": "94086", "phone": "4087359110"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "1171 SONORA COURT", "city": "SUNNYVALE", "state": "CA", "zip": "94086"}}
AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON OCTOBER 5, 2000
                                                     REGISTRATION NO. 333-
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                            ------------------------

                                    FORM S-8

                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT

                                     UNDER

                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

                            ------------------------

                        SILICON STORAGE TECHNOLOGY, INC.

             (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)
CALIFORNIA                                               77-0225590
   (State of Incorporation)                                     (I.R.S. Employer
                                                              Identification No.)
1171 SONORA COURT
                          SUNNYVALE, CALIFORNIA 94086
                             PHONE: (408) 735-9110
                    (Address of principal executive offices)

                           1995 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN
                            (Full title of the plan)

                                    BING YEH
                     PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
                               1171 SONORA COURT
                          SUNNYVALE, CALIFORNIA 94086
                             PHONE: (408) 735-9110

               (Name, address, including zip code, and telephone
               number, including area code, of agent for service)

                            ------------------------

                                   COPIES TO:

                             MARK P. TANOURY, ESQ.
                               COOLEY GODWARD LLP
                             FIVE PALO ALTO SQUARE
                              3000 EL CAMINO REAL
                              PALO ALTO, CA 94036
                                 (650) 843-5000

                            ------------------------

                        CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
PROPOSED MAXIMUM     PROPOSED MAXIMUM
        TITLE OF SECURITIES                AMOUNT TO BE         OFFERING PRICE     AGGREGATE OFFERING        AMOUNT OF
          TO BE REGISTERED                REGISTERED (1)         PER SHARE (2)          PRICE (2)        REGISTRATION FEE
Common stock, no par value (together
  with associated preferred stock
  purchase rights)..................     3,000,000 shares          $24.59375           $73,781,250            $19,479
(1) This Registration Statement shall cover any additional shares of Common
    Stock which become issuable under the plan set forth herein by reason of any
    stock dividend, stock split, recapitalization or any other similar
    transaction without receipt of consideration which results in an increase in
    the number of shares of the Registrant's outstanding Common Stock.

(2) Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the amount of the
    registration fee pursuant to Rule 457(h) of the Securities Act of 1933, as
    amended (the "Act"). The price per share and aggregate offering price are
    based the average of the high and low prices of the Registrant's Common
    Stock as reported on the Nasdaq Stock Market for October 3, 2000 (pursuant
    to Rule 457(c) under the Act).

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE

    The following Registration Statement on Form S-8, filed by the Registrant
with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 5, 1995, SEC File No.
33-97802 and March 23, 2000, SEC File No. 333-33130, are incorporated by
reference into this Registration Statement.

                                    EXHIBITS
EXHIBIT
       NUMBER           DESCRIPTION OF DOCUMENT
---------------------   -----------------------
5.1   Opinion of Cooley Godward LLP.
                 23.1   Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP.
                 23.2   Consent of Cooley Godward LLP is contained in Exhibit 5.1 to
                        this Registration Statement.
                 24.1   Power of Attorney is contained on the signature pages.
                 99.1   1995 Equity Incentive Plan, as amended.
2
SIGNATURES

    Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the
Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all
of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Registration
Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly
authorized, in the City of Sunnyvale, State of California, on October 5, 2000.
SILICON STORAGE TECHNOLOGY, INC.

                                                       By:                 /s/ BING YEH
                                                            -----------------------------------------
                                                                             Bing Yeh
                                                              PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
POWER OF ATTORNEY

    KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears
below constitutes and appoints Bing Yeh and Jeffrey L. Garon, and each or any
one of them, his true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of
substitution and resubstitution, for him and in his name, place and stead, in
any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including post-
effective amendments) to this Registration Statement, and to file the same, with
all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the
Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and
agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and
every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in connection therewith,
as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby
ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any of
them, or their or his substitutes or substitute, may lawfully do or cause to be
done by virtue hereof.

    Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the
capacities and on the dates indicated.
SIGNATURE                                    TITLE                       DATE
                  ---------                                    -----                       ----
/s/ BING YEH                   President, Chief Executive Officer
    ------------------------------------         and Director (PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE    October 5, 2000
                  Bing Yeh                       OFFICER)

                                               Vice President Finance &
            /s/ JEFFREY L. GARON                 Administration, Chief Financial
    ------------------------------------         Officer and Secretary (PRINCIPAL     October 5, 2000
              Jeffrey L. Garon                   FINANCIAL AND ACCOUNTING OFFICER)

    ------------------------------------       Director
              Yasushi Chikagami

              /s/ RONALD CHWANG
    ------------------------------------       Director                               October 5, 2000
                Ronald Chwang

               /s/ YAW WEN HU
    ------------------------------------       Director                               October 5, 2000
                 Yaw Wen Hu

             /s/ TSUYOSHI TAIRA
    ------------------------------------       Director                               October 5, 2000
               Tsuyoshi Taira
3
EXHIBIT INDEX
EXHIBIT
       NUMBER           DESCRIPTION OF DOCUMENT
---------------------   -----------------------
5.1   Opinion of Cooley Godward LLP.
                 23.1   Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP.
                 23.2   Consent of Cooley Godward LLP is contained in Exhibit 5.1 to
                        this Registration Statement.
                 24.1   Power of Attorney is contained on the signature pages.
                 99.1   1995 Equity Incentive Plan, as amended.
4