Goodram IRDM Ultimate 240GB — PCIe 3.0 NVMe with MLC Durability
The Goodram IRDM Ultimate 240GB pairs the Phison E7 controller with Toshiba MLC NAND and a Nanya DDR3L DRAM cache to deliver strong PCIe 3.0 performance backed by a 5-year warranty.
The Goodram IRDM Ultimate 240GB uses the Phison PS5007-E7 controller with Toshiba MLC NAND and Nanya DDR3L DRAM. It is a PCIe 3.0 x4 NVMe drive in the M.2 2280 form factor. The IRDM Ultimate line is Goodram's performance NVMe series, and the 240GB model offers a practical step up from the 120GB variant while retaining the same platform advantages.
The IRDM Ultimate is available in 120GB, 240GB, and 480GB capacities. At 240GB, the drive provides enough capacity for a Windows installation, core applications, and a handful of games. The Phison E7 controller provides end-to-end data path protection, SmartECC, SmartFlush, AES-256 encryption, and L1.2 low-power mode. The Toshiba MLC NAND provides better endurance and sustained-write performance than TLC alternatives.
Goodram backs the IRDM Ultimate with a 5-year warranty and rates it at 2 million hours MTBF. No TBW endurance rating is published. The 5-year warranty is a key differentiator against budget competitors with 3-year coverage.
Key rivals include the Samsung 960 EVO 250GB (similar era, TLC, 3-year warranty), the WD Blue SN570 250GB (newer, faster, 5-year warranty), and the MyDigitalSSD BPX 240GB (similar E7 platform, MLC, 5-year warranty). The IRDM Ultimate's MLC NAND and 5-year warranty are competitive advantages.
✅ Storage Comparisons:
🚀 Performance and benchmarks
Goodram rates the IRDM Ultimate 240GB at up to 2,900 MB/s sequential reads and 2,200 MB/s sequential writes, with random performance up to 235,000 read IOPS and 270,000 write IOPS. These ratings match the 120GB model, as both use the same Phison E7 controller and Toshiba MLC NAND configuration.
Goodram IRDM Ultimate 240 GB vs PCIe 3.0 x 4 peers
Switch between sequential throughput and random IOPS to see how this drive stacks up against other PCIe 3.0 x 4 SSDs in our database. The highlighted bar is the drive on this page — click any other bar to open that drive.
- Asura Genesis Xtreme 256 GB: 3,400 MB/s read, 3,000 MB/s write
- Asura Genesis Xtreme 512 GB: 3,400 MB/s read, 3,000 MB/s write
- Asura Genesis Xtreme 1 TB: 3,400 MB/s read, 3,000 MB/s write
- Asura Genesis Xtreme 2 TB: 3,400 MB/s read, 3,000 MB/s write
- Goodram IRDM Ultimate 240 GB (this drive): 2,900 MB/s read, 2,200 MB/s write
The Phison E7 controller's dynamic SLC cache handles burst writes effectively. The MLC NAND provides more consistent sustained-write performance than TLC, as MLC cells program faster and endure more P/E cycles. The DRAM cache ensures low-latency random reads, making the drive responsive for OS boot and application launches.
At 240GB, the drive has enough capacity for a practical boot-plus-apps setup. The E7 controller's L1.2 low-power mode makes it viable for laptop use, though the double-sided PCB may limit compatibility with some ultrabooks.
🖥️ Endurance and warranty
Goodram backs the IRDM Ultimate 240GB with a 5-year limited warranty. The drive is rated for 2 million hours MTBF. The 5-year warranty matches the industry best and is a significant advantage over budget drives with 3-year coverage. No TBW endurance rating is published, but the MLC NAND provides inherently higher endurance than TLC.
📊 Specs
| Category | Value |
|---|---|
| Capacity [?] | 240 GB |
| Interface [?] | PCIe 3.0 x 4 |
| Controller [?] | Phison PS5007-E7 |
| Memory type [?] | Toshiba MLC |
| DRAM [?] | Nanya 256 - 512 DDR3L |
| Read speed (MB/s) [?] | 2900 |
| Write speed (MB/s) [?] | 2200 |
| Read IOPS [?] | 235000 |
| Write IOPS [?] | 270000 |
| Endurance (TBW) [?] | n/a |
| MTBF (million hours) [?] | 2 |
| Warranty (years) [?] | 5 |
Conclusion
The Goodram IRDM Ultimate 240GB is a solid PCIe 3.0 NVMe drive with MLC NAND durability and a 5-year warranty. It is a good fit for users who want a reliable boot drive with proven components and long warranty coverage. For users who need more capacity, the IRDM Ultimate 480GB offers the same platform with more space. For users who prioritize raw speed over endurance, newer PCIe 3.0 drives with TLC and faster controllers may be more appealing.
+ Pros
- Phison E7 controller with Toshiba MLC NAND
- 5-year warranty
- 2,900/2,200 MB/s sequential performance
- Nanya DDR3L DRAM cache
- AES-256 encryption and end-to-end data protection
- Cons
- 240GB capacity is limiting for modern use
- PCIe 3.0 — slower than PCIe 4.0
- No published TBW endurance rating
- Limited regional availability
🛒 Buy this or similar SSD Storage:
✨ Video Review
Goodram PCIe 4 x4 NVMe M.2 SSD, 500GB, 1TB and 2TB IRDM Ultimate X
