# Goodram PX500 256GB — Entry-Level PCIe 3.0 NVMe SSD (2026)

The Goodram PX500 256GB is a budget DRAM-less PCIe 3.0 NVMe drive using the Silicon Motion SM2263XT controller and YMTC 64-layer TLC NAND, targeting cost-conscious builders who want NVMe speeds over SATA.

Quick answer: The Goodram PX500 256GB is a basic entry-level NVMe drive that makes sense only at a significant discount. The 1,850/950 MB/s speeds are adequate for a boot drive but noticeably slower than the 512GB and 1TB PX500 models. The 3-year warranty and 170 TBW endurance are below average. For a similar price, the WD Blue SN570 250GB offers faster speeds and a 5-year warranty. The PX500 256GB is only worth considering if it is the cheapest NVMe option available.

## Specifications

| Specification | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Capacity | 256 GB |
| Interface | PCIe 3.0 x 4 |
| Controller | Silicon Motion SMI 2263XT |
| Memory type | 3D TLC |
| DRAM cache | HMB |
| Sequential read | 1850 MB/s |
| Sequential write | 950 MB/s |
| Random read IOPS | 148000 |
| Random write IOPS | 135000 |
| Endurance | 170 TBW |
| MTBF | 1.5 |
| Warranty | 3 years |

## Performance

Goodram rates the PX500 256GB at up to 1,850 MB/s sequential reads and 950 MB/s sequential writes, with random performance up to 148,000 read IOPS and 135,000 write IOPS. These are the lowest speeds in the PX500 lineup — the 512GB and 1TB models are substantially faster at 2,000/1,600 and 2,050/1,650 MB/s respectively.

The SM2263XT controller uses a dynamic SLC cache to absorb burst writes. On the 256GB model, the cache is smaller than on larger capacities, so sustained writes exhaust it more quickly. Once the cache fills, write speeds drop to the native TLC direct-write rate, which is where the DRAM-less design and limited NAND parallelism show their limitations.

The HMB implementation uses 64 MB of system RAM for FTL mapping. This is sufficient for basic workloads but results in higher random I/O latency compared to drives with dedicated DRAM. For OS boot and light productivity, the difference is barely noticeable. For heavy multitasking or database workloads, a DRAM-cached drive is a better choice.

## Endurance, TBW & Warranty

Goodram backs the PX500 256GB with a 3-year limited warranty capped at 170 TBW total bytes written. The 170 TBW rating is modest — at 20 GB of writes per day, it would take roughly 23 years to reach the limit. The 3-year warranty is shorter than the 5-year standard from competitors like WD and Crucial. The drive is rated for 2 million hours MTBF.

## Pros and Cons

**Pros:**

- Single-sided PCB fits ultrabooks
- Copper-graphite thermal coating
- 170 TBW endurance rating
- NVMe 1.3 protocol support
**Cons:**

- DRAM-less HMB design — lower random I/O
- 3-year warranty vs 5 years from competitors
- Modest speeds — 1,850/950 MB/s
- 256GB capacity is very limiting
- 170 TBW is below average for the capacity


## Verdict

The Goodram PX500 256GB is a basic entry-level NVMe drive that makes sense only at a significant discount. The 1,850/950 MB/s speeds are adequate for a boot drive but noticeably slower than the 512GB and 1TB PX500 models. The 3-year warranty and 170 TBW endurance are below average. For a similar price, the WD Blue SN570 250GB offers faster speeds and a 5-year warranty. The PX500 256GB is only worth considering if it is the cheapest NVMe option available.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### Does the Goodram PX500 256GB have DRAM?

No. The PX500 uses a DRAM-less design with HMB (Host Memory Buffer), which borrows 64 MB of system RAM for FTL mapping instead of using a dedicated DRAM chip. This reduces cost but results in higher random I/O latency compared to DRAM-cached drives.

### Is the Goodram PX500 256GB good for gaming?

It works as a budget boot drive, but the 256GB capacity holds only 5 to 8 modern games, and the 950 MB/s write speed means slow game installs. For gaming, the 512GB or 1TB PX500 models are significantly better, or consider the WD Blue SN570 for a 5-year warranty.

### What is the TBW endurance of the PX500 256GB?

Goodram rates the PX500 256GB at 170 TBW total bytes written. At 20 GB of writes per day, that translates to roughly 23 years of use. The 3-year warranty is the more practical limiting factor for most buyers.

### How does the PX500 256GB compare to the WD Blue SN570 250GB?

The WD Blue SN570 250GB offers faster sequential speeds (2,400/950 MB/s vs 1,850/950 MB/s), a 5-year warranty versus 3 years, and better brand support. The SN570 is also DRAM-less but uses a more modern controller. The PX500 256GB is only a better value if it is significantly cheaper.

### Is the PX500 256GB single-sided?

Yes. All PX500 capacities are single-sided, with components on one side of the PCB. This makes the PX500 compatible with ultrabooks and compact systems that only accept single-sided M.2 drives.

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Last updated: 2026-05-23. Source: https://ssdrive.net/goodram-px500-256-gb