# Integral Memory Ultima Pro X 960GB - PCIe 3.0 NVMe SSD (2026)

The Integral Memory Ultima Pro X 960GB is a UK-brand PCIe 3.0 NVMe built on the Phison PS5012-E12 controller with 3D TLC NAND, 1 GB DRAM cache, and TCG Opal 2.0 hardware encryption support.

Quick answer: The Integral Memory Ultima Pro X 960 GB is a credible legacy pick for UK and European buyers who specifically want TCG Opal 2.0 hardware encryption on a PCIe 3.0 NVMe and value Integral's regional warranty support. Anyone who can use a newer drive should look at the Crucial P5 Plus 1 TB or WD Black SN770 1 TB - both newer-generation PCIe 4.0 designs with 5-year warranties, similar capacity, and meaningfully higher peak performance. Skip the Ultima Pro X if you do not need hardware encryption and are not constrained to PCIe 3.0, since several current alternatives perform better and carry longer warranty terms. As a niche compliance-driven PCIe 3.0 NVMe at 960 GB it serves a specific buyer profile competently.

## Specifications

| Specification | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Capacity | 960 GB |
| Interface | M.2 3.0 x 4 |
| Controller | Phison PS5012-E12 |
| Memory type | 3D TLC |
| DRAM cache | 1,024 cache |
| Sequential read | 3300 MB/s |
| Sequential write | 3000 MB/s |
| Random read IOPS | 500000 |
| Random write IOPS | 410000 |
| Endurance | 989 TBW |
| MTBF | 2 |
| Warranty | 3 years |

## Performance

Manufacturer ratings for the Ultima Pro X 960 GB land at 3,300 MB/s sequential reads and 3,000 MB/s sequential writes, with random performance up to 500,000 read and 410,000 write IOPS. Those numbers represent peak PCIe 3.0 x4 throughput, very close to the 3,500 MB/s interface ceiling. The Phison E12 controller is mature and well-characterised - it delivers consistent random-read latency at low queue depths thanks to the dedicated DRAM cache, and the 1 GB buffer keeps NTFS metadata operations responsive under sustained load.

Sustained writes hold up well for a PCIe 3.0 drive. The dynamic SLC pseudocache plus the dedicated DRAM mean the Ultima Pro X 960 GB can absorb roughly 200-300 GB of continuous writes before the cache exhausts on a near-empty drive, after which writes fall to a TLC direct-write rate around 1,200-1,500 MB/s. For boot, application, and gaming workloads on a PCIe 3.0 system the drive feels comparable to a Samsung 970 EVO 1 TB; for very large file moves the Samsung's slightly higher direct-write rate edges ahead. DirectStorage operates at PCIe 3.0 speeds rather than the higher PCIe 4.0 ceiling that current games target, so this is not a DirectStorage-optimised drive for 2026 gaming.

## Endurance, TBW & Warranty

Integral Memory backs the Ultima Pro X 960 GB with a three-year limited warranty and an endurance rating in the high hundreds of TBW typical of Phison E12 drives with high-quality TLC NAND. The published MTBF exceeds two million hours, in line with consumer NVMe SSDs of the era and a population statistic rather than a per-drive guarantee. TCG Opal 2.0 plus 256-bit AES hardware encryption is supported and can be paired with Windows BitLocker or third-party management software such as WinMagic or Sophos SafeGuard for enterprise compliance scenarios. Integral RMA handling runs through the company's UK support office and authorised resellers; non-UK buyers should confirm shipping logistics before purchase. The three-year warranty is shorter than the five-year terms offered by Samsung, WD, and Crucial on competing drives, which is a real consideration for long-life builds.

## Pros and Cons

**Pros:**

- 3,300 MB/s sequential reads on PCIe 3.0
- 1 GB DDR4 DRAM cache via Phison E12 controller
- TCG Opal 2.0 with 256-bit AES hardware encryption
- 500,000 IOPS rated random reads
- MTBF over 2,000,000 hours
- UK-based brand with regional warranty support
**Cons:**

- PCIe 3.0 only, one generation behind current drives
- Three-year warranty shorter than Samsung, WD, Crucial peers
- Discontinued, replaced by Integral M Series Premium
- No included heatsink in retail box
- Limited availability outside UK and Europe


## Verdict

The Integral Memory Ultima Pro X 960 GB is a credible legacy pick for UK and European buyers who specifically want TCG Opal 2.0 hardware encryption on a PCIe 3.0 NVMe and value Integral's regional warranty support. Anyone who can use a newer drive should look at the Crucial P5 Plus 1 TB or WD Black SN770 1 TB - both newer-generation PCIe 4.0 designs with 5-year warranties, similar capacity, and meaningfully higher peak performance. Skip the Ultima Pro X if you do not need hardware encryption and are not constrained to PCIe 3.0, since several current alternatives perform better and carry longer warranty terms. As a niche compliance-driven PCIe 3.0 NVMe at 960 GB it serves a specific buyer profile competently.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### Is the Integral Memory Ultima Pro X 960GB good for gaming?

It is adequate for casual and mainstream gaming on a PCIe 3.0 system. The drive delivers 3,300 MB/s sequential reads and 500,000 random read IOPS, which is enough to load Windows, launch modern games, and stream level assets noticeably faster than any SATA SSD. On a PCIe 4.0 or PCIe 5.0 platform you will be leaving headroom unused; a current WD Black SN770 1 TB or Samsung 980 1 TB delivers higher peak speeds at a similar capacity. For PCIe 3.0-only motherboards from 2016-2019 the Ultima Pro X 960 GB is a reasonable gaming pick.

### Is the Integral Memory Ultima Pro X compatible with the PS5?

No. The PS5 expansion slot requires a PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD rated at 5,500 MB/s or higher sequential reads, plus the M.2 2280 form factor and dimensions within 110 x 25 x 11.25 mm including heatsink. The Ultima Pro X is a PCIe 3.0 drive rated at 3,300 MB/s reads, which fails both the interface generation and the bandwidth threshold. The PS5 firmware will refuse to use it for game installation. For PS5 expansion choose a verified PCIe 4.0 drive such as the WD Black SN850X, Samsung 990 Pro, or Crucial T500.

### Does the Integral Ultima Pro X have a DRAM cache?

Yes. The Ultima Pro X 960 GB pairs the Phison PS5012-E12 controller with a dedicated 1 GB DDR4 DRAM cache buffer. The DRAM holds the logical-to-physical mapping table on the SSD itself, which keeps random-read latency low and supports sustained random writes better than HMB-only DRAM-less designs. The 1 GB buffer is generous for a 960 GB drive and is one of the reasons the Ultima Pro X feels responsive under heavy multitasking loads such as virtual machine usage or large database queries.

### Does the Integral Ultima Pro X support hardware encryption?

Yes. The drive supports TCG Opal 2.0 along with 256-bit AES hardware encryption, which makes it eligible for BitLocker's hardware-assisted encryption mode on Windows Pro and Enterprise, plus enterprise self-encrypting drive (SED) management via third-party suites. Hardware encryption keeps the encryption work on the drive's controller rather than the CPU, which preserves performance during heavy disk activity. This feature is one of the Ultima Pro X's main differentiators against current consumer NVMe drives - many newer budget PCIe 4.0 drives have dropped Opal 2.0 support to cut cost.

### What is the TBW endurance of the Integral Ultima Pro X 960 GB?

Integral Memory has published varying endurance figures over the drive's life, ranging from approximately 465 TBW in some retail listings to closer to 1,000 TBW in newer datasheet revisions. The Phison E12 platform paired with high-quality 3D TLC NAND was commonly rated near 1,000 TBW per terabyte of capacity by other manufacturers (Sabrent Rocket NVMe, Corsair MP510), so the higher figure is plausible. Treat the endurance as adequate for typical desktop and gaming workloads - a 20 GB/day write profile will not exhaust the drive within its three-year warranty regardless of which figure is correct.

### How does the Ultima Pro X compare to the Samsung 970 EVO?

Both drives are PCIe 3.0 NVMe with DRAM caches and similar capacity. The Samsung 970 EVO 1 TB rates higher on sequential reads at 3,500 versus 3,300 MB/s and offers longer warranty support at five years versus three. It also benefits from Samsung's Magician software suite for monitoring and firmware updates. The Ultima Pro X 960 GB counters with TCG Opal 2.0 hardware encryption that the 970 EVO does not always advertise as readily, and Integral's UK warranty support is convenient for British buyers. For most general use the 970 EVO is the stronger choice; for hardware-encryption-driven compliance the Ultima Pro X wins.

### Is the Integral Ultima Pro X 960 GB worth buying in 2026?

Only for specific use cases. Buyers who need TCG Opal 2.0 self-encrypting NVMe on a PCIe 3.0 board, or UK businesses already buying Integral's branded encrypted storage, can still justify the purchase. For general consumer use, the drive's three-year warranty, PCIe 3.0 ceiling, and discontinued status make it hard to recommend versus current PCIe 4.0 NVMe options. The Crucial P5 Plus 1 TB and WD Black SN770 1 TB both outperform the Ultima Pro X 960 GB on every benchmark and carry five-year warranties. Buy it only if hardware encryption or regional warranty access is a specific requirement.

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Last updated: 2026-05-17. Source: https://ssdrive.net/integral-memory-ultima-pro-x-960-gb