Kingmax PX3480 1TB — Full-Performance PCIe 3.0 NVMe SSD (2026)
The Kingmax PX3480 1TB is the top-capacity model in the Zeus Dragon PCIe 3.0 NVMe lineup, delivering the Phison E12S controller's full rated performance with Toshiba 64-layer TLC NAND and a Nanya DDR3 DRAM cache.
Controller & Memory
The Kingmax PX3480 1TB uses the Phison PS5012-E12-27 controller paired with Toshiba 64-layer TLC NAND and Nanya DDR3 DRAM. It is a PCIe 3.0 x4 NVMe 1.2 drive in the M.2 2280 form factor. At 1TB, the PX3480 delivers its full rated sequential performance — 3,400 MB/s reads and 3,000 MB/s writes — with enough NAND parallelism to sustain those numbers under load.
The PX3480 series is available in 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB capacities. The 1TB model is the only capacity where the drive consistently hits its rated write speed, as the 256GB variant drops to roughly 1,000 MB/s writes. The Phison E12S controller provides dynamic SLC caching, LDPC error correction, and a DRAM cache for consistent random I/O. The drive supports TRIM, SMART monitoring, and static and dynamic wear leveling.
The 1TB model is double-sided, with NAND packages on both sides of the PCB. This means it may not fit in ultrabooks or compact systems that only accept single-sided M.2 drives. For standard desktop and ATX builds, this is not a concern. Kingmax rates the drive at 2 million hours MTBF and backs it with a 3-year warranty. No TBW endurance rating is published.
Key rivals include the Samsung 970 EVO Plus 1TB (similar performance, 5-year warranty, 600 TBW), the WD Black SN750 1TB (similar tier, 5-year warranty), and the Patriot Viper VPN100 1TB (similar Phison E12 platform). The PX3480's 3-year warranty and lack of a published TBW rating are the main disadvantages.
Storage Comparisons:
PX3480 Performance & Benchmarks
Kingmax rates the PX3480 1TB at up to 3,400 MB/s sequential reads and 3,000 MB/s sequential writes. At the 1TB capacity, the Phison E12S controller has full NAND parallelism, meaning the drive can sustain its rated write speed under load — unlike the 256GB model which drops significantly. This makes the 1TB variant the best performer in the PX3480 lineup.
Kingmax PX3480 1 TB vs M.2 3.0 x 4 peers
Switch between sequential throughput and random IOPS to see how this drive stacks up against other M.2 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.
- ADATA SX 8800 Pro 512 GB: 3,500 MB/s read, 2,700 MB/s write
- ADATA SX 8800 Pro 1 TB: 3,500 MB/s read, 2,700 MB/s write
- ADATA XPG Spectrix S40G RGB 256 GB: 3,500 MB/s read, 3,000 MB/s write
- ADATA XPG Spectrix S40G RGB 512 GB: 3,500 MB/s read, 3,000 MB/s write
- Kingmax PX3480 1 TB (this drive): 3,400 MB/s read, 3,000 MB/s write
Random 4K performance is competitive with other E12-based drives. The DRAM cache ensures low-latency random reads, and the SLC cache absorbs burst writes effectively. At 1TB, the cache has more headroom than smaller capacities, providing more consistent performance during mixed workloads.
The Phison E12S controller supports hardware ECC, wear leveling, and bad block management. The drive runs at modest power levels for a PCIe 3.0 x4 NVMe, and the E12S is more power-efficient than the full E12 variant. Thermal performance is manageable in a well-ventilated case, though a motherboard M.2 heatsink is recommended for sustained heavy writes.
Kingmax PX3480 vs Competitors
See how the PX3480 stacks up against other M.2 3.0 x 4 drives in our database:
Compare with rival drives:
Endurance, TBW & Warranty
Kingmax backs the PX3480 1TB with a 3-year limited warranty and a 2 million hour MTBF rating. The 3-year warranty is shorter than the 5-year standard from most competitors. The PX3480 does not have a published TBW endurance rating. For typical consumer and prosumer workloads, the 3-year warranty period is the practical limiting factor rather than endurance.
Kingmax PX3480 1 TB Specifications
| Category | Value |
|---|---|
| Capacity [?] | 1 TB |
| Interface [?] | M.2 3.0 x 4 |
| Controller [?] | Phison PS5012-E12-27 |
| Memory type [?] | Toshiba TLC |
| DRAM [?] | Nanya 256 - 1GB DDR3 |
| Read speed (MB/s) [?] | 3400 |
| Write speed (MB/s) [?] | 3000 |
| Read IOPS [?] | 550000 |
| Write IOPS [?] | 550000 |
| Endurance (TBW) [?] | 800 |
| MTBF (million hours) [?] | 2 |
| Warranty (years) [?] | 3 |
Verdict: Is the PX3480 Worth It in 2026?
The Kingmax PX3480 1TB is the strongest variant in the PX3480 lineup, delivering full-rated Phison E12S performance with 1TB of storage. It is a good fit for budget builders who want a DRAM-cached NVMe drive with enough capacity for a large game library and productivity workloads. The 3-year warranty and lack of a published TBW rating are the main drawbacks. If the PX3480 1TB is priced below the Samsung 970 EVO Plus 1TB or WD Black SN750 1TB, it is a fair value. At similar prices, the longer warranties on competing drives make them the safer choice.
+ Pros
- 3,400 MB/s reads and 3,000 MB/s writes at full capacity
- Phison E12S controller with DRAM cache
- Toshiba 64-layer TLC NAND
- 1TB capacity for large game libraries
- Cons
- 3-year warranty vs 5 years from competitors
- No published TBW endurance rating
- Double-sided PCB — may not fit ultrabooks
- Limited regional availability
- NVMe 1.2 protocol
Buy this or similar SSD Storage:
Video Review
БОГ КИТАЙСКИХ SSD Kingmax Zeus PX3480 NVMe
