# 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.

Quick answer: 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.

## Specifications

| Specification | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Capacity | 1 TB |
| Interface | M.2 3.0 x 4 |
| Controller | Phison PS5012-E12-27 |
| Memory type | Toshiba TLC |
| DRAM cache | Nanya 256 - 1GB DDR3 |
| Sequential read | 3400 MB/s |
| Sequential write | 3000 MB/s |
| Random read IOPS | 550000 |
| Random write IOPS | 550000 |
| Endurance | 800 TBW |
| MTBF | 2 |
| Warranty | 3 years |

## Performance

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.

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.

## 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.

## Pros and Cons

**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


## Verdict

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.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### Does the Kingmax PX3480 1TB have DRAM?

Yes. The PX3480 1TB includes a Nanya DDR3 DRAM cache. This dedicated cache stores the flash-translation-layer mapping table, providing consistent random I/O performance and reducing write amplification.

### Is the Kingmax PX3480 1TB good for gaming?

Yes. With 3,400 MB/s reads, 3,000 MB/s writes, and 1TB of capacity, it handles a large game library with fast load times and quick installs. The DRAM cache ensures consistent performance during game updates and patch downloads.

### Is the PX3480 1TB single-sided or double-sided?

The PX3480 1TB 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. The 256GB and 512GB models are single-sided.

### How does the PX3480 1TB compare to the Samsung 970 EVO Plus 1TB?

Sequential performance is similar. The Samsung 970 EVO Plus 1TB offers a 5-year warranty and 600 TBW endurance rating, while the PX3480 has a 3-year warranty and no published TBW. Samsung also provides Magician software. The PX3480 is typically the cheaper option, but the Samsung offers better long-term coverage.

### What is the TBW endurance of the PX3480 1TB?

Kingmax does not publish a TBW endurance rating for the PX3480 series. The drive is backed by a 3-year warranty. Without a TBW figure, long-term durability cannot be directly compared to competitors with explicit ratings.

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Last updated: 2026-05-23. Source: https://ssdrive.net/kingmax-px3480-1-tb