Kingmax PX3480 256GB — Budget PCIe 3.0 NVMe SSD
The Kingmax PX3480 256GB is a budget PCIe 3.0 NVMe drive built on the Phison E12S platform with Toshiba 64-layer TLC NAND and a Nanya DDR3 DRAM cache.
The Kingmax PX3480 256GB 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, sold under Kingmax's Zeus Dragon gaming brand.
The PX3480 is available in 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB capacities. The 256GB model is single-sided, making it compatible with ultrabooks and compact systems. Independent testing by UnbxTech on the 256GB variant showed sequential reads reaching ~3,100 MB/s and writes around 1,050 MB/s in CrystalDiskMark — the write speed is notably lower than the 512GB and 1TB models due to fewer NAND dies operating in parallel. Random 4K performance was strong, with the drive achieving roughly 272K read IOPS and 251K write IOPS.
The Phison E12S controller provides a solid feature set: SLC caching for burst writes, LDPC error correction, and a DRAM cache for consistent random I/O. The drive supports TRIM, SMART monitoring, and static and dynamic wear leveling. Kingmax rates the PX3480 with a 2 million hour MTBF and backs it with a 3-year warranty.
Key rivals include the Patriot Viper VPN100 256GB (similar Phison E12 platform), the WD Blue SN550 250GB (DRAM-less HMB, faster writes), and the Kingston A2000 250GB (Phison E12, similar tier). The PX3480's single-sided design and DRAM cache are advantages over DRAM-less alternatives, but the 3-year warranty is shorter than the 5-year standard from most competitors.
✅ Storage Comparisons:
🚀 Performance and benchmarks
Kingmax rates the PX3480 256GB at up to 3,400 MB/s sequential reads and 3,000 MB/s sequential writes. However, independent testing tells a more nuanced story: UnbxTech's review of the 256GB model measured approximately 3,100 MB/s reads and 1,050 MB/s writes in CrystalDiskMark. The write speed discrepancy is typical for smaller-capacity Phison E12 drives — with fewer NAND packages in parallel, the controller cannot sustain the same write throughput as the 512GB and 1TB models.
Kingmax PX3480 256 GB 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 256 GB (this drive): 3,400 MB/s read, 3,000 MB/s write
Random 4K performance is a stronger point. The same review recorded roughly 272K read IOPS and 251K write IOPS at queue depth 32, which is competitive with other E12-based drives. The DRAM cache ensures consistent random read latency, making the drive feel responsive for OS boot, application launches, and game loading.
The SLC cache handles burst writes well for small file transfers. Once the cache exhausts during sustained large-file writes, speeds drop to the native TLC direct-write rate, which is where the 256GB model's limited NAND parallelism becomes apparent. For a boot drive and light productivity use, this is rarely an issue. For sustained large file transfers, the 512GB or 1TB models are meaningfully faster.
🖥️ Endurance and warranty
Kingmax backs the PX3480 with a 3-year limited warranty. The drive is rated for 2 million hours MTBF. The 3-year warranty is shorter than the 5-year standard offered by most competitors in the PCIe 3.0 NVMe space. The PX3480 does not have a published TBW endurance rating, which makes it difficult to compare longevity against competitors with explicit TBW figures. For typical consumer workloads, the 3-year warranty period is the practical limiting factor.
📊 Specs
| Category | Value |
|---|---|
| Capacity [?] | 256 GB |
| 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) [?] | n/a |
| MTBF (million hours) [?] | 2 |
| Warranty (years) [?] | 3 |
Conclusion
The Kingmax PX3480 256GB is a competent budget NVMe boot drive with a DRAM cache and single-sided PCB. Its main limitations are the lower write speed compared to larger capacities and the 3-year warranty. It makes sense as a budget boot drive for users who find it at a discount. For a similar price, the WD Blue SN550 250GB offers faster writes and a 5-year warranty, making it the safer recommendation for most buyers.
+ Pros
- Phison E12S controller with DRAM cache
- Single-sided PCB fits ultrabooks
- Strong random 4K IOPS performance
- Toshiba 64-layer TLC NAND
- Cons
- 3-year warranty vs 5 years from competitors
- Write speed limited on 256GB capacity (~1,000 MB/s)
- No published TBW endurance rating
- Limited regional availability
- NVMe 1.2 — lacks newer protocol features
🛒 Buy this or similar SSD Storage:
✨ Video Review
БОГ КИТАЙСКИХ SSD Kingmax Zeus PX3480 NVMe
