# Kingmax PX3480 256GB — Budget PCIe 3.0 NVMe SSD (2026)

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.

Quick answer: 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.

## Specifications

| Specification | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Capacity | 256 GB |
| 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 | 200 TBW |
| MTBF | 2 |
| Warranty | 3 years |

## Performance

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.

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, TBW & 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.

## Pros and Cons

**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


## Verdict

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.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### Does the Kingmax PX3480 256GB have DRAM?

Yes. The PX3480 256GB includes a Nanya DDR3 DRAM cache. This dedicated cache stores the flash-translation-layer mapping table, improving random access latency and consistency compared to DRAM-less HMB designs.

### Is the Kingmax PX3480 256GB good for gaming?

It works as a budget boot drive, but the 256GB capacity fills up quickly with modern games — roughly 5 to 8 AAA titles. The ~1,000 MB/s write speed means game installs and updates take longer than on faster NVMe drives. For game loading, the strong random read performance is adequate.

### Is the PX3480 256GB single-sided or double-sided?

The PX3480 256GB is single-sided, with all components on one side of the PCB. This makes it compatible with ultrabooks and compact systems that only accept single-sided M.2 drives. The larger 512GB and 1TB models may be double-sided.

### How does the PX3480 256GB compare to the WD Blue SN550 250GB?

The WD Blue SN550 250GB offers faster write speeds (~1,700 MB/s vs ~1,000 MB/s) and a 5-year warranty versus the PX3480's 3 years. The SN550 uses a DRAM-less HMB design, while the PX3480 has dedicated DRAM. For most buyers, the SN550 is the better value unless the PX3480 is significantly cheaper.

### What is the TBW endurance of the PX3480 256GB?

Kingmax does not publish a TBW endurance rating for the PX3480 series. The drive is backed by a 3-year warranty regardless of TBW consumption. This makes it difficult to assess long-term durability compared to competitors with explicit TBW figures.

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Last updated: 2026-05-23. Source: https://ssdrive.net/kingmax-px3480-256-gb