Kingmax PX3480 512GB — Mid-Range PCIe 3.0 NVMe SSD (2026)
The Kingmax PX3480 512GB is the middle capacity in Kingmax's Zeus Dragon PCIe 3.0 NVMe lineup, pairing the Phison E12S controller with Toshiba 64-layer TLC NAND and a Nanya DDR3 DRAM cache.
Controller & Memory
The Kingmax PX3480 512GB uses the Phison PS5012-E12-27 controller with Toshiba 64-layer TLC NAND and Nanya DDR3 DRAM. It communicates over PCIe 3.0 x4 using the NVMe 1.2 protocol in the M.2 2280 form factor. The 512GB capacity hits a sweet spot in the PX3480 lineup, offering significantly better write performance than the 256GB model thanks to more NAND dies operating in parallel.
The PX3480 series is available in 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB capacities. At 512GB, the drive delivers its full rated sequential write speed of 3,000 MB/s — a substantial improvement over the 256GB model's ~1,000 MB/s writes. The Phison E12S controller provides SLC caching, LDPC error correction, and a DRAM cache for consistent random I/O performance. The drive supports TRIM, SMART, and static and dynamic wear leveling.
The 512GB model is single-sided, making it compatible with ultrabooks and compact systems. Kingmax rates the PX3480 with a 2 million hour MTBF and backs it with a 3-year warranty. The drive does not have a published TBW endurance rating.
Key rivals include the Patriot Viper VPN100 512GB (similar Phison E12 platform), the WD Black SN750 500GB (similar performance, 5-year warranty), and the Samsung 970 EVO Plus 500GB (faster, 5-year warranty, 600 TBW). The PX3480's 3-year warranty is the main disadvantage compared to these alternatives.
Storage Comparisons:
PX3480 Performance & Benchmarks
Kingmax rates the PX3480 512GB at up to 3,400 MB/s sequential reads and 3,000 MB/s sequential writes. At the 512GB capacity, the Phison E12S controller has enough NAND parallelism to sustain its rated write speed — unlike the 256GB model, which drops to roughly 1,000 MB/s writes under sustained loads. This makes the 512GB variant a meaningfully better performer for large file transfers, game installations, and content creation workloads.
Kingmax PX3480 512 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 512 GB (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, making the drive responsive for OS boot, application launches, and game loading. The SLC cache absorbs burst writes effectively, and at 512GB there is more cache headroom than the 256GB model.
The Phison E12S controller runs at up to 675 MHz and supports hardware ECC, wear leveling, and bad block management. Power consumption is modest for a PCIe 3.0 x4 drive, and the single-sided PCB helps with thermal dissipation in tight spaces.
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 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, making it difficult to compare long-term durability. For typical consumer use, the 3-year warranty period is the practical limiting factor.
Kingmax PX3480 512 GB Specifications
| Category | Value |
|---|---|
| Capacity [?] | 512 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) [?] | 400 |
| MTBF (million hours) [?] | 2 |
| Warranty (years) [?] | 3 |
Verdict: Is the PX3480 Worth It in 2026?
The Kingmax PX3480 512GB is the best variant in the PX3480 lineup, offering full-rated write performance and a single-sided PCB at a competitive price. It is a solid choice for budget builders who want a DRAM-cached NVMe boot drive with decent capacity. The 3-year warranty is the main drawback — the WD Black SN750 500GB and Samsung 970 EVO Plus 500GB offer similar performance with 5-year warranties. Buy the PX3480 512GB if it's priced noticeably below those alternatives.
+ Pros
- 3,400 MB/s reads and 3,000 MB/s writes at 512GB
- Phison E12S controller with DRAM cache
- Single-sided PCB fits ultrabooks
- Toshiba 64-layer TLC NAND
- Cons
- 3-year warranty vs 5 years from competitors
- No published TBW endurance rating
- Limited regional availability
- NVMe 1.2 protocol
Buy this or similar SSD Storage:
Video Review
БОГ КИТАЙСКИХ SSD Kingmax Zeus PX3480 NVMe
