# Kingmax PX4480 2TB Review — High-Capacity PCIe 4.0 SSD (2026)

The Kingmax PX4480 2TB is the top-capacity variant of Kingmax's first-generation PCIe 4.0 lineup, pairing the proven Phison E16 controller with 1,200 TBW endurance for buyers who need both speed and storage headroom.

Quick answer: The Kingmax PX4480 2TB is the most compelling variant in the PX4480 lineup, offering the same 5,000 MB/s PCIe 4.0 speeds as the smaller models but with 1,200 TBW endurance that makes it suitable for heavy workloads. It's a strong option for users who want a single 2TB drive for their OS, applications, and game library. The 3-year warranty remains the drive's Achilles' heel — the Seagate FireCuda 520 2TB and Corsair MP600 2TB offer identical E16 performance with 5-year warranties. Buy the PX4480 2TB if it's priced noticeably below those alternatives; otherwise, the extra warranty coverage on competing drives is worth paying for.

## Specifications

| Specification | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Capacity | 2 TB |
| Interface | M.2 4.0 x 4 |
| Controller | Phison PS5016-E16 |
| Memory type | 3D Nand |
| DRAM cache | DDR4 Cache |
| Sequential read | 5000 MB/s |
| Sequential write | 4400 MB/s |
| Random read IOPS | 750000 |
| Random write IOPS | 700000 |
| Endurance | 2683 TBW |
| MTBF | 2 |
| Warranty | 3 years |

## Performance

The Kingmax PX4480 2TB is rated at up to 5,000 MB/s sequential reads and 4,400 MB/s sequential writes across its PCIe 4.0 x4 interface. Random 4K performance peaks at up to 750,000 IOPS for reads and 700,000 IOPS for writes. These figures match the 1TB model closely — the E16 controller scales well across capacities, and the 2TB variant benefits from a larger SLC cache pool thanks to its higher NAND die count.

The dynamic SLC cache on the 2TB model typically spans 80 to 200 GB depending on free space, roughly double the 1TB's cache range. Once the cache fills, direct TLC write speeds settle around 800 to 1,200 MB/s — still faster than any PCIe 3.0 drive but a noticeable drop from the 4,400 MB/s burst rating. For gamers and desktop users, the cache rarely exhausts in normal use. Content creators moving 500 GB+ project files will see the slowdown after the first few minutes, at which point the drive's native TLC speed takes over.

In practical terms, the PX4480 2TB handles OS booting, application launches, and game loading with the near-instant responsiveness expected of any DRAM-cached NVMe. The 2TB capacity holds a substantial game library — 30 to 50 modern titles depending on size — making it a sensible single-drive solution for users who don't want to manage multiple M.2 slots. The E16 controller does not support hardware decompression, so it won't fully leverage Microsoft DirectStorage's optimized pipeline the way newer Phison E18 or E26 drives do.

## Endurance, TBW & Warranty

Kingmax covers the PX4480 2TB with a 3-year limited warranty and a 1,200 TBW endurance rating. The 1,200 TBW figure is double the 1TB model's 600 TBW, reflecting the doubled NAND capacity available for wear leveling. At 40 GB of daily writes — a heavy desktop workload — the drive would take approximately 82 years to reach its TBW limit. The 3-year warranty expires before you're likely to approach the endurance ceiling, meaning time-based coverage is the relevant constraint, not TBW exhaustion. The 2 million hour MTBF is a statistical population figure, not an individual drive lifespan promise. Compared to the Seagate FireCuda 520 2TB's 1,800 TBW and 5-year warranty, or the Corsair MP600 2TB's 800 TBW and 5-year warranty, the PX4480's 3-year coverage is the shortest. Heavy users who plan to fill and refill the drive frequently may prefer a competitor with longer warranty terms.

## Pros and Cons

**Pros:**

- 5,000 MB/s sequential reads on PCIe 4.0
- 1,200 TBW endurance — highest in PX4480 lineup
- 2TB capacity for large game and media libraries
- DDR4 DRAM cache for consistent random I/O
- Proven Phison E16 reference platform
**Cons:**

- 3-year warranty vs 5 years from competitors
- No heatsink option available
- E16 controller runs warm under sustained writes
- No hardware decompression for DirectStorage


## Verdict

The Kingmax PX4480 2TB is the most compelling variant in the PX4480 lineup, offering the same 5,000 MB/s PCIe 4.0 speeds as the smaller models but with 1,200 TBW endurance that makes it suitable for heavy workloads. It's a strong option for users who want a single 2TB drive for their OS, applications, and game library. The 3-year warranty remains the drive's Achilles' heel — the Seagate FireCuda 520 2TB and Corsair MP600 2TB offer identical E16 performance with 5-year warranties. Buy the PX4480 2TB if it's priced noticeably below those alternatives; otherwise, the extra warranty coverage on competing drives is worth paying for.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### Is the Kingmax PX4480 2TB good for gaming?

Yes, the Kingmax PX4480 2TB is excellent for gaming. Its 5,000 MB/s read speed and 750,000 random read IOPS deliver fast game load times across all modern titles. The 2TB capacity holds roughly 30 to 50 AAA games depending on individual game sizes, making it one of the more practical single-drive gaming solutions. The DRAM cache ensures consistent performance during game installs and patch downloads. While it lacks DirectStorage hardware decompression, current gaming performance is unaffected since few titles use that feature yet.

### Does the Kingmax PX4480 2TB have a DRAM cache?

Yes, the Kingmax PX4480 2TB includes a DDR4 DRAM cache buffer for FTL mapping table storage. This dedicated DRAM improves random 4K performance and reduces write amplification compared to DRAM-less drives that use HMB (Host Memory Buffer). The DRAM cache is one reason the PX4480 maintains consistent performance under mixed workloads, and it contributes to longer NAND lifespan by reducing unnecessary write amplification.

### What is the TBW endurance of the Kingmax PX4480 2TB?

The Kingmax PX4480 2TB is rated at 1,200 TBW (Total Bytes Written). This is double the 1TB model's 600 TBW rating, reflecting the doubled NAND capacity. At a typical consumer workload of 40 GB per day, the 1,200 TBW rating provides roughly 82 years of theoretical endurance. The 500 GB model is rated at 300 TBW. The 3-year warranty covers the drive regardless of TBW consumption, so time-based expiry is the more likely warranty trigger.

### Does the Kingmax PX4480 2TB need a heatsink?

The PX4480 2TB does not include a heatsink, and the Phison E16 controller is known to run warm under sustained write workloads. If your motherboard has an integrated M.2 heatsink or thermal guard, you should use it. For builds without motherboard cooling, an aftermarket M.2 heatsink is recommended — options like the Thermalright TB-01 or EK-M.2 cost under $15 and keep the controller below thermal throttle thresholds. Without cooling, sustained file transfers exceeding the SLC cache size may cause thermal throttling.

### How does the Kingmax PX4480 2TB compare to the Corsair MP600 2TB?

Both drives use the Phison PS5016-E16 controller with 3D TLC NAND and DRAM cache, delivering essentially identical 5,000 MB/s read and 4,400 MB/s write speeds. The differences lie in endurance and warranty: the Corsair MP600 2TB offers 800 TBW with a 5-year warranty, while the PX4480 2TB offers 1,200 TBW but only a 3-year warranty. If you write large amounts of data daily, the PX4480's higher TBW is an advantage. If you want longer warranty coverage, the MP600 wins. Price should be the deciding factor.

### Is the Kingmax PX4480 2TB compatible with PS5?

The PX4480 2TB meets most of Sony's PS5 expansion requirements: PCIe 4.0 x4 interface with 5,000 MB/s read speed. However, Sony recommends 5,500 MB/s minimum reads, and this drive falls slightly short of that threshold. More importantly, the drive ships without a heatsink, and the PS5 requires one. You would need to add a low-profile heatsink fitting within the 11.25 mm height limit. Given the E16 controller's thermal characteristics and lack of official Sony certification, a PS5-certified drive like the WD Black SN850 or Seagate Game Drive for PS5 is a safer choice.

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Last updated: 2026-05-17. Source: https://ssdrive.net/kingmax-px4480-2-tb