# Kioxia RC500 1TB NVMe SSD Review (2026)

The Kioxia RC500 1TB is the larger capacity of this value-oriented NVMe line (originally Toshiba OCZ), delivering 1,700 MB/s reads with TLC NAND and DRAM cache at a budget-friendly price point.

Quick answer: The Kioxia RC500 1TB is a budget NVMe SSD that delivers 1,700 MB/s reads, 1TB capacity, TLC NAND, and DRAM cache at a discount price. The hardware is solid — Toshiba TLC with DRAM is a better foundation than QLC at the same price. The drawback is the three-year warranty and the fact that Kioxia's own Exceria line has superseded the RC500 with the same performance and better warranty terms. If the RC500 is significantly cheaper than the Exceria, it is a good value. If priced similarly, the Exceria's five-year warranty makes it the better buy.

## Specifications

| Specification | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Capacity | 1 TB |
| Interface | M.2 3.0 x 4 |
| Controller | Phison PS5012-E12S |
| Memory type | Toshiba 96L 3D TLC |
| DRAM cache | Yes |
| Sequential read | 1700 MB/s |
| Sequential write | 1600 MB/s |
| Random read IOPS | 355000 |
| Random write IOPS | 410000 |
| Endurance | 400 TBW |
| MTBF | 1500000 |
| Warranty | 3 years |

## Performance

The RC500 1TB is rated for 1,700 MB/s sequential reads and 1,600 MB/s sequential writes. The 1TB model has more NAND die for parallel writes than the 500GB variant, giving it a larger SLC cache and better sustained write performance after cache exhaustion — typically around 1,000–1,200 MB/s native TLC writes.

The DRAM cache ensures consistent random IO under multitasking workloads. Gaming load times are faster than SATA SSDs and comparable to other entry-level NVMe drives. The TLC NAND maintains write consistency that QLC drives lack. For a budget build needing 1TB of NVMe storage with reliable performance, the RC500 delivers.

## Endurance, TBW & Warranty

The Kioxia RC500 1TB carries a three-year limited warranty — shorter than the five-year industry standard. Kioxia does not publish a specific TBW rating for the RC500 series. The three-year warranty is the primary coverage metric. For a read-heavy boot and game drive, the warranty period should be sufficient. The newer Kioxia Exceria line offers similar performance with five-year warranty coverage, which may be preferable despite a potentially higher price.

## Pros and Cons

**Pros:**

- 1,700 MB/s reads — three times faster than SATA
- 1TB capacity at a budget price point
- TLC NAND with DRAM cache — consistent performance
- Toshiba/Kioxia in-house controller with native NAND
**Cons:**

- Three-year warranty — shorter than the five-year standard
- No published TBW endurance rating
- Superseded by the Kioxia Exceria with better warranty
- 1,700 MB/s reads — entry-level NVMe speed
- Aging product with limited retail availability


## Verdict

The Kioxia RC500 1TB is a budget NVMe SSD that delivers 1,700 MB/s reads, 1TB capacity, TLC NAND, and DRAM cache at a discount price. The hardware is solid — Toshiba TLC with DRAM is a better foundation than QLC at the same price. The drawback is the three-year warranty and the fact that Kioxia's own Exceria line has superseded the RC500 with the same performance and better warranty terms. If the RC500 is significantly cheaper than the Exceria, it is a good value. If priced similarly, the Exceria's five-year warranty makes it the better buy.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### Is the Kioxia RC500 1TB good for gaming?

The RC500 1TB delivers 1,700 MB/s reads with 355K random read IOPS, providing faster game load times than SATA SSDs. The 1TB capacity holds 15–25 AAA titles alongside the OS. The TLC NAND and DRAM cache ensure consistent performance during game installations and updates. For budget gaming builds, the RC500 1TB offers good capacity and reliable performance. The newer Kioxia Exceria provides similar performance with a longer warranty.

### Does the Kioxia RC500 1TB have a DRAM cache?

Yes. The RC500 includes a DDR4 DRAM cache that assists the Toshiba in-house controller's flash translation layer. The DRAM ensures consistent random IO performance under multitasking workloads, giving the RC500 an advantage over DRAM-less budget NVMe drives at a similar price point.

### How does the RC500 compare to the Kioxia Exceria?

Both deliver 1,700/1,600 MB/s read/write speeds with TLC NAND and DRAM cache. The Exceria uses newer BiCS5 NAND and comes with a five-year warranty, while the RC500 has BiCS4 NAND and a three-year warranty. If priced the same, the Exceria is the better choice for the longer warranty alone. The RC500 is worth considering only when available at a meaningful discount.

### What is the warranty on the Kioxia RC500 1TB?

The RC500 1TB carries a three-year limited warranty. This is shorter than the five-year warranty on Kioxia's Exceria and Exceria Plus lines, and shorter than the industry standard for NVMe SSDs. The three-year term was a cost-cutting measure for the RC500's value positioning. For budget buyers, the shorter warranty is a trade-off against the lower price.

### Is the RC500 1TB faster than a SATA SSD?

Yes, significantly. The RC500 reads at 1,700 MB/s versus SATA's 550 MB/s ceiling — roughly three times faster. Random IO performance is also substantially better. OS boot times and application launches are noticeably snappier. The RC500 provides a clear and tangible upgrade from any SATA SSD.

### Is the Kioxia RC500 1TB good for video editing?

The RC500 1TB handles basic video editing adequately with 1,600 MB/s writes. The 1TB capacity provides room for project files. The TLC NAND maintains consistent write speeds during exports. However, the 1,600 MB/s write ceiling is lower than enthusiast NVMe drives. For casual 1080p editing, the RC500 is sufficient. For professional 4K workflows, a faster NVMe drive like the Kioxia Exceria Plus (3,200 MB/s writes) would be a better investment.

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Last updated: 2026-05-23. Source: https://ssdrive.net/kioxia-rc500-1-tb