The PNY CS3250 is the newest entry in the high-speed SSD race, and it’s not messing around. Designed for users who want next-gen performance without wrecking their wallet, this PCIe 5.0 drive pushes speeds most drives can’t touch.
PNY CS3250 comes in two high-speed variants
The CS3250 launches in two storage options: 1 TB and 2 TB. Both offer lightning-fast read speeds up to 14,900 MB/s, but there’s a slight gap when it comes to write performance. The 2 TB model hits 14,000 MB/s, while the 1 TB version trails slightly at 13,500 MB/s.
In practice, this difference won’t be noticeable unless you’re hammering the drive with massive sequential writes. For most tasks, they’ll feel equally snappy.
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PCIe 5.0 and M.2 2280 format powers the speed
To hit those speeds, the CS3250 connects via four PCIe 5.0 lanes and sticks to the standard M.2 2280 form factor. PCIe 4.0 can’t keep up with this level of bandwidth, capping out at around 8,000 MB/s.
PNY’s use of 3D flash storage is no surprise. But so far, the company hasn’t confirmed whether the drive includes a dedicated cache. That matters especially during sustained writes, where a lack of a cache can throttle performance.
Pricing keeps it within reach
Here’s where the CS3250 stays grounded. The 1 TB model is set at $126, while the 2 TB version comes in at $220. That’s aggressive for a PCIe 5.0 SSD, especially with these kinds of numbers.
What we know so far:
- Interface: PCIe 5.0 x4
- Form Factor: M.2 2280
- Max Read Speed: 14,900 MB/s
- Max Write Speed: 13,500 MB/s (1 TB), 14,000 MB/s (2 TB)
- MTBF: 1.5 million hours
- Pricing: $126 (1 TB), $220 (2 TB)
A 4 TB PNY CS3250 is on the way
For those eyeing even more storage, a 4 TB version is confirmed to be in the pipeline. PNY hasn’t shared pricing or a release date yet, but it’s clearly aiming to round out the lineup for users with bigger storage appetites.
A fast SSD that doesn’t overpromise
The PNY CS3250 doesn’t throw in gimmicks; it’s all about raw, reliable speed at a fair price. And in a sea of flashy releases with steep tags, that’s a refreshing play.
