PNY CS3250 1TB SSD
1TB · PCIe 5.0 NVMe · 14,900 MB/s read · PassMark #5
Samsung 990 Pro 1TB · bare
PCIe 4.0 · 7450/6900 MB/s · 1TB
PNY CS3250 1TB SSD takes it — here’s why.
In our weighted Specdex score, PNY CS3250 1TB SSD lands at 88 and Samsung 990 Pro 1TB · bare at 86. That puts PNY CS3250 1TB SSD ahead by 2 points — a narrow margin driven mostly by its strengths in the categories below.
Pick PNY CS3250 1TB SSD if…
- ✓Top 5 on PassMark Disk Score — flagship-tier sequential + random performance
- ✓PCIe 5.0 interface for next-gen platforms (AM5, LGA 1851)
Pick Samsung 990 Pro 1TB · bare if…
- ✓M.2 NVMe
- ✓Competitive per-GB cost
- ✓TBW scales with capacity
Winner by scenario
Derived from the sub-score breakdown · not a separate testValue for money
Samsung 990 Pro 1TB · bareSpecdex score per dollar at MSRP
Samsung 990 Pro 1TB · bare more score per dollar ($90 vs $125).
Score breakdown
Specs side-by-side
| Spec | PNY CS3250 1TB SSD | Samsung 990 Pro 1TB · bare |
|---|---|---|
| Form factor | M.2 2280 | — |
| Interface | PCIe 5.0 x4 NVMe 2.0 | PCIe 4.0 |
| Sequential read | 14,900 MB/s | — |
| Sequential write | 13,500 MB/s | — |
| Controller | Phison E28 (PS5031-E28) | — |
| NAND | 218-layer SanDisk/Kioxia BiCS8 3D TLC | — |
| DRAM | yes (E28 DRAM design) | — |
| Endurance | 700 TBW | — |
| Warranty | 5 years | — |
| PassMark Disk Score | 92,683 | — |
| PassMark rank | #5 of 100 consumer SSDs | — |
| Capacity | — | 1TB |
| Read/Write | — | 7450/6900 MB/s |
PNY CS3250 1TB SSD
- +Top 5 on PassMark Disk Score — flagship-tier sequential + random performance
- +PCIe 5.0 interface for next-gen platforms (AM5, LGA 1851)
- −PCIe 5.0 drives run hot — heatsink or motherboard M.2 cooling recommended
- −Pricing varies — confirm current retail before purchase
Samsung 990 Pro 1TB · bare
- +M.2 NVMe
- +Competitive per-GB cost
- +TBW scales with capacity
- −Thermals on Gen 5 drives
- −DRAM-less models slower under sustained load
- −Require heatsinks in many systems
FAQ: PNY CS3250 1TB SSD vs Samsung 990 Pro 1TB · bare
Which is better, PNY CS3250 1TB SSD or Samsung 990 Pro 1TB · bare? +
PNY CS3250 1TB SSD scores 88 on our weighted rubric — ahead by 2. Your best pick depends on the sub-scores above.
Is PNY CS3250 1TB SSD worth the price? +
At $125, PNY CS3250 1TB SSD delivers a Specdex score of 88 — strongest in passmark_disk.
Is Samsung 990 Pro 1TB · bare worth the price? +
At $90, Samsung 990 Pro 1TB · bare delivers a Specdex score of 86 — strongest in read.
Does PNY CS3250 1TB SSD or Samsung 990 Pro 1TB · bare last longer? +
Based on our long-term update and support ratings, both ship with multi-year support. Battery and reliability scores are visible in the breakdown above.
Which is the better value, PNY CS3250 1TB SSD or Samsung 990 Pro 1TB · bare? +
Samsung 990 Pro 1TB · bare — more score per dollar ($90 vs $125). Specdex score per dollar at MSRP.