PNY CS2241 500GB PCIe 4.0 x4 NVMe M.2
The 500GB M.2 PCIe 4.0 x4 NVMe drive delivers 4700 MB/s sequential reads and 1700 MB/s writes, with TLC NAND and a DRAM-less design that keeps costs down. It carries a 1500 TBW endurance rating and a 5-year warranty with 24/7 US-based support, making it a reliable upgrade for Gen4 laptops and desktops. This is best for budget-conscious users replacing a SATA SSD in a Gen4-capable system who want faster boot times and app launches without paying a premium.
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لمحة سريعة
The 30-Second Version
Great endurance and warranty, but the write speed is a Gen3 drive in disguise. Buy it for the read speed and the price, not the Gen4 label.
Pros & Cons
الإيجابيات
- Genuinely fast 4,700 MB/s read speed 99th
- Endurance is best-in-class at 1,500 TBW 87th
- 5-year warranty is rare at this price
- Easy drop-in upgrade for older systems
السلبيات
- Write speed is stuck in Gen3 territory
- DRAM-less design hurts sustained performance
- 500GB fills up fast these days
- Only 4 reviews, so long-term reliability is unproven
آراء المالكين
The Word on the Street
الأدلة
Performance
The read speed is the star here. 4,700 MB/s puts it solidly in the middle of the Gen4 pack, which is still way faster than any SATA drive. But the write speed surprised us, and not in a good way. 1,700 MB/s is what we'd expect from a decent Gen3 drive, not something marketed as a Gen4 upgrade. The DRAM-less design doesn't help either, especially for sustained writes or heavy multitasking. For everyday use it's fine, but the moment you start moving large files around, you'll feel the ceiling.
Specifications
Full Specifications
Drive
| Capacity | 500 |
| Form Factor | M.2 |
| Interface | PCIe 4.0 x4 |
| Protocol | NVMe |
| PCIe Generation | 4 |
| External | No |
Performance
| Sequential Read (MB/s) | 4700 |
| Sequential Write (MB/s) | 1700 |
Hardware
| NAND | TLC |
| DRAM Cache | No |
Reliability
| Endurance (TBW) | 1500 |
| Warranty (years) | 5 |
Features
| Heatsink | No |
vs Competition
The Samsung 990 PRO and Crucial T710 are in a completely different league, with write speeds that double or triple what the CS2241 manages. But they also cost significantly more. The Lexar NM790 is probably the most interesting comparison here, it's another budget Gen4 drive but with better all-around performance. If you're shopping strictly on price, the CS2241 holds its own. If you want actual Gen4 write speeds, look at the NM790 or save up for the 990 PRO.
| Spec | PNY CS2241 | Western Digital Black SN850X | Samsung 9100 PRO | Kingston FURY Renegade G5 SFYR2S/4T0 | Crucial T500 | SanDisk WD_BLACK SN8100 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Capacity | 500GB | 4TB | 8TB | 4TB | 2TB | 8TB |
| Form Factor | M.2 | M.2 2280 | M.2 2280 | M.2 2280 | M.2 2280 | M.2 2280 |
| Interface | PCIe 4.0 x4 | PCIe 4.0 x4 | PCIe 5.0 x4 | PCIe 5.0 x4 | PCIe 4.0 x4 | PCIe 5.0 x4 |
| Seq Read | 4,700 MB/s | 7,300 MB/s | 14,800 MB/s | 14,800 MB/s | 7,400 MB/s | 14,900 MB/s |
| Nand Type | TLC | TLC | TLC | TLC | TLC | TLC |
| Dram Cache | false | true | true | true | true | true |
| Endurance | 1500 TBW | 2400 TBW | 4800 TBW | 4000 TBW | 1200 TBW | 4800 TBW |
| Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare |
| المنتج | Speed | Random | Feature | Capacity | Endurance | التقييم الاجتماعي |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PNY CS2241 | 63.7 | 61.3 | 53.3 | 26.4 | 98.7 | 86.8 |
| Western Digital Black SN850X Compare | 88.4 | 95.2 | 88.9 | 92.5 | 87.9 | 95.2 |
| Samsung 9100 PRO Compare | 99.1 | 99.8 | 99.7 | 98.1 | 85.8 | 95.2 |
| Kingston FURY Renegade G5 SFYR2S/4T0 Compare | 99.4 | 98.7 | 90.4 | 92.5 | 93.4 | 86.8 |
| Crucial T500 Compare | 93.8 | 96.5 | 98.9 | 78.3 | 82.7 | 95.2 |
| SanDisk WD_BLACK SN8100 Compare | 98.9 | 99.1 | 97.3 | 98.1 | 80.6 | 45.2 |
السعر
Value & Pricing
At USD 100 to USD 110 across two US listings, this drive is priced like a budget Gen4 and that's exactly what it is. The 5-year warranty and 1,500 TBW endurance rating are genuinely impressive for the money, but you're giving up write speed and DRAM to get there. If you can find it at the USD 100 end of that spread, it's a decent deal. At USD 110, you're close enough to better drives that it's worth saving a bit more.
اقرأ المزيد
Overview
The PNY CS2241 is a budget Gen4 drive that talks a big game but only half-delivers. The 4,700 MB/s read speed is real and plenty fast for booting Windows or loading games, but that 1,700 MB/s write speed is basically Gen3 territory wearing a Gen4 costume. It's a fine upgrade if you're coming from a SATA SSD or an older NVMe drive, just don't expect it to hang with the big boys.
Common Questions
Q: Is this drive good for gaming?
For loading games, yes. The 4,700 MB/s read speed will get you into games fast. But if you're recording gameplay or moving large game files around, the 1,700 MB/s write speed will feel sluggish compared to other Gen4 drives.
Q: Will this work in my laptop?
As long as your laptop has an M.2 PCIe slot, yes. It's a standard 2280 form factor. Just check if your laptop supports PCIe 4.0, if it's only Gen3, you'll still get full Gen3 speeds but won't see the 4,700 MB/s read speed.
Q: Is 500GB enough?
For a boot drive with Windows and a few key programs, sure. But modern games are 100GB+ each, so if you're a gamer or work with large files, you'll fill this up fast. The 1TB version is worth the extra money if you can swing it.
Who Should Skip This
If you're moving large files regularly, editing video, or doing anything write-heavy, this isn't your drive. The 1,700 MB/s write speed will frustrate you. Go grab a Lexar NM790 or save up for a Samsung 990 PRO instead. And if you already have a decent Gen3 drive with DRAM, this isn't a meaningful upgrade.
Verdict
The PNY CS2241 is a solid budget upgrade for laptops and older desktops that just need a snappy boot drive. The read speed is legit, the endurance is outstanding, and the warranty is better than most. But the slow write speed and DRAM-less design mean it's not the Gen4 performer PNY's marketing suggests. If you're coming from SATA or Gen3, you'll be happy. If you already have a decent Gen4 drive, this isn't an upgrade.
