Bestoss GM528 512GB PCIe 4.0 NVMe M.2 2280

The Bestoss GM528 is a budget Gen4 NVMe drive with 5000 MB/s reads and TLC NAND. It's solid for everyday use but the DRAM-less design limits sustained performance. Worth considering if you find it at a good price, but the competition is fierce.

Sequential reads hit 5000 MB/s and writes land at 2800 MB/s, which puts it in the 66th percentile for speed in our database. That's solid, middle of the pack territory for Gen4 drives. The DRAM-less design means random performance takes a hit, sitting at the 62nd percentile. For everyday tasks and game loads it'll feel snappy, but sustained writes will dip once the SLC cache fills up. The graphene-copper cooling solution is a nice touch for a budget drive, though it's not going to work miracles under heavy AAA gaming sessions.

Stacked against the Crucial T500, the GM528 loses on endurance and random performance. The MSI SPATIUM M480 PRO and Corsair MP700 Elite both offer better sustained performance and higher capacities. The Samsung 990 EVO is a more polished package with better software support. The Western Digital WD Blue SN5100 is probably the closest competitor in terms of positioning, and it has a stronger brand reputation behind it. The GM528's main advantage is price, but it's not a massive gap.

At $111 USD, this drive is competing with some heavy hitters like the Crucial T500 and Samsung 990 EVO. The affordability score of 74th percentile means it's not the cheapest option out there, but you're getting Gen4 speeds and TLC NAND. The 3-year warranty adds some peace of mind. It's a decent value if you catch it on sale, but at full price you might find better-known brands for similar money.

The Bestoss GM528 is a budget PCIe 4.0 NVMe drive that promises 5000 MB/s reads for not a lot of cash. It's DRAM-less and uses SLC caching on top of TLC NAND, which is pretty standard for this price bracket. The pitch is simple: office work, home entertainment, some creative stuff, and gaming without breaking the bank.

If you're building a high-end gaming rig or doing professional video editing, look elsewhere. The DRAM-less design and 42nd percentile endurance score mean sustained workloads will suffer. You'd be better served by a Crucial T500 or Samsung 990 EVO with DRAM and better endurance ratings. Also skip this if you need a portable drive, the 14.1/100 portable score is one of the worst we've seen.

The Bestoss GM528 is a fine budget Gen4 drive for everyday use. It'll handle office work, web browsing, and light gaming without complaint. The TLC NAND and 3-year warranty are nice touches. But if you're doing heavy video editing or moving large files regularly, the DRAM-less design and middling endurance will start to show. It's a good drive for the right price, just don't expect it to punch above its weight class.