GM528
The PCIe 4.0 interface delivers 5000 MB/s reads and 2800 MB/s writes, with TLC NAND and dynamic SLC cache keeping performance stable for demanding tasks. A graphene-copper cooling solution maintains near-peak speeds during AAA gaming, while the 3-year warranty and plug-and-play compatibility with PCIe 3.0/4.0 systems add practical value. Best for budget-conscious laptop and desktop users who need a reliable 512GB drive for everyday work, video editing, and mainstream gaming without paying a premium.
Snapshot
The 30-Second Version
The Bestoss GM528 is a budget PCIe 4.0 SSD with 5000 MB/s reads and 2800 MB/s writes. It's DRAM-less and lands mid-pack in our database. Worth considering if you find it on sale, but the 512GB capacity and slower writes hold it back.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- 5000 MB/s reads at a budget-friendly price 67th
- Graphene-copper cooling sticker helps with thermals
- Works with both PCIe 3.0 and 4.0 slots
- 3-year warranty with lifetime tech support
Cons
- Write speed is only 2800 MB/s, well behind the read speed
- DRAM-less design hurts sustained write performance
- 512GB capacity is on the small side these days
- Endurance scores land in the bottom half of our database
What owners think
The Word on the Street
The proof
Performance
The 5000 MB/s read speed is respectable for a budget Gen4 drive. Boot times will be snappy and game load screens won't make you question your life choices. But the 2800 MB/s write speed is where the budget corner-cutting shows. That's closer to a decent Gen3 drive than a true Gen4 performer. The DRAM-less design means the dynamic SLC cache has to do all the heavy lifting, and once that cache fills up during big transfers, expect speeds to dip. For everyday tasks, office work, and mainstream gaming, you probably won't notice. For sustained video editing or massive file shuffles, you will.
Specifications
Full Specifications
Drive
| Capacity | 512 |
| Form Factor | M.2 2280 |
| Interface | PCIe 4.0 |
| Protocol | NVMe |
| PCIe Generation | 4 |
| External | No |
Performance
| Sequential Read (MB/s) | 5000 |
| Sequential Write (MB/s) | 2800 |
Hardware
| NAND | TLC |
| DRAM Cache | No |
Reliability
| Warranty (years) | 3 |
Features
| Heatsink | No |
vs Competition
Stacked against the Samsung 990 PRO or WD_BLACK SN7100, the GM528 gets left in the dust. Those drives push 7000+ MB/s reads and writes, and they have DRAM caches to keep things smooth under load. The Crucial T710 and ADATA GAMMIX S70 Blade also outclass it handily. But here's the thing, those drives cost significantly more per gigabyte. The GM528 is playing in a different league. It's competing with other budget DRAM-less drives, and in that arena, it's a solid middle-of-the-road option. Just don't expect flagship performance from a value drive.
| Spec | GM528 | Samsung 9100 PRO MZ-VAP1T0B/AM | Crucial T710 CT1000T710SSD8 | Western Digital WD_BLACK SN8100 | Corsair MP700 Elite | ADATA GAMMIX S70 Blade AGAMMIXS70B-2T-CS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Capacity | 512GB | 1TB | 1TB | 1TB | 1TB | 2TB |
| Form Factor | M.2 2280 | M.2 | M.2 2280 | M.2 2280 | M.2 2280 | M.2 2280 |
| Interface | PCIe 4.0 | PCIe 5.0 x4 | PCIe 5.0 x4 | PCIe 5.0 x4 | PCIe 5.0 x4 | PCIe 4.0 |
| Seq Read | 5,000 MB/s | 14,700 MB/s | 14,900 MB/s | 14,900 MB/s | 10,000 MB/s | 7,400 MB/s |
| Nand Type | TLC | TLC | TLC | TLC | TLC | TLC |
| Dram Cache | false | true | true | true | false | true |
| Endurance | - | 600 TBW | 1200 TBW | 2400 TBW | 600 TBW | 1480 TBW |
| Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare |
| Product | Speed | Random | Feature | Capacity | Endurance | Social Proof |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GM528 | 63.7 | 60.3 | 53.3 | 34 | 41.4 | 66.5 |
| Samsung 9100 PRO MZ-VAP1T0B/AM Compare | 98.4 | 98.6 | 97.5 | 54.8 | 86.2 | 96.4 |
| Crucial T710 CT1000T710SSD8 Compare | 99.2 | 98.7 | 90.3 | 54.8 | 94.7 | 82.5 |
| Western Digital WD_BLACK SN8100 Compare | 99.6 | 99 | 90.3 | 54.8 | 98.2 | 6.5 |
| Corsair MP700 Elite Compare | 94.6 | 96.4 | 85.3 | 54.8 | 87.5 | 96.4 |
| ADATA GAMMIX S70 Blade AGAMMIXS70B-2T-CS Compare | 92.1 | 89.3 | 93.7 | 78.5 | 77.6 | 82.5 |
Price
Value & Pricing
At $111 USD for 512GB, the value proposition is a bit awkward. You're paying roughly $0.22 per gigabyte, which isn't terrible, but it's not a screaming deal either. The problem is that 512GB fills up fast, and there are drives from more established brands hovering in similar territory. If you catch this on sale, it makes more sense. At full price, you're paying Gen4 money for what is essentially a Gen3-plus experience on the write side.
Amazon 1 offer From $111
We started tracking prices for this product on Nov 8, 2026. The chart appears once we have more data.
Read more
Overview
The Bestoss GM528 is a budget PCIe 4.0 drive that promises 5000 MB/s reads for not much cash. It's DRAM-less and uses TLC NAND with a dynamic SLC cache, which is pretty standard for this price bracket. The graphene-copper cooling sticker is a nice touch, especially if you're cramming this into a laptop with limited airflow.
Our database puts this drive firmly in the middle of the pack. Speed lands around the 62nd percentile, which sounds okay until you realize the write speed is 2800 MB/s, nearly half the read speed. That's a gap you'll feel when moving large files around.
Common Questions
Q: Will this work in a PCIe 3.0 slot?
Yes, it's backward compatible with PCIe 3.0, but you'll be capped at Gen3 speeds, roughly 3500 MB/s reads. To hit the full 5000 MB/s, you need a PCIe 4.0 slot.
Q: Does the lack of DRAM matter for gaming?
For most gaming, no. Game loads are mostly reads, and the 5000 MB/s read speed handles that fine. DRAM matters more for sustained writes and heavy multitasking.
Q: Is 512GB enough for a boot drive?
It's workable if you pair it with a larger secondary drive for games and media. But with modern games hitting 100GB plus, you'll fill 512GB faster than you'd think.
Who Should Skip This
Skip this if you do regular large file transfers, 4K video editing, or anything that hammers sustained writes. The DRAM-less design and 2800 MB/s write ceiling will frustrate you. Also skip it if you need more than 512GB, because you'll be shopping again in six months. And if you're building a high-end rig with a flagship CPU and GPU, don't bottleneck it with a budget drive. Spend the extra cash on something with DRAM and faster writes.
Verdict
The Bestoss GM528 is for someone who needs a cheap, reliable boot drive or a secondary game storage stick and doesn't want to overthink it. If you're building a budget PC or upgrading an older laptop, this will feel like a massive upgrade from a spinning hard drive or a SATA SSD. But if you're doing serious creative work, moving large video files regularly, or you just want the best Gen4 has to offer, this isn't your drive. It's fine. Not great, not terrible. Just fine.
