PNY

PNY XLR8 CS3030 500GB M.2 PCIe NVMe Gen3 x4 Internal Solid State Drive (SSD)

Name: PNY XLR8 CS3030 500GB M.2 PCIe NVMe Gen3 x4 Internal Solid State Drive (SSD), Read up to 3,500 - M280CS3030-500-RB
Brand: PNY
SKU: B09237RYSN

Status: PNY XLR8 CS3030 500GB M.2 PCIe NVMe Gen3 x4… (500GB PCIe 3.0 NVMe SSD): Unavailable on Amazon as of 2026-10-20 18:15 UTC. Closest in-stock match (same 500GB PCIe 3.0 NVMe): Western Digital 500GB WD Green SN350 NVMe…, $96.99 on Amazon as of 2026-10-21 12:15 UTC (price may vary). eBay sellers may still list this model new or used.

View Current Price — $96.99 🛒 Search eBay for this model

Bottom line: The PNY XLR8 CS3030 500GB M.2 PCIe NVMe Gen3 x4 Internal Solid State Drive: Up to 3,500MB/s sequential read over PCIe Gen3 x4; main trade-off: 500GB fills fast — two modern AAA games can consume it.

Unavailable on Amazon as of 2026-10-20 18:15 UTC

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Currently unavailable on Amazon. Not the same product — 2 in-stock alternatives with matching specs:

Same 500GB PCIe 3.0 NVMe: Western Digital 500GB WD Green SN350 NVMe… — $96.99 on Amazon as of 2026-10-21 12:15 UTC (price may vary).

View Current Price — $96.99

Same 500GB PCIe 3.0 NVMe: Fikwot FX550 NVMe SSD 500GB M.2 SSD PCIe 3.0×4 — $83.99 on Amazon as of 2026-10-20 16:30 UTC (price may vary).

View Current Price — $83.99

Original listing (currently unavailable) → Compare to similar ssds & storage

By Mike Perry, Founder & Editor-in-Chief · Listing data updated 2026-10-20

Mike Perry — Hardware researcher since 2014. For SSDs and PC storage upgrades, synthesises manufacturer specs and independent reviews rather than first-hand lab testing. Core beat: GPU performance across gaming, rendering, and local-LLM inference. About the author →

Pros & Cons

Pros

✓ Up to 3,500MB/s sequential read over PCIe Gen3 x4
✓ 5-year warranty with 24/7 US-based technical support
✓ Drop-in M.2 upgrade for NVMe-ready PC or Mac systems
✓ Low power draw suits laptop and small-form-factor builds

Cons

✗ 500GB fills fast — two modern AAA games can consume it
✗ 2,000MB/s write trails the 3,500MB/s read figure
✗ Gen3 x4 only; leaves Gen4/Gen5 slot bandwidth unused
✗ No heatsink included for hot-running motherboard M.2 slots

Manufacturer description

The PNY XLR8 CS3030 500GB is an M.2 2280 NVMe drive built to replace a SATA SSD in any NVMe-ready PC or Mac desktop or laptop. Over the PCIe Gen3 x4 interface it reaches up to 3,500MB/s sequential read and 2,000MB/s sequential write, which PNY positions as up to 6 times faster application loading and boot behavior than a SATA-based SSD. That bandwidth headroom, plus the lower latency of NVMe, is what you feel when a game level streams in or a project file opens rather than in a synthetic benchmark score. With no moving parts, the CS3030 is more durable than a mechanical drive, and PNY rates…

SpecPicks Verdict

SpecPicks scored PNY XLR8 CS3030 500GB M.2 PCIe NVMe Gen3 x4 Internal Solid State Drive using a rating × review-volume × price-fit model applied to published specs and reviews across the ssds & storage category. PNY's ssds & storage lineup sits within the broader category mid-tier; price and specs are the deciding factors over brand loyalty here. Judge it on the specification table and the price rather than on sentiment: check the figures that decide your use case, then put it side-by-side with two or three close alternatives in the Compare tool before clicking through.

Common buyer scenarios for ssds & storage of this kind: matching it to an existing build, replacing a failing part, or upgrading from a previous-generation equivalent. Check the spec table below against your current setup — particularly socket / form-factor / power-rating fields — and confirm compatibility on the retailer's listing before purchase. Prices and stock are set by the retailer and may have moved since this page was last updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will the PNY XLR8 CS3030 work in my laptop?

It fits laptops with a free M.2 slot that supports NVMe PCIe. PNY lists both PC and Mac NVMe-enabled desktops and laptops as targets. Check your machine's M.2 slot keying and NVMe support before ordering.

How fast is it compared to a SATA SSD?

The CS3030 is rated up to 3,500MB/s sequential read and 2,000MB/s sequential write. PNY states NVMe lets you boot, power down, and load applications up to 6 times faster than a SATA-based SSD.

What warranty does PNY include?

PNY covers the XLR8 CS3030 with a 5-year warranty backed by 24/7 US-based technical support. Confirm current terms on the product listing before purchase.

Is 500GB enough for a gaming drive?

It handles Windows plus a rotating library of a few titles, but large AAA installs run 100GB or more each. Many buyers pair it as a fast boot and active-game drive alongside bulk storage.

Key Features

Nvme upgrade from a SATA based Solid State Drive (SSD) in NVMe enabled PC or Mac computers For super-fast OS Boot times and application loads
The NVMe PCIe Gen 3x4 interface delivers exceptional performance of up to 3, 500MB/s seq. Read and 2, 000MB/s seq. Write speeds
The enhanced bandwidth of the NVMe interface allows for extreme performance and low latency, making it superior to SATA based SSD's
Premium performance and Ultra low power consumption ideal for demanding applications and high-end games
Competitive 5 Year Backed by 24/7 us based technical support

Full Specifications

Brand	PNY
Color	Black
Model Name	CS3030
Read Speed	3500 megabytes_per_second
Form Factor	M2
Media Speed	3500 megabytes_per_second
Model Number	M280CS3030-500-RB
Compatibility	PC, Mac
Built-In Media	SSD
Hard Disk Size	500 GB
Item Type Name	Series: CS3030
Hard-Drive Size	500 GB
Mfr Part Number	M280CS3030-500-RB
Number of Items	1
Special Feature	Portable
Hardware Platform	default_no_selection_value
Installation Type	Internal Hard Drive
Compatible Devices	Desktop Computers, Laptop computers, Network Attached Storage (NAS), Server
Additional Features	Portable
Hard Disk Interface	NVMe
Full listing title	PNY XLR8 CS3030 500GB M.2 PCIe NVMe Gen3 x4 Internal Solid State Drive (SSD), Read up to 3,500 - M280CS3030-500-RB

Ready to buy?

Amazon shows no buyable offer for PNY XLR8 CS3030 500GB M.2 PCIe NVMe Gen3 x4… at the last check. The closest in-stock match with the same 500GB PCIe 3.0 NVMe is Western Digital 500GB WD Green SN350 NVMe…. SpecPicks earns a small commission on qualifying purchases — thank you for supporting independent review work.

View Current Price — $96.99