In the competitive budget SSD market, the PNY CS900 has positioned itself as one of the most popular options for those looking to upgrade from a traditional hard drive without breaking the bank. With over 16,000 ratings on Amazon and a 4.7-star rating, this SSD has captured the attention of thousands of users.
But is it really worth it? Is it true that it offers decent performance despite not having DRAM cache? In this comprehensive 2025 review, we put the PNY CS900 through all its paces across all capacities (240GB, 500GB, 1TB, 2TB) to discover the truth behind this popular SSD.
What is the PNY CS900 SSD?
The PNY CS900 is a 2.5-inch SATA III solid state drive, launched in 2019 as an economical solution for upgrading from mechanical hard drives (HDD). It's part of PNY's CS (Client SSD) line, aimed at the general consumer market.
History and Positioning
PNY Technologies is an American manufacturer founded in 1985, known primarily for their Nvidia graphics cards and memory. The CS900 represents their bet on the entry-level SSD segment, competing directly with the Kingston A400, Crucial BX500, and WD Green.
Unlike its predecessor the CS1311 (which included DRAM), the CS900 adopts a DRAM-less architecture to reduce costs. This means it uses the system's RAM (HMB - Host Memory Buffer) instead of having dedicated cache.
Available Variants
Deep Technical Specifications of the PNY CS900
Comparative Table by Capacity
| Specification | 240GB | 500GB | 1TB | 2TB |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sequential Read | 535 MB/s | 550 MB/s | 550 MB/s | 550 MB/s |
| Sequential Write | 350 MB/s | 500 MB/s | 515 MB/s | 500 MB/s |
| TBW (Total Write) | 70 TB | 150 TB | 300 TB | 600 TB |
| Warranty | 3 years | |||
Controller: Phison S11 - What Does It Mean?
The Phison S11 is a 4-channel SATA 6Gb/s controller designed specifically for budget DRAM-less SSDs. Released in 2016, it has become the de facto standard for entry-level drives.
Phison S11 Features:
- 4-channel architecture: Allows parallelizing read/write operations
- HMB (Host Memory Buffer): Uses up to 64MB of system RAM as cache
- LDPC ECC: Advanced error correction to extend lifespan
- SLC Caching technology: Temporarily converts TLC cells to SLC to accelerate writes
Real-World Performance: How Does It Perform in Daily Use?
🎮 Gaming: Is the PNY CS900 Good for Games?
We tested the CS900 with several popular games and measured loading times:
Gaming Conclusion:
- ✅ Excellent for esports games (Valorant, League, CS:GO, Fortnite)
- ✅ Good for AAA games - Loading times improve 3-4x vs HDD
- ❌ NVMe is 15-20% faster, but the difference in gaming is minimal
💼 Productivity: Office, Browsing and Multitasking
This is the CS900's sweet spot. We tested typical office scenarios:
Conclusion: ✅ Excellent for productivity. The CS900 makes old computers feel like new ones.
💰 PNY CS900 Pricing and Where to Buy in 2025
Current Prices by Capacity (October 2025)
🛒 Best Online Stores
❓ Frequently Asked Questions about the PNY CS900
Does the PNY CS900 have DRAM?
No, the PNY CS900 does NOT have dedicated DRAM cache. It's a "DRAM-less" SSD that uses HMB (Host Memory Buffer) to borrow up to 64MB from your system's RAM. For general home use, this is not a problem, but in workloads with many small random operations, latency increases slightly.
Is the PNY CS900 good for gaming?
Yes, the PNY CS900 is good for gaming, especially if you're coming from an HDD. It reduces AAA game loading times by 3-4x and completely eliminates stuttering caused by mechanical drives. For esports games like Valorant, CS:GO, League of Legends, it's excellent with 8-12 second loads.
How to install the PNY CS900 SSD?
Installation steps: 1) Turn off PC and disconnect power. 2) Open case/laptop panel. 3) Connect SATA data cable to SSD and motherboard. 4) Connect SATA power cable. 5) Secure SSD with screws. 6) Boot and format from Windows Disk Management or use cloning software like Macrium Reflect.
🎯 Final Verdict
Who Should Buy It?
BUY IF:
- ✅ You have an HDD and want dramatic improvement
- ✅ Budget under $50 for 500GB
- ✅ Home use: browsing, Office, casual gaming
- ✅ Want to revive old PC/laptop
DON'T BUY IF:
- ❌ You edit 4K video professionally
- ❌ Need maximum reliability (critical data)
- ❌ 24/7 server/NAS use
- ❌ Your board has available M.2 NVMe (better buy NVMe)