The Transcend PCIe SSD 255S is a high-speed DRAM-less Gen4 x4 NVMe drive built for users looking to make the most of today’s widely adopted PCIe Gen4 storage interface found in both modern laptops and desktops. Offering rated sequential read speeds of up to 7,400 MB/s and write speeds up to 6,500 MB/s, it aims to deliver competitive performance for a range of users, including gamers, content creators, and those handling everyday computing tasks. With its M.2 2280 form factor and support for NVMe 1.4, the 255S positions itself as a capable option in the Gen4 SSD market.
In the Philippines, the Transcend PCIe SSD 255S is currently priced at around PHP 5,150 for the 1TB variant and PHP 9,150 for the 2TB version, placing it in the mid range segment of Gen4 SSDs.
In this review, we’ll take a closer look at its design, features, and real-world performance, using a range of industry-standard benchmarks to evaluate how well it lives up to its specifications.
Packaging
The retail packaging of the Transcend 255S follows the brand’s familiar black-and-red color scheme, maintaining a clean and modern aesthetic consistent with Transcend’s overall branding. The front of the box clearly highlights key specifications, including the PCIe Gen4 x4 interface, NVMe 1.4 support, M.2 2280 form factor, and the 1TB capacity, alongside a product image of the SSD itself.
On the back, the packaging provides additional technical details and specifications against a clean white background with the highlights of the SSD drive’s 5-year worldwide warranty.
Inside the box, the SSD is securely housed in a standard plastic tray, accompanied by basic documentation and a warranty card.
The Transcend 255S SSD
The Transcend 255S features a sleek black PCB topped with a patterned black-and-gold heat spreader, consistent with the design seen in the earlier 245S, 220S, etc. The Transcend logo and model number (MTE255S) are printed in gold, standing out cleanly against the matte background. Its low-profile, single-sided design ensures broad compatibility, not only with desktops and laptops, but also with devices like the PlayStation 5 and MAC Mini’s external storage that support M.2 PCIe 4.0 SSD.
The back side of the SSD is plain black with a simple sticker containing the serial number and regulatory information. With no components on the underside, the single-sided design offers better clearance.
Hardware Overview
At the core of the Transcend PCIe SSD 255S is the Silicon Motion SM2268XT2 controller, a power-efficient, DRAM-less PCIe Gen4 solution designed specifically for compact and low-power client SSDs. Built on a 12nm process, this controller supports up to 7.4 GB/s read and 6.7 GB/s write speeds, as well as up to 1,200K IOPS in random read/write.
Instead of onboard DRAM, the SM2268XT2 uses Host Memory Buffer (HMB) technology, borrowing a small portion of system memory to manage FTL (Flash Translation Layer) operations. While this approach may result in slightly lower sustained performance under heavy write loads compared to DRAM-equipped SSDs, it helps reduce power consumption and manufacturing cost—making it an efficient solution for everyday use and thin devices.
The controller also includes NANDXtend® 4K+ LDPC ECC, a robust error correction engine that enhances data reliability and extends NAND lifespan. A built-in RAID engine and smart power-saving features, such as clock gating and real-time block power-down, further optimize the drive’s efficiency.
Complementing the controller is the integrated graphene-based heatspreader, which passively dissipates heat. While not a substitute for a full heatsink in high-performance scenarios, it helps manage temperatures effectively in most use cases, particularly when paired with good airflow or motherboard-integrated M.2 cooling solutions.
Benchmark
To evaluate the performance of the Transcend PCIe SSD 255S, we installed the drive on a mid-range test system to see if it could meet its advertised speed targets. The test rig is configured as follows:
- CPU: Intel Core i5-14400
- Motherboard: MSI B760M Project Zero
- Graphics Card: NVIDIA RTX 3070
- Cooling: DarkFlash Twister DX-360 Liquid CPU Cooling
- OS: Windows 11 Pro
Upon initial detection in CrystalDiskInfo, the SSD reported an idle temperature of 39°C, indicating effective baseline thermal behavior even without active cooling applied directly to the drive.
CrystalDiskMark
In CrystalDiskMark 9.0.1, the Transcend PCIe SSD 255S recorded a sequential read speed of 7,094.98 MB/s and write speed of 5,095.60 MB/s. Random 4K performance reached 4,002.47 MB/s read and 4,564.98 MB/s write at higher queue depths, while single-threaded 4K results came in at 59.14 MB/s read and 289.31 MB/s write, indicating solid responsiveness for general tasks.
AS SSD Benchmark
In the AS SSD Benchmark, the Transcend PCIe SSD 255S delivered a sequential read speed of 5,181.94 MB/s and write speed of 4,320.19 MB/s. Random 4K performance reached 43.86 MB/s read and 228.47 MB/s write, while the 4K-64Thrd test recorded 1,627.49 MB/s read and 1,901.41 MB/s write. Access times were measured at 0.016 ms (read) and 0.098 ms (write), with an overall score of 5,825, showing consistent performance for general-purpose use.
HD Tune Pro (Estimated)
In HD Tune Pro, the Transcend PCIe SSD 255S showed stable performance across the full 1TB capacity. It recorded a minimum transfer rate of 1,154.8 MB/s, a maximum of 2,335.2 MB/s, and an average of 2,286.1 MB/s during sustained read operations. The access time was measured at 0.022 ms, and the burst rate reached 2,120 MB/s, with a low CPU usage of 3.0%. The drive maintained consistent throughput throughout the test with no major drops or instability.
Blackmagic Disk Speed Test
In the Blackmagic Disk Speed Test, the Transcend PCIe SSD 255S reached a write speed of 4,225.9 MB/s and a read speed of 4,894.3 MB/s. These results indicate the drive is suitable for demanding video workflows, including formats up to 12K DCI ProRes 422 HQ and 8K H.265, as shown by the full checkmarks in the compatibility chart. Overall, the SSD handled high-resolution video editing and playback scenarios well, making it a viable option for content creators working with large media files.
MAC M4 Mini Benchmark
When connected to a Mac Mini M4 via a PCIe Gen4 external enclosure, the Transcend 255S achieved a write speed of 1,761.1 MB/s and a read speed of 1,774.3 MB/s. In the format compatibility test, it handled all common ProRes 422 HQ and H.265 workflows up to 8K DCI 60 fps, though 12K DCI 60 fps playback was not supported.
In “How Fast?” metrics, it sustained 4,483 MB/s writes and 4,452 MB/s reads for H.265 1080 HD and 438 MB/s writes and 435 MB/s reads for 2160 4K, illustrating that, even behind an external enclosure, the drive remains a strong choice for high-resolution video editing on macOS.
Conclusion
The Transcend PCIe SSD 255S 2TB offers a solid balance of performance, efficiency, and compatibility in the Gen4 NVMe category. In our tests, it delivered speeds close to its advertised figures, exceeding 7,000 MB/s read and over 5,000 MB/s write in CrystalDiskMark, and maintained consistent throughput during sustained workloads. Despite its DRAM-less architecture, the SM2268XT2 controller paired with Host Memory Buffer (HMB) technology allows the drive to remain responsive for gaming, multitasking, and everyday applications.
Thermally, the integrated graphene heatspreader keeps the drive cool enough under typical workloads, though pairing it with a motherboard heatsink is still recommended for long-duration or intensive tasks. With support for video formats up to 12K ProRes confirmed in Blackmagic testing, the 255S also proves capable in media-heavy workflows.
In terms of pricing, the 1TB variant is available for around PHP 5,150, and the 2TB model for approximately PHP 9,150 in the Philippines. These prices position the 255S in the mid-range bracket, making it more affordable than premium Gen4 SSDs with DRAM, while still delivering performance close to the top end. For users who value speed and reliability without the premium price tag, the 255S offers strong value for money.
For those interested with this SSD, it is now available on Shopee, Lazada and other retailers in the Philippines.