Crucial (Micron)

Crucial P3

Name: Crucial P3 (PCIe 3.0 NVMe/3,500 MB/s Read/3,000 MB/s Write/Entry-Level Crucial NVMe)
Brand: Crucial (Micron)
SKU: P3

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Manufacturer: Crucial (Micron) Last updated: September 11, 2026

Crucial P3 (PCIe 3.0 NVMe/3,500 MB/s Read/3,000 MB/s Write/Entry-Level Crucial NVMe) Review

The Crucial P3 sits at the entry point of Crucial's NVMe lineup, using PCIe 3.0 and QLC NAND to deliver a genuinely affordable upgrade path for buyers moving off SATA storage without needing PCIe 4.0 bandwidth.

At up to 3,500 MB/s read and 3,000 MB/s write, this drive's numbers reflect its PCIe 3.0 interface ceiling, still a meaningful improvement over SATA drives at a genuinely entry-level price. Against the Crucial P3 Plus, covered elsewhere on this site, that PCIe 4.0 drive delivers higher bandwidth at a modest price premium for buyers with a Gen 4-capable motherboard. Against the WD Green SN350, also covered elsewhere on this site, both target the most price-sensitive entry-level NVMe buyers.

Performance and Speed

At up to 3,500 MB/s read and 3,000 MB/s write, this drive's numbers reflect its PCIe 3.0 interface ceiling, still a meaningful improvement over SATA drives at a genuinely entry-level price.

Comparison to Sibling Products

Against the Crucial P3 Plus, covered elsewhere on this site, that PCIe 4.0 drive delivers higher bandwidth at a modest price premium for buyers with a Gen 4-capable motherboard. Against the WD Green SN350, also covered elsewhere on this site, both target the most price-sensitive entry-level NVMe buyers.

Specifications

Identity

Brand	Crucial (Micron)
Model Number	P3
Series	P3

Interface and form

Drive Type	Internal
Bus Interface	PCIe 3.0 x4, NVMe
Bus Interface	PCIe 3.0 x4
Form Factor	M.2 2280

Sequential performance

Sequential Read	3500 MB/s
Sequential Write	3000 MB/s

Controller and cache

Controller	Phison E21T
Controller Vendor	Phison
DRAM Cache	DRAM-less with HMB

NAND

NAND Type	QLC
NAND Vendor	Micron
NAND Layers	176

Power and thermals

Heatsink	Not Included

Physical and commercial

Warranty	5 Years

Capacity Options	500GB, 1TB, 2TB, 4TB

Expert Review

Reviewed by Burooj Alam. Rated by us, not by users.

Best for

Buyers on older PCIe 3.0 motherboards who want the lowest-cost genuine NVMe upgrade. This drive is well matched to Gen 3 hardware's own bandwidth ceiling.

Not for

Not for buyers with a PCIe 4.0-capable motherboard. The Crucial P3 Plus, covered elsewhere on this site, makes better use of that additional bandwidth.

FAQs

What are the key specifications of the Crucial P3 (PCIe 3.0 NVMe/3,500 MB/s Read/3,000 MB/s Write/Entry-Level Crucial NVMe)?

The Crucial P3 (PCIe 3.0 NVMe/3,500 MB/s Read/3,000 MB/s Write/Entry-Level Crucial NVMe) is a component from Crucial (Micron). Key specs: Interface PCIe 3.0 x4, NVMe, Sequential Read 3500, Sequential Write 3000, NAND Type QLC, DRAMless, Capacity Options 500GB, 1TB, 2TB, 4TB.

Who is the Crucial P3 (PCIe 3.0 NVMe/3,500 MB/s Read/3,000 MB/s Write/Entry-Level Crucial NVMe) best suited to?

It suits buyers on older pcie 3.0 motherboards who want the lowest-cost genuine nvme upgrade. this drive is well matched to gen 3 hardware's own bandwidth ceiling..

What are the drawbacks of the Crucial P3 (PCIe 3.0 NVMe/3,500 MB/s Read/3,000 MB/s Write/Entry-Level Crucial NVMe)?

It is a poor fit for not for buyers with a pcie 4.0-capable motherboard. the crucial p3 plus, covered elsewhere on this site, makes better use of that additional bandwidth..