# Lexar NM710 2TB Review — Budget Capacity Done Properly (2026)

The Lexar NM710 2TB tops its budget range with 1,200 TBW of endurance and 4,500 MB/s writes, asking only 150 MB/s of read speed as the trade.

Quick answer: Buy the Lexar NM710 2TB when the mission is capacity on a budget and the workload is read-heavy: game libraries, media archives, and second-PC storage all suit it, and the 1,200 TBW rating plus 5-year warranty remove the usual anxieties about cheap high-capacity drives. Skip it when speed is the point — sustained write sessions and PS5 upgrades both want more than a DRAM-less design reading at 4,850 MB/s. The obvious step-up is the NM790 2TB, which buys 7,400 MB/s reads and 1,500 TBW for a premium, while the Kingston NV2 and WD Blue SN580 play the same budget game with their own trade-offs. As cheap, warrantied 2 TB PCIe 4.0 storage, this is a sound pick.

## Specifications

| Specification | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Capacity | 2 TB |
| Interface | M.2 4.0 x 4 |
| Controller | Maxio MAP1602A 4 Channel |
| Memory type | Micron 176-L TLC |
| DRAM cache | No |
| Sequential read | 4850 MB/s |
| Sequential write | 4500 MB/s |
| Random read IOPS |  |
| Random write IOPS |  |
| Endurance | 1200 TBW |
| MTBF | 1500000 |
| Warranty | 5 years |

## Performance

Lexar rates the 2TB NM710 at 4,850 MB/s sequential reads and 4,500 MB/s writes over PCIe 4.0 x4, and like the rest of the range it publishes no random IOPS figures — TechPowerUp's database lists them as officially unknown. The sequential numbers are the practical story: reads sit at the front of the budget tier and embarrass every SATA drive ever made, while 4,500 MB/s writes match the 1 TB model outright.

The behavior under load follows the standard DRAM-less playbook. A dynamic SLC cache absorbs game installs and batch copies at full speed, then throughput settles to native TLC rates once very large transfers exhaust it — at 2 TB, the cache is generous, so most real-world workloads never see the drop. Random-heavy write sessions are where the missing DRAM shows, and that simply is not what this drive is for. Reviewers across the NM710 line describe the same character: burst performance that feels like a mainstream drive, honest sustained behavior, and no thermal drama in a well-ventilated slot thanks to the frugal 7-gram single-stick design. For bulk storage duty, that is exactly the profile that matters.

## Endurance, TBW & Warranty

Lexar backs the NM710 2TB with a 5-year limited warranty rated to 1,200 TBW, whichever arrives first. That is the best endurance in the range — quadruple the 512 GB model and double the 1 TB — and at a demanding 40 GB written per day it would take more than eight decades to exhaust. The rated MTBF is 1.5 million hours, a fleet-level statistic rather than a promise about any individual drive. The 5-year coverage runs line-wide, matching what Lexar gives its premium NM790 series and beating the 3-year terms still common on budget drives. Claims are handled through Lexar directly in most regions, so keeping proof of purchase is worthwhile.

## Pros and Cons

**Pros:**

- 4,850 MB/s reads and 4,500 MB/s writes
- 1,200 TBW endurance with 5-year warranty
- Double the endurance of the 1 TB model
- Largest capacity in the NM710 range
- DRAM-less HMB design runs cool
**Cons:**

- No DRAM cache on the PCB
- Reads derate 150 MB/s versus smaller models
- Random IOPS ratings unpublished by Lexar
- Just misses Sony's 5,500 MB/s PS5 guidance


## Verdict

Buy the Lexar NM710 2TB when the mission is capacity on a budget and the workload is read-heavy: game libraries, media archives, and second-PC storage all suit it, and the 1,200 TBW rating plus 5-year warranty remove the usual anxieties about cheap high-capacity drives. Skip it when speed is the point — sustained write sessions and PS5 upgrades both want more than a DRAM-less design reading at 4,850 MB/s. The obvious step-up is the NM790 2TB, which buys 7,400 MB/s reads and 1,500 TBW for a premium, while the Kingston NV2 and WD Blue SN580 play the same budget game with their own trade-offs. As cheap, warrantied 2 TB PCIe 4.0 storage, this is a sound pick.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### Is the Lexar NM710 2TB compatible with the PS5?

It can be fitted, but it is not an ideal console pick. Sony's guidance recommends a PCIe 4.0 drive reading at 5,500 MB/s or faster with a heatsink that keeps total height within 11.25 mm, and the NM710 2TB reads at 4,850 MB/s — just under the bar. Capacity-wise, 2 TB is a workable starting size for a console library, and the 1,200 TBW endurance rating provides plenty of headroom. For a cleaner PS5 upgrade, a drive rated above 5,500 MB/s, such as Lexar's own NM790, is the better choice.

### Is the Lexar NM710 2TB good for gaming?

As a game-library drive on a budget, yes. Two terabytes holds dozens of modern installs that routinely exceed 100 GB each, the 4,850 MB/s read rating loads levels with no perceptible penalty versus pricier drives, and DirectStorage titles benefit from the full PCIe 4.0 link. The 4,500 MB/s write speed keeps reinstalls and updates moving. The DRAM-less design has no measurable effect on game loading; it only matters in sustained professional write workloads, which gaming is not.

### Does the Lexar NM710 2TB have a DRAM cache?

No — the NM710 line ships without DRAM. The Maxio MAP1602 controller uses HMB 3.0 to borrow system memory for the flash translation tables, while a dynamic SLC cache carved from the NAND absorbs write bursts. For desktop use, gaming, and general storage, responsiveness is nearly indistinguishable from DRAM-equipped drives. The difference appears under sustained heavy writing, once the SLC cache exhausts and throughput settles to native TLC rates — the scenario where DRAM-equipped designs keep their performance more even.

### What is the TBW endurance of the Lexar NM710 2TB?

The 2 TB model is rated at 1,200 TBW under a 5-year limited warranty, whichever limit arrives first. That is the strongest endurance in the NM710 range — double the 1 TB model's 600 TBW and quadruple the 512 GB tier — and it works out to more than eight decades of use at a demanding 40 GB written per day. In practice, the 5-year warranty term is the limit a normal owner will ever approach, not the endurance ceiling.

### Should I buy the 1 TB or 2 TB Lexar NM710?

The choice comes down to capacity versus a small speed trim. The 2 TB model gives up 150 MB/s of rated read speed — 4,850 versus 5,000 MB/s — and in exchange doubles endurance to 1,200 TBW and, obviously, doubles the space. Write speed is identical at 4,500 MB/s, as are the 5-year warranty and 1.5 million-hour MTBF rating. If 1 TB covers your library with room to spare, save the money; if you would fill it, the 2 TB is the better long-term buy.

### Lexar NM710 2TB or Lexar NM790 2TB — which is better?

The NM790 2TB is the stronger drive on every specification: 7,400 MB/s reads versus 4,850, 6,500 MB/s writes versus 4,500, and 1,500 TBW endurance versus 1,200, under the same 5-year warranty terms. Both are DRAM-less designs that rely on host memory buffering, so neither is the pick for sustained professional write loads. The NM710's case is price: it is the budget line, and if the cost gap matters more than 2,550 MB/s of rated read speed, it is a perfectly rational choice for bulk storage.

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Last updated: 2026-09-05. Source: https://ssdrive.net/lexar-nm710-2-tb