# Lexar NM790 2TB Review — a DRAM-less PCIe 4.0 Value Pick (2026)

The Lexar NM790 2TB pushes 7,400 MB/s reads on PCIe 4.0 without DRAM, and it remains one of the sharpest value plays in its class.

Quick answer: Buy the Lexar NM790 2TB if the goal is a 2 TB game library or a PS5 upgrade that reads like a flagship spec sheet — it is that rare DRAM-less drive whose rated specs would have topped enthusiast charts two generations ago. Skip it for sustained, multi-hundred-gigabyte write workloads such as video-editing scratch disks; a DRAM-equipped alternative like the Crucial T500 or WD Black SN850X holds composure better once the SLC cache empties. The WD Black SN770 is the nearest match on character, but it concedes rated speed (5,150 MB/s) and endurance headroom (1,200 TBW) to this Lexar. As a straight PCIe 4.0 value pick in 2026, the NM790 2TB earns one of the first slots on our shortlist.

## Specifications

| Specification | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Capacity | 2 TB |
| Interface | M.2 4.0 x 4 |
| Controller | Maxiotech MAP1602A |
| Memory type | YMTC 232-L TLC |
| DRAM cache | No |
| Sequential read | 7400 MB/s |
| Sequential write | 6500 MB/s |
| Random read IOPS | 1000000 |
| Random write IOPS | 900000 |
| Endurance | 1500 TBW |
| MTBF | 1500000 |
| Warranty | 5 years |

## Performance

Lexar rates the 2TB NM790 at 7,400 MB/s sequential reads and 6,500 MB/s writes over PCIe 4.0 x4, with up to 1,000K random-read and 900K random-write IOPS. Those are manufacturer figures, but independent testing backs the shape of them: NikKTech's 2TB review awarded the drive a Golden Award and found it running at the front of the DRAM-less PCIe 4.0 field in peak workloads. In day-to-day use the numbers mean near-instant level loads in DirectStorage titles, PS5 games loading well past Sony's 5,500 MB/s recommendation, and multi-gigabyte file imports that finish in seconds rather than minutes.

Two caveats define the sustained picture. First, the NM790 is an SLC-cached design: writes run at rated speed until the dynamic cache fills, then throughput falls back to native TLC rates for the remainder of a very large copy — irrelevant for a boot drive or game installs, but noticeable when hundreds of gigabytes move in one sitting. Second, NikKTech's 12-hour SNIA stress test documented thermal throttling once the drive got hot, so a motherboard heatsink or the bundled-heatsink variant is worth having for heavy, sustained workloads. Outside those edge cases, reviewers consistently found the 2TB NM790 indistinguishable from pricier DRAM-equipped Gen4 drives.

## Endurance, TBW & Warranty

Lexar backs the NM790 2TB with a 5-year limited warranty rated to 1,500 TBW, whichever arrives first. Spread across a heavy home workload of 40 GB written per day, that endurance budget stretches past a century, so the TBW ceiling is effectively unreachable for personal use. The rated MTBF is 1.5 million hours — a fleet-level reliability statistic, not a promise about any individual stick. Underneath the numbers, the hardware adds sudden power-loss protection, wear leveling, bad-block management, and hardware AES-256 encryption. The same 5-year terms apply across the range, with the 1 TB model rated to 1,000 TBW and the 4 TB to 3,000 TBW. Warranty claims go through Lexar directly in most regions; checking the retailer's return window first is still the sensible order of operations.

## Pros and Cons

**Pros:**

- 7,400 MB/s reads and 6,500 MB/s writes
- 1,500 TBW endurance with a 5-year warranty
- Single-sided PCB fits PS5 and thin laptops
- HMB 3.0 keeps power draw below DRAM drives
- AES-256 encryption with TCG Opal 2.0
- Rated up to 1,000K random-read IOPS
**Cons:**

- No DRAM cache on the PCB
- Throttles under sustained SNIA stress testing
- No heatsink included on the base model
- SLC cache exhaustion slows very large transfers


## Verdict

Buy the Lexar NM790 2TB if the goal is a 2 TB game library or a PS5 upgrade that reads like a flagship spec sheet — it is that rare DRAM-less drive whose rated specs would have topped enthusiast charts two generations ago. Skip it for sustained, multi-hundred-gigabyte write workloads such as video-editing scratch disks; a DRAM-equipped alternative like the Crucial T500 or WD Black SN850X holds composure better once the SLC cache empties. The WD Black SN770 is the nearest match on character, but it concedes rated speed (5,150 MB/s) and endurance headroom (1,200 TBW) to this Lexar. As a straight PCIe 4.0 value pick in 2026, the NM790 2TB earns one of the first slots on our shortlist.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### Is the Lexar NM790 2TB compatible with the PS5?

Yes. Sony's published criteria call for a PCIe 4.0 NVMe drive with a 5,500 MB/s or faster recommended read speed and a heatsink that keeps dimensions within 110 × 25 × 11.25 mm. The bare Lexar NM790 2TB reads at 7,400 MB/s and measures 2.45 mm thick, so even a modest aftermarket heatsink keeps it inside the size window, and Lexar officially lists the drive as PS5-compatible. For the least hassle, the NM790 with Heatsink variant arrives pre-cooled and slot-ready.

### Is the Lexar NM790 2TB good for gaming?

For gaming, the NM790 2TB is close to the practical ceiling of what PCIe 4.0 delivers. Level loads in DirectStorage titles and PS5 ports benefit from the 7,400 MB/s read rating, and 2 TB comfortably holds a modern library of AAA installs that routinely exceed 100 GB each. Being DRAM-less has no measurable effect on game loading, since read-heavy workloads are exactly what HMB and SLC caching handle well. The honest caveat is that no current console or game engine gains much beyond roughly 7,000 MB/s, so the appeal here is capacity and headroom rather than visible speed-ups.

### Does the Lexar NM790 2TB have a DRAM cache?

No — there is no physical DRAM chip on the PCB. Lexar's Maxio MAP1602-based design uses Host Memory Buffer 3.0 instead, allocating a portion of system memory for the flash translation tables, plus a dynamic SLC cache carved from the NAND itself. For desktops, laptops, and the PS5, the result is responsiveness nearly identical to DRAM-equipped drives in consumer workloads. The difference only shows up in sustained mixed writes and heavy random workloads, where true DRAM designs such as the Samsung 990 Pro hold their performance more evenly.

### What is the TBW endurance of the Lexar NM790 2TB?

The 2 TB model is rated at 1,500 TBW, backed by a 5-year limited warranty that ends at whichever limit arrives first. Written out, 1,500 TBW means roughly 1.5 petabytes of total writes; at a demanding 40 GB per day, the drive would take over a century to exhaust its rating. Sibling capacities scale differently: 1,000 TBW on the 1 TB model and 3,000 TBW at 4 TB, both under the same 5-year terms.

### Does the Lexar NM790 2TB need a heatsink?

For PS5 use, yes — Sony requires a heatsink on any internal upgrade, and the NM790's bare 2.45 mm PCB leaves plenty of room for one within the 11.25 mm height limit. On a desktop, a motherboard-provided heatsink is recommended: NikKTech's SNIA stress testing documented thermal throttling during sustained writes on the bare drive. Inside a laptop with decent airflow, the single-sided design usually manages without help. Buyers who want a no-fuss route can pick Lexar's own NM790 with Heatsink variant.

### How does the Lexar NM790 2TB compare to the WD Black SN770?

The NM790 2TB out-specs the SN770 on every headline number: 7,400 versus 5,150 MB/s sequential reads, 6,500 versus 4,850 MB/s writes, and 1,500 versus 1,200 TBW endurance. Both drives are DRAM-less designs that lean on host memory buffering, so their real-world behavior in games and desktop use is closer than the spec sheet suggests. Choose the WD for a slightly cooler-running stick with a long track record; choose the Lexar when rated speed and endurance headroom matter, such as PS5 upgrades or large library transfers.

### Is the 4 TB Lexar NM790 faster than the 2 TB?

Not in rated speed — both capacities carry the same 7,400/6,500 MB/s sequential figures, and both share the 900K random-write IOPS rating. What the 4 TB model buys is endurance and protocol: 3,000 TBW against the 2 TB's 1,500 TBW, plus NVMe 2.0 support where the smaller stick uses NVMe 1.4. The 8 TB is the one to be careful with, since Lexar derates it to 7,000/6,200 MB/s. For pure speed, the 2 TB is the value sweet spot.

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Last updated: 2026-09-05. Source: https://ssdrive.net/lexar-nm790-2-tb