Lexar NM790 512GB: A DRAM-less Drive That Punches Up (2026)
Quick answer
The Lexar NM790 512GB makes sense for buyers who want genuinely strong PCIe 4.0 performance for a boot drive, laptop upgrade, or PS5 storage expansion without paying for a DRAM-equipped flagship.
Read: 7400 MB/s Write: 4400 MB/s Endurance: 500 TBW Warranty: 5 years Interface: M.2 4.0 x 4
The Lexar NM790 512GB is a DRAM-less TLC PCIe 4.0 NVMe drive that independent reviewers rate among the best in its class, rivaling pricier DRAM-equipped rivals.
Controller & Memory
Inside the Lexar NM790 512GB is a Maxio MAP1602 controller paired with YMTC 232-layer TLC NAND and no dedicated DRAM chip; the drive relies on Host Memory Buffer (HMB) technology to keep its mapping tables fast. It runs over a PCIe 4.0 x4 link using the NVMe protocol and ships in a single-sided M.2 2280 form factor, a design Lexar keeps even at its larger 4 TB capacity.
The NM790 is Lexar's flagship-tier TLC drive, distinct from the budget QLC NQ790 and NQ710 lines. It ships in 512 GB, 1 TB, 2 TB, and 4 TB capacities; this 512 GB model is the one exception on write speed, rated at 4,400 MB/s versus the 6,500 MB/s shared by 1 TB and up, since the smallest capacity has fewer NAND dies for the controller to write across in parallel.
The NM790 512GB fits laptops, Mini PCs, and the PlayStation 5's M.2 slot, and its efficient DRAM-less design runs cooler than many DRAM-equipped rivals while still keeping pace with them. Independent reviewers have compared it favorably to drives like the Samsung 990 Pro and WD Black SN850X on value, and it's frequently recommended as a strong alternative to QLC-based drives at this price point.
Storage Comparisons:
NM790 Performance & Benchmarks
The 512 GB Lexar NM790 is rated for up to 7,400 MB/s sequential reads and 4,400 MB/s sequential writes, the one capacity in the NM790 range with a reduced write rating, alongside up to 1,000,000 IOPS on random reads and 900,000 IOPS on random writes. Tom's Hardware found the NM790 line rivals even high-end PCIe 4.0 drives despite being DRAM-less, delivering good-to-great sustained performance with notably better power efficiency than many DRAM-equipped competitors.
Lexar NM790 512 GB vs M.2 4.0 x 4 peers
Switch between sequential throughput and random IOPS to see how this drive stacks up against other M.2 4.0 x 4 SSDs in our database. The highlighted bar is the drive on this page — click any other bar to open that drive.
- Patriot Viper PV593 1 TB: 14,500 MB/s read, 14,000 MB/s write
- Patriot Viper PV593 2 TB: 14,500 MB/s read, 14,000 MB/s write
- Patriot Viper PV593 4 TB: 14,500 MB/s read, 14,000 MB/s write
- Patriot Viper PV573 2 TB: 14,000 MB/s read, 12,000 MB/s write
- Lexar NM790 512 GB (this drive): 7,400 MB/s read, 4,400 MB/s write
Like any TLC drive, the NM790 leans on SLC caching for its peak write speed; independent testing measured roughly 62 GB of pSLC cache at this capacity, after which sustained writes settle to a lower but still solid TLC-native write speed rather than collapsing sharply the way a QLC drive would. For everyday use, booting Windows, loading games, general file work, and even moderate content creation, the 512 GB NM790 performs confidently. PCWorld separately noted the DRAM-less design costs it a bit on random-write performance specifically, though not enough to matter for typical users.
Lexar NM790 vs Competitors
See how the NM790 stacks up against other M.2 4.0 x 4 drives in our database:
Compare with rival drives:
Endurance, TBW & Warranty
Lexar rates the 512 GB NM790 at 500 TBW and backs it with a 5-year limited warranty, strong figures for a DRAM-less drive at this capacity. At a realistic 20-30 GB per day write workload, 500 TBW works out to roughly 45-68 years before the drive reaches its rated endurance limit, far beyond the warranty period and the practical lifespan of the rest of the PC around it. Lexar also lists a 1,500,000-hour MTBF figure, though that's a population-level statistical average across many drives rather than a promise about any single unit's lifespan. Warranty service runs through Lexar's regional RMA process, so keep your purchase receipt on hand.
Lexar NM790 512 GB Specifications
| Category | Value |
|---|---|
| Capacity [?] | 512 GB |
| Interface [?] | M.2 4.0 x 4 |
| Controller [?] | Maxio MAP1602 |
| Memory type [?] | YMTC 232-L TLC |
| DRAM [?] | No |
| Read speed (MB/s) [?] | 7400 |
| Write speed (MB/s) [?] | 4400 |
| Read IOPS [?] | 1000000 |
| Write IOPS [?] | 900000 |
| Endurance (TBW) [?] | 500 |
| MTBF (million hours) [?] | 1500000 |
| Warranty (years) [?] | 5 |
Verdict: Is the NM790 Worth It in 2026?
The Lexar NM790 512GB makes sense for buyers who want genuinely strong PCIe 4.0 performance for a boot drive, laptop upgrade, or PS5 storage expansion without paying for a DRAM-equipped flagship. Buyers who specifically need the absolute fastest sustained write speed should look at the 1 TB or larger NM790, which recovers the full 6,500 MB/s write rating this smallest capacity gives up. Compared to QLC alternatives like Lexar's own NQ790 or NQ710, the NM790's TLC NAND holds its performance and endurance more consistently under sustained load. Overall, independent reviewers rate this line as a standout value, and the 512 GB capacity carries that reputation at an accessible entry price.
+ Pros
- 7,400 MB/s reads rival DRAM-equipped drives
- 500 TBW endurance and a 5-year warranty
- TLC NAND holds up better than QLC rivals
- Single-sided M.2 2280 fits laptops and PS5
- Strong power efficiency for a PCIe 4.0 drive
- Cons
- 512GB write speed reduced to 4,400 MB/s
- No DRAM cache impacts random writes slightly
- Smaller SLC cache than larger NM790 capacities
- 512GB capacity limits room for a large game library
Buy this or similar SSD Storage:
Video Review
NEW BEST BUDGET SSD? | Lexar NM790 SSD review
