# Lexar NM790 512GB: A DRAM-less Drive That Punches Up (2026)

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.

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. 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.

## Specifications

| Specification | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Capacity | 512 GB |
| Interface | M.2 4.0 x 4 |
| Controller | Maxio MAP1602 |
| Memory type | YMTC 232-L TLC |
| DRAM cache | No |
| Sequential read | 7400 MB/s |
| Sequential write | 4400 MB/s |
| Random read IOPS | 1000000 |
| Random write IOPS | 900000 |
| Endurance | 500 TBW |
| MTBF | 1500000 |
| Warranty | 5 years |

## Performance

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.

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.

## 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.

## Pros and Cons

**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


## Verdict

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.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### Is the Lexar NM790 512GB good for gaming?

Yes, for load times and responsiveness. Its 7,400 MB/s read speed and 1,000,000 random-read IOPS keep game loading competitive with far pricier drives. The main limitation is capacity: 512 GB fits a modest number of modern AAA titles, so it works best as a boot-and-a-few-games drive rather than a full library. Buyers wanting more room for games should consider the 1 TB or 2 TB NM790, which also restores the full 6,500 MB/s write speed.

### Is the Lexar NM790 512GB compatible with the PS5?

Yes. It meets Sony's published PS5 M.2 SSD requirements: PCIe 4.0 NVMe interface, sequential read speed above the 5,500 MB/s minimum (this drive is rated at 7,400 MB/s), and a single-sided design that fits within Sony's size limits. The NM790 is widely used as a PS5 upgrade drive by reviewers and owners, and its efficient, cool-running design suits the PS5's compact M.2 slot well.

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

No, the 512 GB NM790 is a DRAM-less design. Instead of an onboard DRAM chip, the Maxio MAP1602 controller uses Host Memory Buffer (HMB) technology, borrowing a slice of the host system's RAM to store its mapping tables. Despite lacking dedicated DRAM, independent reviewers have found the NM790 performs close to DRAM-equipped drives, with only a modest random-write penalty that rarely affects typical use.

### What is the TBW endurance of the 512GB NM790?

The 512 GB model is rated at 500 TBW, the lowest figure in the NM790 lineup; the 1 TB version is rated at 1,000 TBW, the 2 TB at 1,500 TBW, and the 4 TB at 3,000 TBW. At a typical desktop or laptop workload of 20-30 GB written per day, 500 TBW would take roughly 45 to 68 years to reach, comfortably beyond any realistic ownership period.

### Why is the 512GB NM790's write speed slower than larger capacities?

The 512 GB model is rated at 4,400 MB/s sequential write, compared to 6,500 MB/s on the 1 TB and larger capacities. This is a common pattern on NVMe drives: with fewer NAND dies at the smallest capacity, the controller has less parallelism to write across simultaneously, which caps peak sequential write throughput. Read speed is unaffected because reads don't depend on write parallelism in the same way.

### Does the Lexar NM790 need a heatsink?

Not strictly, though one can help. The NM790's DRAM-less design and efficient controller mean it runs cooler than many DRAM-equipped PCIe 4.0 rivals, and Tom's Hardware specifically praised its power efficiency. A motherboard M.2 heatsink or PS5 heat spreader can still help during longer sustained-write sessions, but it isn't a strict requirement for typical desktop, laptop, or PS5 use at this capacity.

### How does the Lexar NM790 compare to the Lexar NQ790?

The NM790 uses TLC NAND while the NQ790 uses QLC, making the NM790 faster and more consistent on sustained writes and higher-endurance at the same capacity. Both share a similar PCIe 4.0 platform and read-speed ceiling, but reviewers consistently rate the NM790 as the stronger overall performer. The NQ790 remains a reasonable budget pick for buyers who mostly do reads and light writes, but the NM790 is the better choice when sustained write performance and endurance matter.

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Last updated: 2026-08-28. Source: https://ssdrive.net/lexar-nm790-512-gb