Lexar NM800 1TB Review — Mid-Range PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD
The Lexar NM800 1TB is a mid-range PCIe Gen4 NVMe SSD from Lexar, built around the InnoGrit IG5236 controller and 3D TLC NAND for 7400 MB/s sequential reads.
Lexar is a well-known storage brand now under Longsys ownership, and the NM800 occupies the middle tier of their PCIe 4.0 lineup — below the NM800 Pro flagship but above entry-level Gen4 offerings. The 1 TB model uses the InnoGrit IG5236 controller, a capable second-generation PCIe 4.0 x4 silicon that delivers near-flagship sequential speeds at a more accessible price point than drives using the Phison E18.
The IG5236 is InnoGrit's mainstream flagship controller, competing directly with Phison's E18 in raw bandwidth while typically powering drives with more aggressive pricing. Paired with 3D TLC NAND, the NM800 1 TB achieves rated sequential reads of 7,400 MB/s and writes of 6,400 MB/s — the former surpasses the E18's typical 7,000 MB/s, while the latter matches the best of the Gen4 class at this capacity. The 1 TB configuration benefits from sufficient NAND die parallelism to maximize the controller's write throughput.
The NM800 appears to use a DRAM-less HMB (Host Memory Buffer) design, which is common in mid-range PCIe 4.0 drives where cost efficiency is prioritized over maximum random performance. For everyday desktop use — OS boot, application launches, game loading — the HMB architecture provides adequate responsiveness by borrowing a small slice of system RAM for flash translation layer management. Under sustained mixed workloads, however, the lack of dedicated DRAM may result in higher latency compared to DRAM-equipped alternatives.
Against competitors, the NM800 1 TB sits in the same segment as the TeamGroup MP34 Plus, Patriot Viper VP4300, and ADATA XPG Gammix S70 — all mid-range PCIe 4.0 drives offering flagship-level sequential reads at more accessible prices. The 3D TLC NAND is preferable to QLC for both endurance and sustained write performance, making the NM800 a sensible choice for general desktop and gaming use.
✅ Storage Comparisons:
🚀 Performance and benchmarks
Sequential read performance of 7,400 MB/s leads the PCIe 4.0 class, edging past the Phison E18's typical 7,000 MB/s ceiling. The InnoGrit IG5236 controller handles large sequential transfers effortlessly, and the 1 TB capacity's NAND parallelism enables 6,400 MB/s sustained writes — strong for this class. In real-world desktop use, these numbers translate to near-instantaneous OS boot, rapid application launches, and seamless game loading.
Lexar NM800 1 TB 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.
- PNY XLR8 CS3140 1 TB: 7,500 MB/s read, 5,650 MB/s write
- PNY XLR8 CS3140 2 TB: 7,500 MB/s read, 6,850 MB/s write
- Asgard AN4 512 GB: 7,500 MB/s read, 5,500 MB/s write
- Asgard AN4 1 TB: 7,500 MB/s read, 5,500 MB/s write
- Lexar NM800 1 TB (this drive): 7,400 MB/s read, 6,400 MB/s write
The DRAM-less HMB design is adequate for everyday tasks but shows its limitations under sustained mixed workloads. Random 4K performance on HMB drives is generally good for light use but may exhibit increased latency when the drive is handling simultaneous reads and writes. The dynamic SLC cache provides generous burst write headroom for consumer workloads, and once exhausted, direct TLC write speeds typically fall to 800–1,200 MB/s on the IG5236 platform. Thermally, the IG5236 runs cooler than the Phison E18, making it a better fit for builds with limited M.2 cooling.
🖥️ Endurance and warranty
Lexar provides warranty coverage on the NM800 consistent with its mid-range positioning in the product lineup. Specific warranty duration and endurance figures for the 1 TB model are not widely published in Lexar public documentation. For comparable 1 TB TLC drives in this class, typical endurance ranges from 500 to 700 TBW with a three- to five-year warranty period. The 3D TLC NAND provides solid endurance characteristics, and for typical consumer use of 20–40 GB written per day, any reasonable endurance estimate would comfortably exceed the warranty period. MTBF is not separately published for this specific SKU.
📊 Specs
| Category | Value |
|---|---|
| Capacity [?] | 1 TB |
| Interface [?] | M.2 4.0 x 4 |
| Controller [?] | InnoGrit IG5236 |
| Memory type [?] | 3D TLC |
| DRAM [?] | DRAM Cache |
| Read speed (MB/s) [?] | 7400 |
| Write speed (MB/s) [?] | 6400 |
| Read IOPS [?] | 400000 |
| Write IOPS [?] | 750000 |
| Endurance (TBW) [?] | 500 |
| MTBF (million hours) [?] | n/a |
| Warranty (years) [?] | 5 |
Conclusion
The Lexar NM800 1TB is a strong mid-range PCIe 4.0 SSD that delivers 7,400 MB/s sequential reads through the capable InnoGrit IG5236 controller. The 3D TLC NAND and DRAM-less HMB design position it below DRAM-equipped flagships in random performance, but the sequential bandwidth is genuinely flagship-tier for Gen4. For users who want fast read speeds at a mid-range price point, the NM800 1TB is a sensible and affordable option from an established storage brand with a long history in consumer flash memory products and data storage solutions dating back to the early days of digital photography.
+ Pros
- 7,400 MB/s read leads the PCIe 4.0 class
- InnoGrit IG5236 capable second-gen controller
- 3D TLC NAND for better endurance than QLC
- 1 TB capacity with strong 6,400 MB/s writes
- IG5236 runs cooler than Phison E18
- Cons
- Likely DRAM-less HMB design
- Warranty and endurance not well-publicised
- Random latency higher than DRAM-equipped drives
- Mid-range positioning limits sustained workloads
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