# Lexar NM990 1TB PCIe 5.0 NVMe SSD Review (2026)

The Lexar NM990 1TB is a budget PCIe 5.0 NVMe drive built on Maxio's DRAM-less MAP1806A controller with Longsys TLC, offering 14,000 MB/s reads at an entry-level Gen5 price.

Quick answer: The Lexar NM990 1 TB is a value PCIe 5.0 drive that delivers genuine 14,000 MB/s read bandwidth at a budget price, built on Maxio's DRAM-less MAP1806A controller with Longsys TLC and backed by a 600 TBW rating, a five-year warranty and an included heatsink. Its strengths are Gen5 read speed and price. Its weaknesses are the DRAM-less HMB design, the lowest write speed in the family at 7,500 MB/s, and the absence of prominent random IOPS figures. It suits a budget-conscious buyer who wants PCIe 5.0 read throughput for gaming and everyday use; skip it if you write heavily or need sustained random performance, in which case the larger NM990 capacities or a DRAM-equipped Gen5 drive like Lexar's own NM1090 Pro are better fits.

## Specifications

| Specification | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Capacity | 1 TB |
| Interface | M.2 5.0 |
| Controller | MaxioTech MAP1806A 8 Channel |
| Memory type | Longsys TLC |
| DRAM cache | HMB (no DRAM) |
| Sequential read | 14000 MB/s |
| Sequential write | 7500 MB/s |
| Random read IOPS |  |
| Random write IOPS |  |
| Endurance | 600 TBW |
| MTBF | 2000000 |
| Warranty | 5 years |

## Performance

Lexar rates the NM990 1 TB at up to 14,000 MB/s sequential read but only 7,500 MB/s sequential write, the lowest write figure in the NM990 family. The read speed matches far more expensive Gen5 flagships, so for game loads, large file reads and DirectStorage-enabled asset streaming the drive feels genuinely fast; the write figure is the trade-off for the DRAM-less design and the small capacity's fewer NAND die. Every NM990 capacity shares the 14,000 MB/s read rating, while write scales up to 10,000 MB/s on the 2 TB and 11,000 MB/s on the 4 TB, so the 1 TB is the slowest writer of the range.

Because the NM990 is DRAM-less and relies on HMB, sustained random performance under heavy mixed workloads is lower than on DRAM-equipped drives, though for everyday desktop use and gaming the difference is rarely noticeable. The drive does not publish prominent random IOPS figures, which itself signals the value positioning. The Maxio MAP1806A is an 8-channel PCIe 5.0 controller, so the sequential read throughput is real rather than aspirational, and the included heatsink helps it hold that read speed under load. For a budget Gen5 boot and game drive where reads dominate, the NM990 1 TB delivers strong value; buyers who write heavily should look at the larger capacities or a DRAM-equipped drive.

## Endurance, TBW & Warranty

Lexar backs the NM990 with a five-year limited warranty, and the 1 TB model carries a 600 TBW (terabytes written) endurance rating. That is solid coverage for a budget Gen5 drive: 600 TBW works out to roughly 329 GB of writes every single day for five years, which exceeds a typical 20 to 50 GB daily consumer workload, so for ordinary gaming and desktop use the NAND outlasts the warranty term. The five-year term is the binding limit, and it is generous for a value Gen5 drive where three-year cover is common. As an established brand Lexar offers a global support and RMA network, which is reassuring on a budget drive, so keep your proof of purchase. Note that the DRAM-less design and the 1 TB's lower write speed mean heavy-write workloads are not this drive's strength, but endurance itself is not a realistic concern within the five-year window.

## Pros and Cons

**Pros:**

- Budget PCIe 5.0 with 14,000 MB/s reads
- Maxio MAP1806A 8-channel Gen5 controller
- Longsys 3D TLC NAND
- Heatsink included
- 5-year warranty
- Low cost entry into the Gen5 class
**Cons:**

- DRAM-less HMB design limits sustained random performance
- 7,500 MB/s write is the lowest in the NM990 family
- Random IOPS figures not prominently published
- Needs a PCIe 5.0 platform to justify the read speed


## Verdict

The Lexar NM990 1 TB is a value PCIe 5.0 drive that delivers genuine 14,000 MB/s read bandwidth at a budget price, built on Maxio's DRAM-less MAP1806A controller with Longsys TLC and backed by a 600 TBW rating, a five-year warranty and an included heatsink. Its strengths are Gen5 read speed and price. Its weaknesses are the DRAM-less HMB design, the lowest write speed in the family at 7,500 MB/s, and the absence of prominent random IOPS figures. It suits a budget-conscious buyer who wants PCIe 5.0 read throughput for gaming and everyday use; skip it if you write heavily or need sustained random performance, in which case the larger NM990 capacities or a DRAM-equipped Gen5 drive like Lexar's own NM1090 Pro are better fits.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### Is the Lexar NM990 1TB good for gaming?

Yes, for budget gaming where reads dominate. The 14,000 MB/s sequential read is more than enough for fast game loads and DirectStorage-era titles, and the 1 TB capacity holds the operating system plus a reasonable game library. The 7,500 MB/s write speed is low but rarely matters for gaming, which is read-heavy. It is a strong value pick for a budget Gen5 gaming build, though the 2 TB writes faster and holds more.

### Is the Lexar NM990 1TB compatible with the PS5?

Yes. The PS5 accepts standard M.2 2280 NVMe drives and PCIe 5.0 is backward compatible, but the PS5 expansion slot is PCIe 4.0, so the NM990 runs at Gen4 speeds rather than its full 14,000 MB/s. Conveniently the NM990 ships with a heatsink, which PS5 installation requires. It works in a PS5, but a cheaper native PCIe 4.0 drive offers similar PS5 performance for less unless you want Gen5 headroom for a PC.

### Does the Lexar NM990 have a DRAM cache?

No, the NM990 is a DRAM-less design that uses HMB (Host Memory Buffer), borrowing a small slice of system memory to manage the flash translation layer. This keeps cost and power draw low, which suits the drive's budget positioning, but it means sustained random performance under heavy mixed workloads is lower than on drives with a dedicated DRAM cache. For everyday and gaming use, which are read-heavy, the difference is rarely noticeable.

### Why is the Lexar NM990 1TB write speed only 7,500 MB/s?

The NM990's sequential write speed scales with capacity because it is a DRAM-less drive with fewer NAND die in parallel at the smaller sizes. The 1 TB is rated at 7,500 MB/s write, the 2 TB at 10,000 MB/s and the 4 TB at 11,000 MB/s, while every capacity shares the 14,000 MB/s read figure. The 1 TB's lower write speed is the main performance trade-off for the entry capacity and price.

### What is the TBW endurance of the Lexar NM990 1TB?

The 1 TB NM990 is rated at 600 TBW (terabytes written) over its life, backed by a five-year warranty. That works out to roughly 329 GB of writes per day for five years, which covers a typical 20 to 50 GB daily consumer workload, so the NAND outlasts the warranty term for ordinary use. Endurance is not a realistic concern for gaming or everyday desktop use on this drive.

### How does the Lexar NM990 compare to the Lexar NM1090 Pro?

Both are Lexar PCIe 5.0 drives but they target different buyers. The NM1090 Pro is the flagship with a Silicon Motion SM2508 controller, Micron TLC, a DRAM cache, higher IOPS and higher write speeds. The NM990 is the value DRAM-less option using Maxio's MAP1806A and Longsys TLC, with 14,000 MB/s reads but lower writes and no DRAM. Choose the NM1090 Pro for peak Gen5 performance; choose the NM990 for Gen5 read speed at the lowest price.

### Does the Lexar NM990 1TB need a heatsink?

It already includes one. The NM990 ships with a heatsink fitted, which is a thoughtful inclusion for a budget Gen5 drive given how hot PCIe 5.0 parts run under sustained writes. That makes it convenient for PS5 installation and for desktop boards that lack a dedicated M.2 heatsink. You do not need to buy a separate heatsink for this drive.

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Last updated: 2026-06-28. Source: https://ssdrive.net/lexar-nm990-1-tb