# Lexar NQ710 1TB: Where the Budget Line Hits Its Stride (2026)

The Lexar NQ710 1TB reaches the full 5,000 MB/s read ceiling of this budget PCIe 4.0 line while nearly doubling the 500 GB model's write speed.

Quick answer: The Lexar NQ710 1TB makes sense for budget buyers who want a real capacity and speed step up from the 500 GB model without paying flagship prices; it's a solid fit for a laptop upgrade, Mini PC, or PS5 storage expansion. Buyers who move very large files constantly, like sustained video work, should still consider Lexar's own NQ790 or a TLC-equipped drive instead, since the NQ710's write speed and warranty both trail those options. If a longer warranty matters more than price, the Crucial P3 is worth comparing at a similar tier. Overall, 1 TB is where this budget line starts to feel genuinely usable, at only a modest price step up from the 500 GB model.

## Specifications

| Specification | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Capacity | 1 TB |
| Interface | M.2 4.0 x 4 |
| Controller | Maxio MAP1602 |
| Memory type | Micron 176L QLC |
| DRAM cache | No |
| Sequential read | 5000 MB/s |
| Sequential write | 3300 MB/s |
| Random read IOPS | 780000 |
| Random write IOPS | 580000 |
| Endurance | 340 TBW |
| MTBF | 1500000 |
| Warranty | 3 years |

## Performance

The 1 TB Lexar NQ710 is rated for up to 5,000 MB/s sequential reads and 3,300 MB/s sequential writes, with random reads around 780,000 IOPS at queue depth 32. That's the full read ceiling of the range and a substantial step up in write speed from the 500 GB model, though the 2 TB capacity still edges ahead further with a 4,000 MB/s write rating.

Being a QLC drive, the NQ710 leans on SLC caching to hit its rated sequential-write number; sustained transfers that exceed the cache fall back toward the NAND's native write speed. The 1 TB model's cache is meaningfully larger than the 500 GB's, so it holds its peak write speed over a bigger share of any large transfer before slowing. For everyday tasks, booting Windows, loading games, general file work, read speed and random IOPS matter more than sustained sequential writes, and there it performs solidly for a budget drive. Independent testing of this line has generally matched or exceeded Lexar's rated sequential figures in short bursts.

## Endurance, TBW & Warranty

Lexar rates the 1 TB NQ710 at 340 TBW and backs it with a 3-year limited warranty, shorter than the 5-year coverage on the pricier NQ790 line. At a realistic 20-30 GB per day write workload, 340 TBW works out to roughly 31-46 years before the drive reaches its rated endurance limit, well beyond the warranty period for typical use. QLC NAND has inherently lower per-cell endurance than TLC, which shows up in this line's more modest TBW figures relative to Lexar's TLC-based NM-series. Warranty service runs through Lexar's regional RMA process, so keep your purchase receipt on hand.

## Pros and Cons

**Pros:**

- 3,300 MB/s writes, nearly double the 500GB model
- 5,000 MB/s sequential reads on PCIe 4.0
- 340 TBW endurance for the price
- Compact single-sided M.2 2280 fits laptops and PS5
- 3-year manufacturer warranty
**Cons:**

- Write speed still trails the 2TB model
- QLC NAND slows after SLC cache exhaustion
- No DRAM cache, relies on host RAM
- Shorter warranty than Lexar's pricier NQ790 line


## Verdict

The Lexar NQ710 1TB makes sense for budget buyers who want a real capacity and speed step up from the 500 GB model without paying flagship prices; it's a solid fit for a laptop upgrade, Mini PC, or PS5 storage expansion. Buyers who move very large files constantly, like sustained video work, should still consider Lexar's own NQ790 or a TLC-equipped drive instead, since the NQ710's write speed and warranty both trail those options. If a longer warranty matters more than price, the Crucial P3 is worth comparing at a similar tier. Overall, 1 TB is where this budget line starts to feel genuinely usable, at only a modest price step up from the 500 GB model.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### Is the Lexar NQ710 1TB good for gaming?

Yes, reasonably. The 1 TB model's 5,000 MB/s read speed gives competitive load times for a budget PCIe 4.0 drive, and 1 TB fits a modest modern game library. Its 3,300 MB/s write speed handles typical game installs and patches well, though it's not the fastest option for frequently reinstalling very large titles. For a value-focused gaming or PS5 drive, this capacity is a sensible starting point.

### Is the Lexar NQ710 1TB compatible with the PS5?

Yes. It meets Sony's PCIe 4.0 NVMe requirement, its 5,000 MB/s read speed clears the recommended 5,500 MB/s minimum closely enough in practice for drives at this tier, and its M.2 2280 form factor fits within the PS5's size limits. Lexar markets the NQ710 line as PS5-ready, and 1 TB is a comfortable minimum capacity for a PS5 storage expansion.

### Does the Lexar NQ710 have a DRAM cache?

No, the 1 TB NQ710 is a DRAM-less design built around the Maxio MAP1602 controller. Without an onboard DRAM chip, the controller manages its mapping tables using the host system's own memory, which keeps the drive's price down at the cost of some sustained random-write consistency compared to a DRAM-equipped alternative like the WD Black SN770.

### What is the TBW endurance of the 1TB NQ710?

The 1 TB model is rated at 340 TBW; the 500 GB version is rated at 170 TBW and the 2 TB version at 680 TBW, doubling with each capacity step. At a typical desktop or laptop workload of 20-30 GB written per day, 340 TBW would take roughly 31 to 46 years to reach, comfortably beyond any realistic ownership period despite QLC NAND's lower endurance than TLC.

### Is the 1TB NQ710 slower than the 2TB version?

Yes, on writes. Both share the same 5,000 MB/s sequential read rating, but the 1 TB model's write speed tops out at 3,300 MB/s versus 4,000 MB/s on the 2 TB model. The gap comes from having fewer NAND dies to write across in parallel. For typical desktop use the difference is modest, but it shows up more in large sustained file transfers.

### Does the Lexar NQ710 need a heatsink?

Not for typical use. The NQ710 ships as a bare single-sided M.2 2280 drive without a heatsink, and its DRAM-less design and modest power draw mean it runs cool under normal workloads. A motherboard M.2 heatsink can still help during longer sustained-write sessions, but it isn't a requirement for everyday desktop, laptop, or PS5 use.

### How does the Lexar NQ710 compare to the Lexar NQ790?

The NQ790 is the faster, better-warrantied sibling: it peaks at 7,000 MB/s read versus the NQ710's 5,000 MB/s, and carries a 5-year warranty instead of 3 years, both at a somewhat higher price. Endurance is also higher on the NQ790 at the same capacity. If price is the deciding factor the NQ710 1TB is a reasonable budget pick, but the NQ790 is the better value once you factor in the longer warranty and extra speed.

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Last updated: 2026-08-28. Source: https://ssdrive.net/lexar-nq710-1-tb