Lexar NM790
best price-performance combo with reliable firmware.
Consolidated from 25 cited sources across 23 outlets
Where the cited sources landed, as we read them
- 17 positive sources
- 7 mixed sources
- 1 unconvinced source
Pros & cons
- ✓ Balanced speed and price
- ✓ 5-year warranty
- ✓ Firmware stability
- ✓ Low failure rates in Backblaze reports
- ✓ Excellent speed-to-price ratio
- ✗ Shorter brand-level support track record than Samsung, WD, or Micron
- ✗ DRAM-less design
The sources behind this ranking
We searched the web and YouTube for what has been published about this product, then read the articles, video transcripts and comments we found.
Evidence 7 articles, 17 video reviews and 1 community source
17 positive sources
I can attest that the Lexar NM790 remains a most valiant and speedy SSD, however. Indeed, for a time, it was a familiar face at the best SSD for gaming roundtable—until it was usurped by newer, more ambitious recruits. Who? Oh, I couldn't possibly say, sire. Though the Lexar does share the same memory controller and flash memory as the Team Group MP44 , our current reigning 4 TB champion, yoRead P
And it's quite interesting because even up to 4 TB, it's single-sided SSD. The this this one here is 2 TB and it's again single-sided SSD. And the cool thing is it's all in the budget segment. You get those speeds in a budget, but and single-sided, which is quite nice and surprisingly positive news because it doesn't interact too much with when you're pressing the heatsink down.Watch B
Lexar's NM790's power management is also worth considering, as it consumes 40% less power than a typical Gen 4 SSD that uses a dedicated DRAM cache. It uses Host Memory Buffer (HMB) 3.0 technology, which allows the drive to use system memory to manage its tasks.Read F
Good Performance at a Good Price - Lexar NM790 2TB PCIe Gen4x4 M.Watch V
Notably, the NM790's 3,000 TBW endurance rating exceeds both competitors, which rate at 2,400 TBW at 4TB capacity. For most gaming and creative workloads, the real-world performance gap between these drives is small enough that most users will not notice it.Read R
The Lexar 2 TB NM790 is built to impress with performance that reaches up to 7,400 megabytes per second read and 6,500 megabytes per second right speeds. That's a huge leap from standard PCIe Gen 3 drives, delivering 2x the speed. This is made possible by PCIe Gen 4 technology, which provides faster data transfer rates and overall improved performance for gamers and content creators.Watch K
Whether you choose the high-performance KingSpec NE series, the reliable Samsung 990 Pro, or budget-friendly options like the Lexar NM790, you'll enjoy seamless gameplay without compromises.Read T
Boot times are lightning fast, applications load instantly, and even large file transfers are a breeze. It definitely makes a noticeable difference compared to older SATA SSDs or even some of the slower NVME drives out there. Gamers will appreciate the fast load times and smooth performance in demanding titles.Watch W
The NM790 is not just twice as fast as older PCIe NVMe Gen 3 SSDs, but the increased speeds make it an ideal candidate for a PS5 or PS5 ProRead T
The Lexer 4 TB NM790 SSD is a gamecher for gamers and content creators alike. With its impressive PCIe gen 4 NVME interface, this M.22,280 2,280 drive delivers lightning fast speeds, reaching an astonishing 7,400 megabytes s read and 6,500 megabytes srite.Watch P
Our expert awarded it an "Excellent" rating.Read T
Everything looks great. We have the 4 TB capacity version. They do have multiple drive sizes available, and you can get this with or without the heat sink. And on the box, they advertise read speeds up to 7400 MB per second. They claim that's two times faster than Gen 3 SSDs, but there's some fine print on the back of the box right there.Watch P
The Lexar NM790 8 TBTE solid-state drive offers very high sequential performance that makes demanding games and large creative projects load and render quickly on modern systems. Its use of fourth generation PCI Express and efficient controller design delivers strong throughput while keeping power consumption noticeably lower than many cache heavy competitors.Watch B
>> The Lexar NM790 1TB PCIe Gen 4 NVMe SSD delivers an impressive balance of performance, efficiency, and value, making it a standout choice for gamers and creators looking to upgrade without overspending.Watch M
If you're looking for a massive storage upgrade that combines high-end PCIe Gen 4 performance with an impressive 4 TB capacity, the Lexar NM790 could be a very interesting option for your gaming PC, laptop, PS5, or creative workstation. This version comes with an integrated heat sink and is rated for sequential read speeds of up to 7,400 MB/s and write speeds of up to 6,500 MB/s.Watch G
The Lexar 4TB NM790 SSD with Heatsink is a Powerful Storage BeastWatch B
Tom's Hardware called it an all‑around excellent SSD with little to lament, specifically praising how this DRAM-lessWatch
7 mixed sources
I was very impressed by the Lexar NM790 in my testing, finding it to be an absolutely excellent value choice. The 4TB model is particular is substantially cheaper than the competition and frequently goes on sale, making it a top contender if you want a large SSD drive that doesn't strain your wallet.Read T
First impressions count, and the Lexar NM790 doesn't disappoint. The packaging exudes sophistication with a glossy image of the SSD set against a stylish black background. Silver and white text embellishes the box, highlighting key specs such as the jaw-dropping 7,400 MB per second read speed and the storage capacity. But, perfection isn't quite achieved.Watch B r/buildapc reddit.com
For the average person, and indeed for gaming, you'll never notice a difference between the NM790 and the 990 Evo Plus, and in some real world situations the "slower" NM790 could actually beat the 990 Evo Plus in review tests. The NM790 actually sits near the top in terms of fast game load times.Read thread R
While the performance is top tier, the power consumption is a bit more than I expected. Lexar claims it consumes up to 40% less power than dramash enabled PCIe Gen 4 SSDs. But in comparison to other Gen 4 drives without heat sinks, it might still pull a bit more power under load.Watch T
While it might not be the absolute fastest gen 4 SSD on the market, it certainly holds its own against the competition, especially when you consider the price. The Lexer NM790 is a solid performer that offers a great balance of speed, capacity, and affordability. If you're looking to upgrade your storage without emptying your wallet, this SSD is definitely worth considering.Watch A
Pros: Exceptional read/write speeds up to 7,000/6200 MB/S. Massive 8 terbte storage capacity. Compatible with PlayStation 5. Up to 40 less power consumption with HMBB 3.0. High endurance rating of 6,000 TBW. 5-year limited warranty. Cons. Premium price point due to high capacity and performance. may require a PCIe Gen 4 compatible system to fully utilize speeds.Watch A
Pros: Exceptional read/right speeds up to 7400/6500 MB/S. Built-in heat sink for efficient cooling and sustained performance. Host memory buffer 3.0 technology for enhanced transfer speeds. Up to 40 less power consumption than comparable SSDs. Massive 4 TBTE storage capacity. PS5 compatibility. Solid endurance with 30,000 TBW and a 5-year warranty. Cons.Watch
Frequently asked questions
It ranks #6 of 16 on our internal SSDs tier list, in B tier. That placement draws on 25 cited sources across 23 outlets.
1 of the 25 sources with a clear view is critical of it: Critical Reviews. Shorter brand-level support track record than Samsung, WD, or Micron. DRAM-less design.
On our internal ssds board, Samsung 990 Pro ranks #1 (S tier) ahead of Lexar NM790 at #6 (B tier). Samsung 990 Pro: top speeds, firmware support, warranty and proven reliability.
On our internal ssds board, Samsung 990 EVO Plus ranks #4 (A tier) ahead of Lexar NM790 at #6 (B tier). Samsung 990 EVO Plus: A mid-tier NVMe drive that delivers near-flagship speeds at a fraction of the price, making it the best “budget flagship” in 2026.
Ranked nearby in Internal SSDs
S tier #1 Samsung 990 Pro
A tier #2 WD Black SN8100
A tier #3 Crucial T500
A tier #4 Samsung 990 EVO Plus
B tier #5 1 of 9 research runs entered this as a product to avoid rather than a pick. WD Black SN850X
C tier #7 1 of 6 research runs entered this as a product to avoid rather than a pick. Lexar NM1090 Pro
C tier #8 1 of 8 research runs entered this as a product to avoid rather than a pick. WD Black SN7100
C tier #9 1 of 9 research runs entered this as a product to avoid rather than a pick. Samsung 9100 Pro
D tier #10 1 of 5 research runs entered this as a product to avoid rather than a pick. Biwin NV7400
D tier #11 1 of 5 research runs entered this as a product to avoid rather than a pick.