Lexar LNM790 2 TB – High-Speed PCIe 4.0 NVMe M.2 SSD

Description

Lexar LNM790 2 TB – High-Speed PCIe 4.0 NVMe M.2 SSD

1. What’s the LNM790?

 Lexar LNM790 2 TB, also known as the NM790 in many markets, is a cutting-edge PCIe 4.0 x4 NVMe M.2 2280 SSD designed to deliver flagship-level performance without the flagship price. With up to 7,400 MB/s sequential read and 6,500 MB/s sequential write speeds in the 2 TB configuration, it rivals high-end drives yet remains budget-friendly .

This Lexar LNM790 2 TB is tailored for gamers, content creators, and productivity users upgrading high-performance PCs, laptops, or gaming consoles like the PS5 .

2. Key Components & Tech

• Controller: Lexar LNM790 2 TB Maxiotech MAP1602A (12 nm), a quad-core controller bolstering high throughput and efficiency .

• NAND: Lexar LNM790 2 TB High-density 232-layer TLC from YMTC, offering a blend of capacity and cost-effectiveness .

• DRAM-less with HMB: Lexar LNM790 2 TB No onboard DRAM—leverages Host Memory Buffer (HMB 3.0) to boost performance while saving power (~40 % less than similar DRAM-equipped drives) .

• SLC Cache: Lexar LNM790 2 TB Uses dynamic SLC caching to sustain speeds during bursts, with performance fallback for large writes .

3. Performance Benchmarks

• Sequential speeds: Lexar LNM790 2 TB Up to 7,400 MB/s read and 6,500 MB/s write for the 2TB variant—among top-tier Gen4 rates .

• Random IOPS: Around 1,000K read IOPS and 900K write IOPS—on par with premium SSDs .

• Power & thermals: Idle power about 0.8 W, ~2.7 W under load. Temperatures held between 57–75 °C even without a heatsink—suitable for laptops and compact desktops .

• Budget pick: PC Gamer names it the “best budget PCIe 4.0 SSD”, delivering near-premium speeds at much lower cost .

4. Real-World Use & Feedback

• Gaming & PS5: Ideal for PC gaming and PS5 expansion—rivals costlier drives and even performs well without a heatsink .

• PC/laptop upgrades: Lexar LNM790 2 TB Offers major improvement in boot and file-loading speed. Some users report writes slowing after cache depletion, but overall performance remains high .

• Compatibility issues: Rare connectivity and speed inconsistencies were reported by a few users. A firmware update (DiskManager 1.1.5) fixes many issues—especially on Windows 11 .

• Component variability: Some Reddit discussion notes batch-to-batch differences—though performance remains acceptable .

• Longevity: Rated for 1,500 TBW and backed by a 5-year warranty, and boasts an MTBF of 1.5 million hours .

5. Pros & Cons

✅ Pros

• Outstanding Gen4 speeds at ~¼ price of top-tier drives .

• High endurance (1,500 TBW) with long warranty .

• Low power and moderate thermals—laptop friendly .

• Official PS5 compatibility and value reputation .

⚠️ Cons

• DRAM-less HMB may show slight random-write slowdown .

• Requires firmware update for optimal Windows 11 performance .

• Small number of users report early units with issues—still a minority .

• Batch inconsistencies reported; performance still solid .

6. Who Should Buy This?

• Gamers upgrading PCs or consoles: Fast enough for PS5 and high-end PC rigs—at a fair price.

• Content creators: Efficient for editing and large file transfers; high throughput.

• Laptop users: Thermal efficiency and low power draw fit mobile setups.

• Budget-conscious users: A smart compromise between performance and cost.

🔧 Specifications (Short & Clear)

🔗 Purchase Links

• Official Lexar product page (external): Lexar NM790 M.2 2280 PCIe Gen 4×4 NVMe SSD

• Buy locally in Nairobi (internal): Lexar LNM790 2TB – Radox Technology Ltd

🏁 Final Verdict

The Lexar LNM790 2 TB is a standout in Gen 4 SSDs—delivering premium performance, strong endurance, and efficient thermal/power usage—all at a compelling price. It’s especially ideal for PS5 upgrades, gaming PCs, high-demand content creation, and power-efficient laptops.