Lexar NM790 2TB PCIe Gen 4×4 NVMe SSD

In May 2023 , Lexar introduced the NM790, a solid-state drive that utilizes the M.2 2280 form factor and available in capacities ranging from 512 GB to 4 TB, but without a cooler and a 5-year warranty.

Today we will be testing on 2 TB model (there are also larger capacity available, such as the 4 TB model). however, it may not be affordable for everyone due to its relatively higher cost when compared to the 2 TB model. Ultimately, the choice between the 2 TB and 4 TB models depends on your specific needs, budget, and the amount of storage.

The NM790 does not come with a heat sink included, and it does not require the installation of drivers or software to activate the RAM cache. This is because the native Nvme firmware handles these functionalities seamlessly. It’s supports both Trim and SMART, it uses Active State Power Management (ASPM), Autonomous Power State Transition (APST) and ultra-low power state. Thermal throttling is implemented in the NM790, but there is no need for concern as the motherboard is equipped with a built-in heatsink to effectively cool down the controller.

It utilizes the third-generation Agile ECC (4K LDPC) error correction technology, which enhances error correction capabilities and improves data reliability. Additionally, it features hardware RAID5/6 support, allowing for efficient data storage and protection against data loss in case of failures. The NM790 employs YMTC 232-layer TLC (Triple-Level Cell) NAND flash memory, which provides high-density storage capacity and efficient data retention. It features a 2400MT/s  interface.

Specification

Key Features:

• Exceptional performance of up to 7400MB/s read, 6500MB/s write¹
• 2x faster than PCIe Gen 3 SSDs²
• Up to 40% less power consumption than DRAM cache-enabled PCIe Gen 4 SSDs²
• Host Memory Buffer (HMB) 3.0 for smoother transfers and seamless performance
• Designed for hardcore gamers, professionals, and creators
• Compatible with PlayStationr^® 5

Capacities	2TB
Form Factor	M.2 2280
Interface	PCIe Gen4x4
Speed	2TB—Sequential read up to 7400MB/s, sequential write up to 6500MB/s¹
Operating Temperature	0°C to 70°C (32°F to 158°F)
Storage Temperature	-40°C to 85°C (-40°F to 185°F)
Dimensions (L x W x H)	80 x 22 x 2.45 mm (3.15” x 0.87” x 0.10”)
Weight	6g / 0.013 lbs
Warranty	Five-year limited warranty
Shock-resistant	1500G, duration 0.5ms, Half Sine Wave
Vibration-resistant	10~2000Hz, 1.5mm, 20G, 1 Oct/min, 30min/axis (X,Y,Z)
TBW	1500TBW
MTBF	1,500,000 Hours
Price	$149 – Available Lazada

The 12nm process MAP1602-I SSD controller is a DRAM-less chips developed by Maxio based on PCIe Gen4x4 NVMe 1.4 interface and  adopts with ARM R5 high-performance CPU core. The MAP1602 can support 2400MT/s NAND flash memory and without external cache ; the world’s first four-channel (no external Built-in cache) PCIe 4.0 SSD main control chip with measured sequential read performance up to 7400MB/s. The package size 65mm, 7.1mm*11mm.

The NM790 supports Host Memory Buffer (HMB) 3.0 technology, which enables the drive to utilize the DRAM memory available on your device. By utilizing this memory, the drive can enhance its overall performance and responsiveness. Additionally, the drive employs Dynamic SLC (Single-Level Cell) cache writes. This means that it temporarily treats a portion of the TLC (Triple-Level Cell) NAND flash memory as SLC, which is faster and more durable. This technique helps maintain high-speed performance and ensures smooth and seamless operation for various tasks and applications.

How We Test Lexar NM790?

Our setup system based on a AsRock B760M Pro RS motherboard and Intel Core i5 13500 – 14 Cores 20 threads processor. The ram we will be using XPG DDR5 6000Mhz memory kit. PowerColor RX7600 Fighter. We will run comparison benchmark with Samsung 980Pro, Lexar NM790 and XPG Gammix S50 Lite.

Model	Capacity	PCIe Interface	Sequential Read Speed	Sequential Write Speed	Nvme interface	Nvme Driver
Lexar NM790	2TB	Gen4x4	7400MB	6500MB/s	1.4	Native Firmware
Samsung 980 Pro	2TB	Gen4x4	7000MB	5100MB/s	1.3C	Native Firmware
XPG Gammix S50 Lite	1TB	Gen4x4	3900MB	3200MB/s	1.4	Native Firmware

 

3Dmark Advanced Edition

The 3DMark Storage Benchmark DLC, purchased separately, extends 3DMark with a dedicated component test for measuring the gaming performance of SSDs and other storage hardware. It supports all the latest storage technologies and tests practical, real-world gaming performance for activities such as loading games, saving progress, installing game files, and recording gameplay video streams.

3DMark Storage Benchmark
	Score
Lexar NM790	3572
Samsung 980 Pro	2940
XPG Gammix S50 Lite	1772

 

Passmark Benchmark

PassMark disk test exercise the storage connected to your computer. Involves sequential read, write, random seek write+read and IOPS measurement.

CrystalDiskMark

CrystalDiskMark is an excellent tool for testing the speed of any storage device or memory card. The program measures the read and write speeds for an accurate measure of performance.

CrystalDiskMark Read
	SEQ1M Q8T1	SEQ1M Q1T1	RND4K Q3T1	RND4K Q1T1
Lexar NM790	7110.33	4943.19	734.47	89.23
Samsung 980 Pro	6826.07	3733.57	1062.54	91.79
XPG Gammix S50 Lite	3297.78	3226.01	735.94	55.41

 

CrystalDiskMark Write
	SEQ1M Q8T1	SEQ1M Q1T1	RND4K Q3T1	RND4K Q1T1
Lexar NM790	6604.91	5441.67	599.58	329.51
Samsung 980 Pro	5008.82	3866.64	964.14	281.55
XPG Gammix S50 Lite	2866.02	1602.78	600.73	261.85

 

Temperature 

Temperature
	Idle	Load
Lexar NM790	44	74
Samsung 980 Pro	54	62
XPG Gammix S50 Lite	43	74