The Lexar NM790 is particularly useful when the goal is a larger game or project drive without a move to Gen5 hardware. The 4TB standard version combines substantial capacity with a thin board, while the separate heatsink versions make the cooling choice explicit. That is a more useful distinction than treating every package as the same deal.
The family also includes an 8TB standard drive. It offers more space in one slot, but is thicker and has different rated speeds from the 1TB through 4TB models. Check the exact capacity and cooling version before using a review result or a retailer’s headline specification.
- PCIe 4.0 x4
- Host Memory Buffer
- Capacity-specific transfer ratings
The NM790 uses Host Memory Buffer and a fast-write cache rather than onboard DRAM. Those design choices should be considered alongside the intended workload, not as a simple pass-or-fail test for a good SSD. For a game library or active files, enough capacity and a compatible installation can matter more than the presence of a separate memory chip.
Tom’s Hardware’s original 4TB sample sustained roughly 2.6GB/s in its native TLC-writing phase after the initial fast cache.1 That is useful evidence for the tested 4TB hardware during a long write. It is not a measured result for the newer 8TB drive, nor a guarantee for a drive that is almost full.
At 1TB through 4TB, the stated sequential ceilings are the same, so choose among those capacities primarily for space. The 512GB version has a lower write limit and can become cramped quickly. The 8TB version earns its place through capacity density rather than a higher transfer rating.
Compatibility and Installation
- M.2 2280
- Standard or integrated heatsink
- 8TB standard: 3.75 mm thick
The standard 4TB model’s published 2.45mm height makes it worth checking for a compatible laptop upgrade. The 8TB version rises to 3.75mm, a difference that matters in a confined slot. Use the device’s service requirements rather than assuming all NM790 boards share the profile shown in a photograph.
For a desktop with a suitable motherboard cooler, the standard version avoids buying a second cooling assembly. For PS5, the factory-heatsink models provide a documented route at 1TB, 2TB and 4TB. The standard drive still needs appropriate added cooling; the host and the finished assembly must satisfy Sony’s installation requirements.
A one-slot system also makes capacity planning more consequential. Installing a small drive now and replacing it later means another migration. In a desktop with spare slots, two smaller drives may be a more economical way to reach the same total storage, so compare the whole plan.
Endurance and Support
- 5-year limited warranty
- Capacity-specific TBW ratings
- 1TB: 1,000 TBW
Lexar publishes different write-endurance ratings for each capacity, including 1,500TBW at 2TB, 3,000TBW at 4TB and 6,000TBW at 8TB. These are useful points of comparison for someone who regularly rewrites a working drive. They do not predict the exact date a particular SSD will fail.
The family carries a five-year limited warranty. Keep the purchase record and use the warranty terms for the region and exact product supplied. More local storage also increases the amount of data at risk if there is no backup, so an 8TB working drive should be part of a storage plan rather than the only copy of an archive.
Alternatives
The earlier Lexar NM760 already used Gen4 but had a lower advertised transfer ceiling and a much narrower documented capacity range. The NM790’s larger options are the clearer reason to move on from a cramped older drive. A healthy NM760 that meets the computer’s needs does not become inadequate simply because a newer model has a higher headline number.
Compare the WD_BLACK SN850X if you want a factory heatsink above 4TB or are weighing premium Gen4 alternatives. Match capacity and cooling before judging price. The NM790 remains particularly interesting at 4TB when a thin standard board is a requirement.
Verdict
The NM790 is a well-targeted option for adding substantial Gen4 storage. Its 4TB standard drive and the documented heatsink versions solve different installation needs; the 8TB model requires a separate clearance check. Choose the version that fits the host and workload, with current price deciding how compelling it is.