Lexar NM790 with Heatsink: One-minute evaluation
The Lexar NM790 with Heatsink is without doubt one of the best SSDs for PS5 in its value vary. Its 4TB variant specifically is considerably cheaper than the competitors, particularly when it goes on sale. It additionally scores nicely within the inner PS5 benchmark, even beating expensive licensed alternate options just like the WD Black SN850P and Seagate Game Drive M.2 SSD for PS5.
In case your primary precedence is getting a high-capacity choice with stable efficiency on the lowest attainable value, then the Lexar NM790 with Heatsink is the clear winner. That mentioned, there are some vital drawbacks that come up with that decreased price ticket. A very powerful is that it is a dynamic random entry reminiscence (DRAM)-less mannequin that makes use of host reminiscence buffer (HMB) know-how, one thing that you’d count on from price range PC SSDs relatively than ones made with consoles in thoughts.
The PS5 doesn’t assist HMB and Sony even recommends in opposition to becoming HMB drives. It’s because it results in considerably uneven efficiency, which is noticeable once you’re copying notably giant information. It will possibly additionally trigger points in video games, although these are removed from an entire dealbreaker because the overwhelming majority of titles that I examined ran flawlessly, even the likes of Call of Duty: Black Ops 6.
There was some stuttering in Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, nevertheless, specifically in a handful of cinematic moments the place surroundings modified rapidly. Assassin’s Creed Valhalla additionally had the odd hitch, although nothing that rendered both title unplayable and even actually spoiled the expertise.
Lexar NM790 with Heatsink: Worth and availability
- 1TB is $94.99 / £74.99
- 2TB is $159.99 / £129.99
- 4TB is $269.99 / £233
Not like the critically overpriced Lexar Play 2280, the Lexar NM790 with Heatsink comfortably undercuts the competitors at its going charges. It is accessible at Amazon, the place the 1TB mannequin will set you again $94.99 / £74.99 – $30 / £25 lower than the WD Black SN850X.
The worth of the 2TB varies relying on its inventory stage however is most frequently discovered at $159.99 / £129.99 which is a very reasonable value for what you’re getting. The perfect worth choice, nevertheless, is the 4TB model which is available in at $269.99 / £233 and has been on sale for as little as $234.95 / £229.49 up to now twelve months.
This drive appears extraordinarily widespread, nevertheless, so costs do fluctuate week to week. The 4TB mannequin, for instance, is presently solely accessible for the absurdly excessive asking value of $338.92 via a third-party Amazon vendor within the US – so keep away from buying one except you’ll find it for across the above figures.
Lexar NM790 with Heatsink: Specs
| Worth | $94.99 / £74.99 (1TB) / $159.99 / £129.99 (2TB) / $269.99 / £233 (4TB) |
| Capability | 1TB / 2TB / 4TB |
| Quoted learn pace | 7,400 MB/s |
| Quoted write pace | 6,500 MB/s |
| Sturdiness | 1000TBW (1TB) / 1500TBW (2TB) / 3000TBW (4TB) |
| Guarantee | 5-year |
Lexar Play 2280: Design and options
- Appears to be like and feels premium
- Offered with and with out a heatsink
- HMB mannequin, so lacks DRAM
The Lexar NM790 with Heatsink has a plain general design. It comes with a chunky black heatsink fitted out of the field, with some small grooves to provide it some texture on the highest. Regardless of its giant dimension, it suits completely completely in a PS5 or PS5 Slim. Despite the fact that it is a extra budget-oriented product, nothing about its look or really feel appears notably low-cost both.
It comes well-packaged in a compact cardboard field and small plastic tray, which is simple to open and will present a great stage of safety on the transfer. On the field, you will see directions on find out how to entry extra manufacturing info, along with guarantee or return particulars, by way of the Lexar web site.
Essentially the most notable function of this drive is the actual fact it’s an HMB mannequin. As I defined above, which means the drive doesn’t have any DRAM – a small little bit of separate reminiscence used to retailer mapping info. This, in essence, tells your system the place to seek out particular information rapidly, bettering efficiency and longevity. With HMB, the host system is supposed to be answerable for this perform.
This isn’t the case with the PS5 although, which doesn’t assist HMB drives. Sony states that such drives “might expertise slower-than-expected efficiency as a result of the PS5 console doesn’t assist HMB”. Even so, HMD fashions are typically considerably cheaper than these with DRAM and can nonetheless perform when fitted to a PS5 – so make for stable price range picks.
Lexar NM790 with Heatsink: Efficiency
- Spectacular PS5 benchmark rating
- Performs nicely copying video games
- However very often stutters whereas taking part in
The Lexar NM790 with Heatsink delivers admirable efficiency on the entire, however it’s removed from constant.
To provide one instance, copying a 67.25GB set up of Dishonored 2 to drive from the inner storage took simply 22 seconds – whereas a smaller 59.22GB set up of Warhammer 40,000: Area Marine was totally playable in 26 seconds, 4 seconds extra. This would not be noticeable usually use however does show among the spottier moments related to HMB drives on PS5.
The biggest file I examined, 101.9GB of Far Cry 6, took simply 44 seconds to repeat to the SSD, whereas the 80.7GB Remnant 2 took 34 seconds – all good outcomes. Smaller video games additionally copied easily and rapidly, with a 24.22GB copy of Lego Star Wars: The Power Awakens and 12.93GB set up of Lollipop Chainsaw RePop achieved in 13 seconds and 6 seconds respectively. A comparatively tiny file like the two.72GB Slime Rancher 2 was then copied in solely 2 seconds.
Equally, good figures have been noticed copying from the drive again to the inner storage, with Far Cry 6 taking 6 minutes 51 seconds and Remnant 2 5 minutes and 24 seconds. Lego Star Wars: The Power Awakens took simply 1 minute and 42 seconds, which is broadly in keeping with the occasions for equally sized video games on the dearer WD Black SN850P. Simply keep in mind that these figures are primarily as a result of PS5’s inner write pace greater than the SSD itself.
The drive additionally scored impressively nicely on the PS5’s inner benchmark, clocking in at 6,526MB/s. That’s considerably increased than the WD Black SN850P, simply above the Seagate Recreation Drive M.2 SSD for PS5, and near the numbers achieved by the critically expensive Samsung 990 Professional – wonderful on the entire.
That mentioned, issues aren’t fully good once you dive into video games saved on the drive. The overwhelming majority of titles that I examined have been fully superb, however there have been two exceptions. Exploring the world of Murderer’s Creed Valhalla, I observed the occasional framerate hitch which was fully absent when taking part in on inner storage. Likewise, moments with plenty of fast adjustments in surroundings in Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 (just like the bombastic closing boss combat) suffered from a number of stutters – virtually as if the drive was unable to load in belongings rapidly sufficient.
Within the grand scheme of issues, these are very minor issues and in my e-book are value the fee financial savings represented by the Lexar NM790 with Heatsink – however it does imply that if you would like a very flawless expertise throughout the board, you must look elsewhere.
Ought to I purchase the Lexar NM790 with Heatsink?
Purchase it if…
Do not buy it if…
Additionally take into account…
If you wish to weigh up the Lexar Play 2280 in opposition to another choices, listed here are two nice alternate options.
| Row 0 – Cell 0 | Lexar NM790 with Heatsink | Seagate Recreation Drive M.2 SSD for PS5 | Samsung 990 Professional |
| Worth | $94.99 / £74.99 (1TB) / $159.99 / £129.99 (2TB) / $269.99 / £233 (4TB) | $99.99 / £99.90 (1TB) / $159.99 / £159.90 (2TB) | $169.99 / £155 / AU$265 (1TB) / $289.99 / £283.99 / AU$439 (2TB) |
| Capability | 1TB / 2TB / 4TB | 1TB / 2TB | 1TB / 2TB / 4TB |
| Quoted learn pace | 7,400 MB/s | 7,300 MB/s | 7,450 MB/s |
| Quoted write pace | 6,500 MB/s | 6,000 MB/s | 6,900 MB/s |
| Sturdiness | 1000TBW (1TB) / 1500TBW (2TB) / 3000TBW (4TB) | 1275 TBW (1TB) | 600 TBW (1TB) |
| Guarantee | 5-year | 5-year | 5-year |
How I examined the Lexar NM790 with Heatsink
- Examined for over a month
- Tried with a variety of video games
- In comparison with different SSD fashions
I examined the Lexar NM790 with Heatsink for over a month, utilizing it as my major PS5 SSD at residence. Throughout that point I performed all kinds of video games, together with loads of Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, Murderer’s Creed Valhalla, Dragon Age: The Veilguard, Doom Everlasting, Sniper Elite: Resistance, and far more.
All through the testing interval, I used to be cautious to evaluate the efficiency of the drive in every recreation, along with a wide range of copy exams, and in contrast my expertise with hands-on testing of different fashions just like the WD Black SN850P, Lexar Play 2280, Samsung 990 Professional, and Seagate Recreation Drive M.2 SSD for PS5.
First reviewed February 2025