Lexar NM790 with Heatsink: One-minute evaluate
The Lexar NM790 with Heatsink is without doubt one of the finest SSDs for PS5 in its worth vary. Its 4TB variant particularly is considerably cheaper than the competitors, particularly when it goes on sale. It additionally scores properly within the inner PS5 benchmark, even beating dear licensed options just like the WD Black SN850P and Seagate Sport Drive M.2 SSD for PS5.
In case your primary precedence is getting a high-capacity choice with stable efficiency on the lowest attainable price, then the Lexar NM790 with Heatsink is the clear winner. That mentioned, there are some vital drawbacks that come up with that diminished price ticket. An important is that this can be a dynamic random entry reminiscence (DRAM)-less mannequin that makes use of host reminiscence buffer (HMB) expertise, one thing that you’d anticipate from funds PC SSDs reasonably 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 significantly massive recordsdata. 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 Name of Responsibility: Black Ops 6.
There was some stuttering in Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, nonetheless, specifically in a handful of cinematic moments the place surroundings modified rapidly. Murderer’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 value of the 2TB varies relying on its inventory stage however is most frequently discovered at $159.99 / £129.99 which is a particularly reasonable worth for what you’re getting. The perfect worth choice, nonetheless, 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 prior to now twelve months.
This drive appears extraordinarily common, nonetheless, so costs do fluctuate week to week. The 4TB mannequin, for instance, is at present solely accessible for the absurdly excessive asking worth of $338.92 by way of a third-party Amazon vendor within the US – so keep away from buying one except you could 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 velocity | 7,400 MB/s |
| Quoted write velocity | 6,500 MB/s |
| Sturdiness | 1000TBW (1TB) / 1500TBW (2TB) / 3000TBW (4TB) |
| Guarantee | 5-year |
Lexar Play 2280: Design and options
- Appears and feels premium
- Offered with and and not using 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 present it some texture on the highest. Regardless of its massive measurement, it suits completely completely in a PS5 or PS5 Slim. Regardless that this can be a extra budget-oriented product, nothing about its look or really feel appears significantly low cost both.
It comes well-packaged in a compact cardboard field and small plastic tray, which is straightforward to open and will present a great stage of safety on the transfer. On the field, you will discover directions on how one can entry extra manufacturing data, along with guarantee or return particulars, by way of the Lexar web site.
Probably the most notable function of this drive is the very fact it’s an HMB mannequin. As I defined above, which means that the drive doesn’t have any DRAM – a small little bit of separate reminiscence used to retailer mapping data. This, in essence, tells your system the place to seek out particular knowledge rapidly, bettering efficiency and longevity. With HMB, the host machine 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 funds picks.
Lexar NM790 with Heatsink: Efficiency
- Spectacular PS5 benchmark rating
- Performs properly copying video games
- However very often stutters whereas taking part in
The Lexar NM790 with Heatsink delivers admirable efficiency on the entire, nevertheless it’s removed from constant.
To present one instance, copying a 67.25GB set up of Dishonored 2 to drive from the interior storage took simply 22 seconds – whereas a smaller 59.22GB set up of Warhammer 40,000: House Marine was totally playable in 26 seconds, 4 seconds extra. This would not be noticeable typically use however does exhibit a few of 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 Drive Awakens and 12.93GB set up of Lollipop Chainsaw RePop completed 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 interior storage, with Far Cry 6 taking 6 minutes 51 seconds and Remnant 2 5 minutes and 24 seconds. Lego Star Wars: The Drive Awakens took simply 1 minute and 42 seconds, which is broadly in step with the occasions for equally sized video games on the dearer WD Black SN850P. Simply keep in mind that these figures are primarily because of the PS5’s inner write velocity greater than the SSD itself.
The drive additionally scored impressively properly on the PS5’s inner benchmark, clocking in at 6,526MB/s. That’s considerably greater than the WD Black SN850P, simply above the Seagate Sport Drive M.2 SSD for PS5, and near the numbers achieved by the critically dear Samsung 990 Professional – wonderful on the entire.
That mentioned, issues aren’t solely good once you dive into video games saved on the drive. The overwhelming majority of titles that I examined have been fully advantageous, however there have been two exceptions. Exploring the world of Murderer’s Creed Valhalla, I observed the occasional framerate hitch which was solely absent when taking part in on inner storage. Likewise, moments with plenty of speedy adjustments in surroundings in Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 (just like the bombastic remaining boss battle) suffered from just a few stutters – virtually as if the drive was unable to load in property rapidly sufficient.
Within the grand scheme of issues, these are very minor issues and in my guide are value the associated fee financial savings represented by the Lexar NM790 with Heatsink – nevertheless it does imply that in order for you a totally flawless expertise throughout the board, it’s best to 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 options.
| Row 0 – Cell 0 | Lexar NM790 with Heatsink | Seagate Sport 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 velocity | 7,400 MB/s | 7,300 MB/s | 7,450 MB/s |
| Quoted write velocity | 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 main PS5 SSD at residence. Throughout that point I performed all kinds of video games, together with loads of Name of Responsibility: Black Ops 6, Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, Murderer’s Creed Valhalla, Dragon Age: The Veilguard, Doom Everlasting, Sniper Elite: Resistance, and rather more.
All through the testing interval, I used to be cautious to evaluate the efficiency of the drive in every sport, along with quite a lot of copy checks, 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 Sport Drive M.2 SSD for PS5.
First reviewed February 2025
