Lexar 4TB NM790 SSD with Heatsink PCIe Gen4 NVMe M.2 2280 Internal Solid State Drive
Bottom line: The Lexar 4TB NM790 SSD ($599.99 on Amazon as of 2026-10-07): 7400MB/s read, 6500MB/s write - saturates a PCIe Gen4 x4 slot; main trade-off: no onboard DRAM - relies on Host Memory Buffer from system RAM.
As an Amazon Associate, SpecPicks earns from qualifying purchases. Full disclosure →
*Price sourced from Amazon.com. Last updated 2026-10-07. Price and availability subject to change.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- ✓ 7400MB/s read, 6500MB/s write - saturates a PCIe Gen4 x4 slot
- ✓ 4TB in a single M.2 2280 stick, no second drive needed
- ✓ 3000TBW endurance rating for heavy write workloads
- ✓ Heatsink included, sized for desktop M.2 and PS5 expansion bays
- ✓ Lexar lists PlayStation 5 compatibility explicitly
Cons
- ✗ No onboard DRAM - relies on Host Memory Buffer from system RAM
- ✗ HMB 3.0 needs host support; consoles and older boards may not provide it
- ✗ PCIe Gen4 x4 only - no Gen5 headroom on newer boards
- ✗ Heatsink height can conflict with tight GPU or cooler clearance
Manufacturer description
The Lexar NM790 4TB with Heatsink is a PCIe Gen4 x4 NVMe M.2 2280 drive built for people who fill capacity fast. Lexar rates it at up to 7400MB/s read and 6500MB/s write, roughly 2x the ceiling of a PCIe Gen 3 SSD, with a 3000TBW endurance rating across the 4TB capacity. Instead of an onboard DRAM cache, the NM790 uses Host Memory Buffer (HMB) 3.0 plus a Dynamic SLC Cache, borrowing a slice of your system RAM to keep sustained transfers smooth while drawing up to 40 percent less power than DRAM-cache Gen 4 drives. The bundled low-profile heatsink handles thermals in a desktop M.2 slot or a…
SpecPicks Verdict
SpecPicks scored Lexar 4TB NM790 SSD using a rating × review-volume × price-fit model applied to published specs and reviews across the ssds & storage category. Lexar's ssds & storage lineup sits within the broader category mid-tier; price and specs are the deciding factors over brand loyalty here. Judge it on the specification table and the price rather than on sentiment: check the figures that decide your use case, then put it side-by-side with two or three close alternatives in the Compare tool before clicking through.
Common buyer scenarios for ssds & storage of this kind: matching it to an existing build, replacing a failing part, or upgrading from a previous-generation equivalent. Check the spec table below against your current setup — particularly socket / form-factor / power-rating fields — and confirm compatibility on the retailer's listing before purchase. Prices and stock are set by the retailer and may have moved since this page was last updated.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the Lexar NM790 4TB work in a PS5?
Yes. Lexar lists PlayStation 5 compatibility for the NM790 with Heatsink, and it ships in the M.2 2280 form factor the PS5 expansion bay accepts.
How fast is the Lexar NM790 4TB?
Lexar rates it at up to 7400MB/s sequential read and 6500MB/s sequential write over PCIe Gen 4 x4, which Lexar describes as about 2x a PCIe Gen 3 SSD.
Does the NM790 have a DRAM cache?
No. It uses Host Memory Buffer (HMB) 3.0 to borrow host RAM for the cache function, plus a Dynamic SLC Cache. Lexar cites up to 40 percent lower power draw than DRAM-cache Gen 4 drives as a result.
How long will the 4TB NM790 last?
The 4TB model is rated for 3000TBW (terabytes written). Lexar covers the drive with a five-year limited warranty; check the product listing for current warranty terms.
Do I need to remove the heatsink to install it?
The NM790 ships with its heatsink attached for thermal headroom in desktops and the PS5 bay. Measure clearance under your GPU or M.2 cover before installing, since the heatsink adds height to a standard 2280 stick.
Key Features
- [4TB] Exceptional performance up to 7400MB/s read, 6500MB/s write; 3000TBW
- 2x faster than PCIe Gen 3 SSDs
- Designed with a heatsink to keep your rig cool for better performance and power efficiency
- Up to 40% less power consumption than DRAM cache-enabled PCIe Gen 4 SSDs
- Host Memory Buffer (HMB) 3.0 activates the DRAM cache function of your device for a smoother transfer speed and seamless performance
- Compatible with PlayStation 5
Full Specifications
| Brand | Lexar |
|---|---|
| Color | Black |
| Model Name | NM790 |
| Read Speed | 7400 megabytes_per_second |
| Unit Count | 1 Count |
| Form Factor | M.2 2280 |
| Media Speed | 6500 megabits_per_second |
| Model Number | LNM790X004T-RN9NU |
| Compatibility | PS5 |
| Built-In Media | SSD |
| Hard-Drive Size | 4 TB |
| Mfr Part Number | LNM790X004T-RN9NU |
| Number of Items | 1 |
| Special Feature | Integrated heatsink |
| Installation Type | Internal Hard Drive |
| Compatible Devices | Desktop, Laptop, PS5 |
| Data Transfer Rate | 7400 megabytes_per_second |
| Enclosure Material | Nand Flash |
| Additional Features | Integrated heatsink |
| Hard Disk Interface | NVMe |
| Full listing title | Lexar 4TB NM790 SSD with Heatsink PCIe Gen4 NVMe M.2 2280 Internal Solid State Drive, Up to 7400/6500 MB/s Read/Write, Compatible with PS5, for Gamers and Creators, Black (LNM790X004T-RN9NU) |
Ready to buy?
Lexar 4TB NM790 SSD with Heatsink PCIe Gen4 NVMe M.2 2280 Internal Solid State Drive, Up to 7400/6500 MB/s Read/Write, Compatible with PS5, for Gamers and Creators, Black (LNM790X004T-RN9NU) is listed on Amazon. Price, availability, shipping and returns are set by Amazon and its sellers — check the listing for current terms. SpecPicks earns a small commission on qualifying purchases — thank you for supporting independent review work.
*Price sourced from Amazon.com. Last updated 2026-10-07. Price and availability subject to change.
Related SSDs & Storage
More guides & deep dives from the SpecPicks archive
Browse all articles & guides →- How to Build a Windows 98 Retro PC in 2026
- RTX 4070 Super vs RX 7800 XT — Which to Buy in 2026
- Best Retro Handhelds in 2026 — From $35 to $500
- Best 1440p Gaming GPUs in 2026
- Best Budget Gaming PC Build 2026 — ~$1,000 ($800 on Sale)
- The Complete Voodoo5 5500 AGP Driver Guide (2026 Edition)
- Emulation Hardware in 2026: FPGA, Software, and Cart-Reader Ecosystems
More reviews from the SpecPicks archive
Browse all reviews →- Best Controller for Raspberry Pi Retro Gaming and Emulation in 2026
- Intel Arc LLM Inference: A770 & B580 Guide 2025
- Intel-Scaler vLLM 0.21.0: What Changes for Local Arc + Intel GPU Rigs
- Best Components for a Budget Local-LLM Workstation in 2026
- Benchmarking Open Models for Agentic Tool Use on an RTX 3060
- Best GPU for i7-13700K at 1440p 180Hz (GTX 1080 Upgrade)
- M3 Ultra vs RTX 4090 for local LLMs
- Best Retro Emulator Consoles 2026: AMD GPU Buying Guide
- Coreboot + AMD openSIL: Windows 11 Works on MSI Ryzen
- VibeThinker-3B Local: 3B Reasoning Model on an RTX 3060 12GB
- Jan.ai vs LM Studio vs Ollama: Easiest Local-LLM App for a 12GB Card in 2026
- Ryzen 7 5800X3D Hard to Find: DDR5 CPU Alternatives Worth It?
- Anthropic Tightens Claude Fable 5 Limits — Why Builders Are Eyeing Local Rigs
- Building a Sim Racing Cockpit Under $500: Logitech G29 + Thrustmaster TH8A Shifter
- Build an Always-On Raspberry Pi Zero W Project: 24/7 FM Radio and More
- Kimi K3 vs Qwen 3.8 for Local Coding Agents in 2026
- ASRock Phantom Gaming 360 LCD Cooler Debuts With Strong Numbers
- Best Gaming Monitor for Console Gaming in 2026
- Muse Spark 1.1 Beats GLM-5.2 at Coding — Does It Change the Local-Rig Question?
- Claude Opus 4.8 Tops the Intelligence Index — How Close Can a $300 RTX 3060 Get Locally?
- Qwen3.6 35B A3B on RTX 3060 12GB: 80 tok/s with llama.cpp MTP
- FIDECO vs Unitek SATA/IDE-to-USB Adapters: Imaging and Rescuing Vintage Drives in 2026
- Installing 3dfx Voodoo Glide Drivers on Windows 98 in 2026
- AI Bug-Hunting Exploded: Run a Local Vuln-Scanner LLM on 12GB VRAM
Earliest SpecPicks reviews
Browse full archive →- Best GPU for Llama 3.1 8B (2026)
- Best GPU for Qwen 3 14B (2026)
- Best GPU for Qwen 3 32B (2026)
- Best GPU for Llama 3.1 70B (2026)
- Best GPU for DeepSeek-R1 32B (2026)
- Best GPU for Llama 3.1 405B (2026)
- How to run Llama 3.1 8B on NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090
- How to run Qwen 3 14B on NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090
- How to run Qwen 3 32B on NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090
- How to run Llama 3.1 70B on NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090
- How to run DeepSeek-R1 32B on NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090
- How to run Llama 3.1 8B on NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090