Crucial T705 2TB ($406) vs Lexar NM790 2TB ($310). $/TB analysis, performance, and use-case recommendations.
When generations cross paths in a comparison like this one, the older-spec drive almost always wins on value while the newer one wins on benchmarks. Whether that benchmark advantage matters depends entirely on what you do with the drive.
Hardware-wise, the Crucial T705 2TB runs on the Phison E26 — the first widely-deployed Gen 5 controller, capable but thermally demanding. The Lexar NM790 2TB pairs MaxioTech's MAP1602 silicon, the default choice for budget Gen 4 drives in 2024-2026.
The cheaper drive — Lexar NM790 2TB at $155.00/TB — saves you $48.00 per TB versus the Crucial T705 2TB. Worth it if you're capacity-constrained; either works if you just want one fast drive.
Read speeds favor the Crucial T705 2TB: 14,500 MB/s versus 7,400 MB/s for the Lexar NM790 2TB, a 49% advantage. Sequential-heavy workloads notice; transactional workloads don't.
The Crucial T705 2TB writes about 49% faster (12,700 MB/s vs 6,500 MB/s). Whether that matters depends entirely on what you write to the drive — gameplay capture and large project saves benefit, browsing and gaming do not.
Cache architecture differs: Crucial T705 2TB has DRAM hardware, Lexar NM790 2TB uses HMB. For OS, gaming, browsing — indistinguishable. For databases, large file ops, or 4K video editing — DRAM has a small but consistent edge.
For PlayStation 5 builds, the console's internal M.2 slot tops out around 5,500 MB/s sustained, so both Crucial T705 2TB and Lexar NM790 2TB hit the same wall — pick whichever is cheaper at the moment you buy. The Gen 5 Crucial T705 2TB pulls ahead on sequential bandwidth, but Gen 5 advantages rarely surface during everyday tasks — most software hasn't been rewritten to exploit 14,000+ MB/s pipelines. Heavy write workloads — video editing, RAW photo libraries, backup operations — favor the Crucial T705 2TB's 12,700 MB/s sustained write speed. Both drives use the 2280 form factor, which is too long for Steam Deck or ROG Ally — you'd need a 2230 variant if either manufacturer offers one, or a dedicated handheld-format drive instead.
Market context: the Crucial T705 2TB ranks #8 of 11 Gen 5 2 TB drives we track by $/TB, while the Lexar NM790 2TB ranks #7 of 11 Gen 4 2 TB drives. Neither cracks the top of the value table, so it's worth glancing at the alternatives below before picking either.
As of July 27, 2026, these tracked drives undercut both the Crucial T705 2TB and Lexar NM790 2TB on $/TB:
The Crucial T705 2TB is the right call if meaningfully faster reads (14,500 MB/s), higher sustained writes (12,700 MB/s), and a dedicated DRAM cache chip matter to you. Crucial drives benefit from being a direct Micron product — the same NAND that powers competitors' drives, but at lower margins.
The Lexar NM790 2TB is the right call if the lower retail price ($310 vs $406), and better $/TB economics ($155.00/TB) matter to you. Budget-tier drives like the Lexar NM790 2TB have closed the gap with premium NVMes — the MAP1602 controller is genuinely competitive for everyday workloads at half the price.