SSD family comparison · Updated July 27, 2026 · Prices verified July 27, 2026

Lexar NM790 vs WD_BLACK SN850X

Lexar NM790 vs WD_BLACK SN850X at every capacity: prices, $/TB, speeds, endurance. Which to buy in July 2026 — full family comparison.

Verdict: Lexar NM790 vs WD_BLACK SN850X

This page compares the Lexar NM790 and WD_BLACK SN850X product families across all capacities we track. Per-capacity pricing changes the verdict more often than specs do, so start with the capacity table and then check the spec differences below.

On paper, the Lexar NM790 family leads on sequential read (7,400 vs 7,300 MB/s). In practice, both saturate typical consumer workloads — the speed gap matters mainly for sustained multi-GB transfers.

Per-terabyte economics favor the Lexar NM790: $127.50/TB at its best capacity, against $133.75/TB for the WD_BLACK SN850X. If budget drives the decision, the Lexar NM790 is the default.

Architecturally, the WD_BLACK SN850X family uses a dedicated DRAM cache while the Lexar NM790 relies on HMB (Host Memory Buffer). For OS and gaming duty they behave identically; sustained random writes favor DRAM.

Lexar NM790 vs WD_BLACK SN850X: price by capacity

CapacityLexar NM790WD_BLACK SN850X
1 TB$220 · $220.00/TB
2 TB$310 · $155.00/TB$348 · $174.00/TBFull comparison →
4 TB$510 · $127.50/TB$535 · $133.75/TBFull comparison →
8 TB$1300 · $162.50/TB

Spec comparison (4 TB models)

Generation
Gen 4
Gen 4
Interface
PCIe 4.0 x4
PCIe 4.0 x4
Sequential read
7,400 MB/s
7,300 MB/s
Sequential write
6,500 MB/s
6,600 MB/s
Controller
MAP1602
WD G2
DRAM cache
No (HMB)
Yes
Warranty
5 years
5 years
PS5 compatible
Yes
Yes

Lexar NM790 vs WD_BLACK SN850X — common questions

Which is cheaper per TB, Lexar NM790 or WD_BLACK SN850X?

As of July 27, 2026, the Lexar NM790 family offers the better $/TB: its best configuration is $127.50/TB versus $133.75/TB for the WD_BLACK SN850X. The exact winner varies by capacity — see the capacity table for per-size pricing.

Which capacity of the Lexar NM790 or WD_BLACK SN850X should I buy?

2 TB is the sweet spot for most builds: better $/TB than 1 TB and better availability than 4 TB+ during the 2026 NAND shortage. Check the capacity table above — the per-TB winner can flip between capacities.

Are the Lexar NM790 and WD_BLACK SN850X PS5 compatible?

Both families are PCIe NVMe M.2 2280 and work in the PS5 expansion slot. The PS5 caps sustained speeds at ~5,500 MB/s, so pick on price, not peak speed, and add a heatsink.