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Lexar EQ790 M.2 2280 PCIe Gen4x4 NVMe SSD vs WD_BLACK SN850X NVMe SSD 1TB

Researched, not hands-on tested.How we review ›

all judged against NVMe SSDs at a similar price

The WD_BLACK SN850X NVMe SSD 1TB scores 7.1/10 overall, ahead of the Lexar EQ790 M.2 2280 PCIe Gen4x4 NVMe SSD at 6.6/10.

The Lexar EQ790 M.2 2280 PCIe Gen4x4 NVMe SSD leads on endurance.

The WD_BLACK SN850X NVMe SSD 1TB leads on performance.

They score the same on warranty, efficiency and thermals and software.

Lexar EQ790 M.2 2280 PCIe Gen4x4 NVMe SSD

Lexar EQ790 M.2 2280 PCIe Gen4x4 NVMe SSD

6.6/10verdict: good, not the best

The Lexar EQ790 is a PCIe Gen4x4 M.2 2280 drive for buyers who want a long warranty and high endurance ratings at the 2TB size. It suits desktop builds and homelab machines where airflow is decent or a heatsink is fitted. It is less suited to anyone who needs steady writes over very large transfers or a laptop with tight cooling.

Typically about £134.99 in the UK when we researched itCheck price at Amazon UK (opens in a new tab, affiliate link)

Affiliate link. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Details

WD_BLACK SN850X NVMe SSD, 1TB, without heatsink

WD_BLACK SN850X NVMe SSD 1TB

7.1/10verdict: buy

The SN850X 1TB without a heatsink is for buyers who want a fast PCIe 4.0 M.2 2280 drive for a desktop or a PS5. It suits people who already have a motherboard heatsink or good case airflow. It is less suited to anyone who needs Linux or macOS drive tooling or has no cooling for the drive.

Typically about £178.99 in the UK when we researched itCheck price at Amazon UK (opens in a new tab, affiliate link)

Affiliate link. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Details

Scores, criterion by criterion

CriterionWeightLexar EQ790 M.2 2280 PCIe Gen4x4 NVMe SSDWD_BLACK SN850X NVMe SSD 1TB
Performance35%6/108/10
Endurance20%8/107/10
Warranty15%9/109/10
Efficiency and thermals15%5/105/10
Software15%5/105/10
Overall6.6/107.1/10

Specifications

SpecLexar EQ790 M.2 2280 PCIe Gen4x4 NVMe SSDWD_BLACK SN850X NVMe SSD 1TB
InterfacePCIe Gen4x4PCIe 4.0 x4
Sequential readUp to 7000 MB/s (1TB)7,300 MB/s
Sequential writeUp to 6000 MB/s (1TB, base page; the heatsink page and a press report give 5000 MB/s)6,300 MB/s
Endurance (2TB)600 TBW (1TB); 1200 TBW (2TB)600 TBW
Form factorM.2 2280, 80 x 22 x 2.45 mm (base model)M.2 2280
WarrantyFive-year limited warranty5-Year Limited Warranty

Strengths and weaknesses

Lexar EQ790 M.2 2280 PCIe Gen4x4 NVMe SSD

  • + 1,200 TBW endurance rating at 2TB
  • + Five-year limited warranty
  • + Heatsink version available as a separate SKU
  • − Base model has no heatsink
  • − Throttling recorded once cache fills at 224 GB
  • − Sequential write figure conflicts between sources

Skip it if:

  • Buyers who move several hundred gigabytes in single transfers and need steady write speed.
  • Laptop owners with poor cooling who don't want a heatsink or can't fit one.
  • Anyone who needs published firmware tooling or an update history.
Read the full Lexar EQ790 M.2 2280 PCIe Gen4x4 NVMe SSD review ›

WD_BLACK SN850X NVMe SSD 1TB

  • + Rated 7,300 MB/s read and 6,300 MB/s write
  • + 5-year limited warranty
  • + Owners report easy installation and PS5 compatibility
  • − Owners report it runs hot without a heatsink
  • − WD_BLACK Dashboard is Windows only
  • − Owners note a price premium over cheaper drives

Skip it if:

  • Buyers with no heatsink or airflow for the M.2 slot, who may prefer the heatsink version
  • Linux or macOS users who want vendor firmware tooling
  • Budget buyers who would rather pay less for a cheaper drive
Read the full WD_BLACK SN850X NVMe SSD 1TB review ›

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