The Lexar NM620 1TB is an internal M.2 2280 solid-state drive built around the PCIe Gen3x4 interface and NVMe 1.4 protocol. Unlike the SATA-based NS100, the NM620 draws power and transfers data directly through the PCIe lanes on a compatible motherboard, which removes the SATA III bandwidth ceiling entirely. As a result, the NM620 1TB reaches sequential speeds that a SATA SSD architecturally cannot match, positioning it for workloads where large file transfers or sustained read/write activity are routine rather than occasional.
Inside the NM620, an Innogrit IG5216 controller pairs with 3D TLC NAND flash in a DRAM-less design. This construction keeps the drive’s cost down relative to DRAM-equipped competitors, though it also means sustained write performance can vary more with workload than on a cached design — a tradeoff worth noting for anyone moving very large files in a single continuous transfer.
Interface and Sequential Performance
The 1TB NM620 delivers sequential read speeds of up to 3,500MB/s and sequential write speeds of up to 3,000MB/s over its PCIe Gen3x4 connection.
Note: Lexar’s own published spec sheets show some variance for this capacity — earlier manufacturer documentation lists 3,300MB/s read for the 1TB model, while current listings state 3,500MB/s. Both figures come from Lexar-sourced material; the discrepancy likely reflects a firmware or NAND revision between production batches rather than a different product.
Random access performance sits at up to 300K IOPS read and 256K IOPS write, according to Lexar’s technical specification sheet, though at least one third-party retailer spec sheet lists 200K read IOPS instead. Either way, this random IOPS range explains why the NM620 handles workloads like game asset streaming or application launches noticeably faster than a SATA SSD, even where sequential speed differences alone wouldn’t fully account for the gap.
Endurance and Reliability
Lexar rates the 1TB NM620 at 500TB total bytes written (TBW), which corresponds to a 0.44 drive writes per day (DWPD) rating across its 5-year limited warranty period. Mean time between failures (MTBF) is listed at 1,500,000 hours. The NM620 also incorporates Low-Density Parity Check (LDPC) error correction, which identifies and corrects data errors during transfer before they compound into larger data integrity issues — a feature more commonly found on higher-tier drives than on a value-oriented NVMe option like the NM620.
Physical Design and Durability
Built in the standard M.2 2280 form factor (80mm length, 22mm width, 2.25mm height), the NM620 1TB fits the M.2 slots found on most modern desktop and laptop motherboards without requiring an adapter. The drive weighs approximately 9 grams and uses a single-sided PCB layout, which keeps clearance requirements low in laptops with limited internal space above the M.2 slot.
Since the NM620 has no moving parts, it carries the same shock resistance (1500G, 0.5ms half-sine wave) and vibration resistance (10–2000Hz) ratings found across Lexar’s SSD lineup. Operating temperature is rated from 0°C to 70°C, with a wider -40°C to 85°C storage temperature range for the drive when not in active use.
Who Is This Best Suited For
- Gamers upgrading from SATA storage — sequential read speeds of up to 3,500MB/s and up to 300K random read IOPS cut load times noticeably compared to a SATA SSD’s 550MB/s ceiling.
- Content creators working with large media files — sequential write speeds of up to 3,000MB/s support faster export and transfer times for video and RAW photo workflows.
- Laptop upgrades with limited internal clearance — the single-sided, 2.25mm-height M.2 2280 design fits slim laptop chassis where double-sided drives may not clear the keyboard tray.
- Budget-conscious PC builders wanting NVMe speed — a DRAM-less controller design keeps the NM620 priced below DRAM-equipped NVMe drives while still delivering PCIe Gen3x4 sequential performance.
- Users prioritising long-term reliability over peak write endurance — a 500TB TBW rating and 1,500,000-hour MTBF suit general desktop and creative use, though very write-intensive server workloads should look at higher-DWPD drives instead.
