Upgrading Our Editing Pc Storage – Feat. Lexar NM790
If you work with video editing, photography, or creative projects, you know how important fast and reliable storage is. Slow drives can turn a simple task into a frustrating waiting game. Recently, we decided to upgrade our editing PC with the Lexar NM790 NVMe SSD. This article explains why we chose this drive, the results we saw, and how you can make the most of your own storage upgrade.
Why Storage Matters For Editing
A modern editing workflow creates huge files. For example, a single hour of 4K video can use more than 100GB of space. If your storage is slow, your computer will lag when you scrub through timelines, export files, or load project assets.
Traditional hard drives (HDDs) just can’t keep up. Even older SATA SSDs, while much faster than HDDs, start to fall behind with today’s big projects. That’s where NVMe SSDs like the Lexar NM790 come in. They use the PCIe interface, which is much faster than SATA.
Why We Chose The Lexar NM790
There are many NVMe SSDs on the market. We picked the Lexar NM790 for a few important reasons:
- Top-tier speed: The NM790 claims read speeds up to 7,400 MB/s and write speeds up to 6,500 MB/s. This makes opening and saving large files almost instant.
- Good value: Compared to similar drives, the Lexar NM790 is often more affordable. For creators, saving money on near-identical performance is a big advantage.
- Reliability: Lexar is a trusted brand, known for solid memory products. The NM790 comes with a five-year limited warranty.
- Capacity options: The NM790 is available in 512GB, 1TB, 2TB, and 4TB sizes. We chose the 2TB version to balance price and space.
Credit: www.amazon.com
Installation And Setup
Upgrading to an NVMe SSD is simpler than many people think. Our editing PC already had a spare M.2 slot. Here’s what the process looked like:
- Power off the PC and unplug it.
- Open the case and locate the M.2 slot.
- Insert the Lexar NM790 at an angle and secure it with a screw.
- Close the case and turn the PC back on.
- Initialize and format the drive in Windows Disk Management.
From opening the case to formatting, the whole process took less than 20 minutes. If you’re new to PC hardware, check your motherboard’s manual for the M.2 slot location and compatibility.
Real-world Performance
On paper, the Lexar NM790 is fast. But does it make a difference for editing work? We tested the drive in real projects to find out.
Benchmarks
We ran CrystalDiskMark, a popular storage speed test. Here’s how the Lexar NM790 compares to our old drives:
| Drive | Read Speed (MB/s) | Write Speed (MB/s) |
|---|---|---|
| Lexar NM790 (2TB) | 7,350 | 6,480 |
| SATA SSD (Samsung 860 EVO 1TB) | 550 | 520 |
| Traditional HDD (WD Blue 2TB) | 180 | 170 |
The numbers tell the story: the NM790 is over 13 times faster than a SATA SSD and more than 40 times faster than a regular hard drive.
Editing Workflows
When editing a 4K video project in Adobe Premiere Pro, we noticed:
- Faster project load times: Large projects opened in seconds, not minutes.
- Smooth playback: Scrubbing through timelines, even with multiple layers, felt instant.
- Quick exports: Rendering and exporting timelines finished up to 40% faster compared to the SATA SSD.
For photo editing, working with huge RAW files in Adobe Lightroom was much more responsive. Previews built quickly, and batch exports were smoother.
Non-obvious Insights And Tips
Most people look at speed numbers, but some important details are easy to miss:
- Thermal performance matters: NVMe SSDs can get hot under heavy use. The Lexar NM790 has a built-in heat spreader, but if your PC has poor airflow, consider adding a small heatsink. This prevents speed drops from overheating.
- PCIe compatibility: Make sure your motherboard supports PCIe Gen4 to get full speed. The NM790 works in Gen3 slots but will run slower.
- Project organization: With fast storage, it’s easy to fill up the drive. Use folders and regular backups to keep your workspace clean and safe.
Comparing The Lexar NM790 To Other NVMe SSDs
How does the NM790 compare with other popular NVMe drives? Here’s a quick look:
| Drive | Max Read (MB/s) | Max Write (MB/s) | Warranty | Price (2TB) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lexar NM790 | 7,400 | 6,500 | 5 years | $110 |
| Samsung 990 Pro | 7,450 | 6,900 | 5 years | $150 |
| WD Black SN850X | 7,300 | 6,600 | 5 years | $130 |
As you can see, the NM790 holds its own against big names, often at a lower price.
Credit: www.youtube.com/@Sohag360
Is Upgrading Worth It?
If you edit photos, videos, or audio, upgrading to a fast NVMe SSD like the Lexar NM790 is one of the best investments you can make. The jump in speed is huge, and your workflow will feel smoother and less stressful.
Beginners sometimes forget to check for motherboard compatibility or skip over the importance of cooling. Don’t make these mistakes—check your specs first, and plan for some airflow around your storage.
For most creators, even a 1TB or 2TB NM790 is enough for current projects, while older drives can be used for backups or archives.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is Nvme And Why Is It Faster Than Sata Ssds?
NVMe stands for Non-Volatile Memory Express. It uses a faster PCIe connection instead of the slower SATA interface. This allows NVMe SSDs like the Lexar NM790 to transfer data much quicker than traditional SSDs.
Can I Use The Lexar NM790 in a laptop?
Yes, if your laptop has an M.2 PCIe Gen4 slot and supports NVMe drives. Some older laptops only support SATA M.2 drives, so check your laptop manual before buying.
How Long Will an NVMe SSD like the NM790 last?
The NM790 is rated for up to 1,200 TBW (Terabytes Written) for the 2TB model. For most users, this means many years of heavy use. It also comes with a 5-year warranty.
Do I Need A Heatsink for the NM790?
The NM790 has a built-in heat spreader, but a heatsink can help if you do a lot of sustained transfers or have poor airflow. It’s a good idea for anyone doing long video renders or big file moves.
Where Can I Find More Technical Details About NVMe SSDs?
You can read more about NVMe technology on the NVMe Wikipedia page for a technical overview and history.
Upgrading to the Lexar NM790 made a noticeable difference in our editing workflow. If you want your PC to feel faster and more responsive, this SSD is an excellent choice for creators at any level.
Credit: www.amazon.com