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Lexar NM620 1TB PCIe Gen3 NVMe M.2 2280 SSD: specs and what to check
A 1TB M.2 2280 NVMe SSD from Lexar with PCIe Gen3x4, up to 3300MB/s reads and 3D NAND. What the numbers mean and what to confirm before fitting it.
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The Lexar NM620 is a 1TB internal solid-state drive in the M.2 2280 format, using the NVMe protocol over a PCIe Gen3 x4 connection. It is a small stick that fits directly onto a compatible motherboard, laptop or console storage slot, and it is aimed at gamers and PC builders who want quicker loading and file transfers.
What the speed figures mean
Lexar rates the NM620 at up to 3300MB/s sequential reads and 3000MB/s writes. Sequential speeds describe how fast large, continuous files move, such as game installs, video files or backups. Real-world performance varies with the system, the workload and how full the drive is, and drives typically don't hold their peak write rate indefinitely.
Lexar also says the drive is six times faster than a SATA-based SSD. SATA SSDs are limited by the SATA interface to roughly 550MB/s, so the comparison is consistent with that ceiling.
PCIe Gen3 x4 and NVMe 1.4
PCIe is the connection between the drive and the processor, and "x4" means four lanes. Gen3 x4 offers a maximum of around 4GB/s in theory, which is why the NM620's top speeds sit near 3300MB/s. Newer Gen4 and Gen5 drives are faster still, but Gen3 drives work in Gen4 and Gen5 slots because the standard is backward compatible; the drive simply runs at its own Gen3 speed.
NVMe is the protocol designed for flash storage. Lexar lists NVMe 1.4 support, a version of the standard. NVMe typically responds with lower latency than the older SATA-based approach, which helps with system start-up and application loading.
M.2 2280 and 3D NAND
"M.2 2280" means the board is 22 mm wide and 80 mm long. Many desktop motherboards and laptops use this size, but you should check that your slot supports 2280 and NVMe, as some M.2 slots support only SATA drives. Lexar says the drive uses 3D NAND flash, which stacks memory cells in layers to increase capacity in a small space.
No moving parts
Lexar describes the drive as shock- and vibration-resistant with no moving parts. That is generally true of SSDs compared with mechanical hard disks, and it suits laptops and portable builds.
Support
Lexar lists a five-year limited product support period. Read the terms on Lexar's site, as limits may apply.
Who it suits
It suits desktop builders, gamers and anyone upgrading a laptop or PC that has a free NVMe M.2 slot and wants faster storage than a SATA SSD or hard drive provides.
What to check before you buy
- Slot type: confirm your device has an M.2 slot that accepts 2280 NVMe drives.
- Interface: check whether the slot is PCIe or SATA-only, and its generation.
- Heat: some boards include an M.2 heatsink, and in some laptops space is tight; see your manual.
- Consoles and special devices: some need a heatsink or specific specifications, so check the maker's requirements.
- Moving data: plan how to clone or reinstall your system and keep a backup first.
- Capacity: 1TB suits many users, but large game libraries fill it quickly.
The short version
- A 1TB NVMe SSD in M.2 2280 format with a PCIe Gen3 x4 interface.
- Rated up to 3300MB/s reads and 3000MB/s writes, per Lexar.
- NVMe 1.4 support and 3D NAND.
- No moving parts; five-year limited product support.
- Confirm your slot is NVMe-capable before buying.
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