Relative Value39balanced preset
Western Digital Black SN850X 8TB vs Lexar NM790 8TB — value comparison
Relative Value41balanced preset
Western Digital Black SN850X 8TB and Lexar NM790 8TB are practically even under balanced weights at the current dataset offers: 39 vs 41. Change the preset or your priorities before deciding.
Price data · US · USD · New · A 2026-08-13 · B 2026-08-13Coverage · 4 tracked new-offer records across both modelsBenchmark confidence · no estimate flags on these two recordsAffiliate links · We may earn a commission from these links. Scores are calculated separately using our methodology.
Checking today's prices… This shared scoring frame includes an offer with a 24-hour freshness window, so price-derived results finish loading in your browser a moment from now. Capability, performance and verified specifications are already final.
02 · Decision matrix
One decision, three separate questions
Capability ignores price. Relative Value adds the current dataset offers and your priorities. Keeping them separate prevents a cheap product from being mistaken for the faster product.
The decision, split by questioncapability · value · price are separate answers
Capability by task
| Scenario | Western Digital Black SN850X 8TB | Lexar NM790 8TB |
|---|---|---|
| System Drive | S#63 | S#37 |
| Game & File Storage | S#4 | S#2 |
| Heavy Creative Work | S#62 | S#73 |
They grade identically in all 3 graded scenarios — the tier table won't decide this one, so compare price and Value below. These are the same S–F grades as the tier list — capability only, price excluded. The value rows below add prices from the 2026-08-13 offer frame. How tiers are assigned →
Relative Value by priority
Balancedpractically even (≤3 pts)
39
41
System Drivepractically even (≤3 pts)
23
24
Game & File Storagepractically even (≤3 pts)
66
66
Heavy Creative Workhigher relative value lit
44
51 ✓
Strict Budgetpractically even (≤3 pts)
7
7
Both products are normalized within the same in-stock market frame per preset. A check marks the higher Relative Value; a difference of 3 points or less is shown as practically even.
Crossover price is loading. The switch-over point and Strong Value threshold appear as soon as today's offer snapshots are confirmed in your browser.
03 · Price crossover
The price changes the answer
Current offers, crossover points and Strong Value thresholds answer different questions. Thresholds are calculations, not price forecasts.
A · Western Digital Black SN850X 8TB
- Current dataset offer · NewUS · USD · snapshot 2026-08-13
- $1400
- Beats Lexar NM790 8TB atbalanced weights; rival offer held fixed
- not reachable
- Strong Value at80+ Relative Value threshold
- not reachable
B · Lexar NM790 8TB
- Current dataset offer · NewUS · USD · snapshot 2026-08-13
- $1450
- Beats Western Digital Black SN850X 8TB atbalanced weights; rival offer held fixed
- not reachable
- Strong Value at80+ Relative Value threshold
- not reachable
04 · Capability
Capability indexes, side by side
Price is intentionally excluded here so the more capable product and the better-value product cannot be confused.
Drive capability
7300
7400
7400
Sequential read (MB/s)
7300
7400
7400
Sequential write (MB/s)
6600
6500
6500
A · Western Digital Black SN850X 8TBB · Lexar NM790 8TBEach row keeps the unit or category index named in its label; bar length compares A and B within that row.Lexar NM790 8TB shows higher Value under every weighting we test — a stable result in the 2026-08-13 offer frame.
05 · Platform & ownership
Fit, compatibility and ownership context
Only verified structured compatibility and ownership fields are shown. Check the exact system, board manual and vendor QVL before purchase; missing fields are never guessed.
A · Western Digital Black SN850X 8TB
- InterfaceM.2 PCIe 4.0 x4
- Form factorM.2-2280
- Capacity8,000 GB
- DRAM cache8GB DDR4
- Heatsink includedNo
- Write endurance2,400 TBW
- Warranty (typical new)60 mo
B · Lexar NM790 8TB
- InterfaceM.2 PCIe 4.0 x4
- Form factorM.2-2280
- Capacity8,000 GB
- DRAM cacheDRAM-less
- Heatsink includedNo
- Write endurance4,800 TBW
- Warranty (typical new)60 mo
06 · Specifications
Key specifications
Directional checkmarks appear only on numeric fields where more or less has a clear meaning. They are not an overall verdict.
| Specification | Western Digital Black SN850X 8TB | Lexar NM790 8TB |
|---|---|---|
| Interface | M.2 PCIe 4.0 x4 | M.2 PCIe 4.0 x4 |
| Form factor | M.2-2280 | M.2-2280 |
| Capacity | 8,000 GB | 8,000 GB |
| Sequential read | 7,300 MB/s | 7,400 MB/s✓ |
| Sequential write | 6,600 MB/s✓ | 6,500 MB/s |
| Write endurance | 2,400 TBW | 4,800 TBW✓ |
| DRAM cache | 8GB DDR4 | DRAM-less |
| NAND type | SanDisk 112-layer TLC | YMTC 232-layer TLC |
| Controller | WD Proprietary | Maxio MAP1602A |
| Heatsink included | No | No |
| Current dataset offer · New | $1400snapshot 2026-08-13✓ | $1450snapshot 2026-08-13 |
| Warranty (typical new) | 60 mo | 60 mo |
“Not tracked” means the source data does not contain a verified value; no default or guessed specification is substituted.
07 · Customize
Try other models and your own priorities
Presets are starting points. Swap either side, then open Advanced weights only if you want to tune the formula directly.
08 · Alternative
A third option worth checking
The same scenario and market frame checks whether another currently priced model offers a cleaner trade-off.
Worth considering instead
Crucial T710 1TB — same S-tier capability for System Drive, about $1200 cheaper · Value 100.
Neither of the two above is the only answer — this one clears the same bar for less. ⇄ Compare all three
A price-aware third suggestion appears once today's offer snapshots are confirmed in your browser.
09 · Decision guide
Choose based on the trade-off you actually want
These are evidence-linked conditions, not universal buying verdicts. Feature ecosystems, software support and platform preferences remain your call.
Choose A · Western Digital Black SN850X 8TB if…
- Its platform or feature fit matters more to you than the tracked scenario and price leads shown here.
Choose B · Lexar NM790 8TB if…
- Your priorities resemble Heavy Creative Work — it has higher Relative Value under those presets at the snapshot offers.
10 · Methodology & FAQ
Read the methodology →How to read this comparison
The formula is a weighted geometric ratio. Capability, price and user priorities stay visible as separate inputs so the result can be challenged and changed.
- Which is better value right now: Western Digital Black SN850X 8TB or Lexar NM790 8TB?
- Under the balanced preset and the 2026-08-13 offer frame, they are practically even in Relative Value (39 vs 41). Change the preset or weights to reflect your own priorities; capability is a separate question, answered by the tier table.
- Which one is more capable, ignoring price?
- They grade identically in all 3 graded scenarios — the tier table won't decide this one, so compare price and Value below.
- Where can I compare current offers for both?
- Dated offer snapshots for both models are listed on their product pages (linked above); the interactive calculator recalculates both with your own weights and budget.
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Offer frame: 2026-08-13 · dataset generated 2026-08-13 · formula ssd-value-v1 · Value Score is an estimate based on our current dataset, selected weights, market prices and methodology — not an official product rating or a price forecast. Target prices are calculation thresholds, not predictions. Methodology · Report a data error