Ready to supercharge your PC? If you’re still relying on an old-school hard drive or a sluggish SSD, you’re missing out on a world of speed and efficiency. Upgrading to a high-quality internal solid-state drive (SSD) is one of the most impactful changes you can make to your desktop or laptop. It means faster boot times, quicker application loading, and smoother overall system responsiveness. And when it comes to reliable and performant storage, Lexar is a brand that consistently delivers.
We’ve scoured the market to bring you a comprehensive look at the Lexar best internal SSD for PC options available right now. Whether you’re a casual user, a hardcore gamer, or a professional creator, there’s a Lexar SSD designed to meet your needs and budget. Let’s dive in and find the perfect upgrade for your rig!
Why Choose a Lexar Internal SSD?
Lexar has built a strong reputation in the memory and storage industry for offering a fantastic blend of performance, reliability, and value. Their SSDs are known for their robust build quality and often come with competitive warranties, giving you peace of mind. From their entry-level SATA drives to their blazing-fast PCIe Gen5 NVMe models, Lexar offers a diverse range of internal SSDs perfect for any PC user looking to enhance their computing experience.
The 5 Best Lexar Internal SSDs for PC
Here are our top picks for the Lexar best internal SSD for PC, broken down to help you make an informed decision.
Lexar 256GB NS100 SSD 2.5 Inch SATA III Internal Solid State Drive
The Lexar NS100 256GB SSD is a fantastic entry point for anyone looking to dramatically improve their PC’s performance without breaking the bank. This drive is ideal for replacing an aging hard disk drive (HDD) in an older laptop or desktop, instantly providing snappier boot times, faster application launches, and quicker data transfers. Its standard 2.5-inch form factor ensures wide compatibility, making it a hassle-free upgrade for many systems.
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Key Features:
- Upgrade your laptop or desktop computer for faster startups, data transfers, and application loads.
- Sequential read speeds of up to 520MB/s.
- Faster performance and more reliable than traditional hard drives.
- Shock and vibration resistant with no moving parts.
- [256GB] 120TBW (Terabytes Written) for good endurance.
- Three-year limited warranty.
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Pros:
- Significant speed upgrade over HDDs.
- Affordable and cost-effective.
- Durable design with no moving parts.
- Easy to install in most desktops and laptops.
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Cons:
- Slower than NVMe SSDs.
- 256GB might be limiting for primary storage for some users.
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User Impressions:
Customers frequently praise this drive for its ease of installation and the immediate, noticeable boost it gives to older systems. Many users report that their computers feel brand new after swapping out an old HDD for the NS100, highlighting its excellent value for basic upgrades.
Lexar 1TB NM790 SSD PCIe Gen4 NVMe M.2 2280 Internal Solid State Drive
For those demanding serious speed, the Lexar NM790 1TB SSD is a game-changer. This PCIe Gen4 NVMe M.2 drive offers exceptional performance, making it perfect for hardcore gamers, content creators, and professionals who need rapid data access. With read speeds up to 7400MB/s, it’s roughly twice as fast as PCIe Gen3 SSDs, ensuring your games load in a flash and your large files transfer almost instantly. Plus, its remarkable power efficiency and PlayStation 5 compatibility make it incredibly versatile.
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Key Features:
- [1TB] Exceptional performance up to 7400MB/s read, 6500MB/s write; 1000TBW.
- 2x faster than PCIe Gen 3 SSDs.
- Up to 40% less power consumption than DRAM cache-enabled PCIe Gen 4 SSDs.
- Host Memory Buffer (HMB) 3.0 activates the DRAM cache function of your device for smoother transfer speed and seamless performance.
- Designed for hardcore gamers, professionals, and creators.
- Compatible with PlayStation 5 (check specific console requirements for heatsinks).
- Single-sided NVMe SSD is perfect for laptops.
- Five-year limited warranty.
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Pros:
- Blazing-fast read and write speeds.
- Excellent power efficiency.
- Great endurance rating (TBW).
- Versatile, good for PCs and PS5.
- Single-sided design is laptop-friendly.
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Cons:
- Requires an M.2 slot with PCIe Gen4 support.
- May require a heatsink for sustained heavy loads (especially in PS5).
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User Impressions:
Users are consistently impressed by the raw speed of the NM790, noting significantly reduced load times in games and applications. Many highlight its fantastic performance-to-price ratio, making it a top contender for a high-performance Lexar best internal SSD for PC that doesn’t break the bank.
Lexar 1TB NM1090 PRO PCIe Gen5 NVMe M.2 2280 Internal Solid State Drive
Step into the future of storage with the Lexar NM1090 PRO 1TB SSD. This cutting-edge PCIe Gen5 NVMe drive pushes boundaries, delivering unprecedented speeds up to 14,000MB/s read. It’s built for the most demanding tasks, from accelerating AI model training to delivering lightning-fast game loads thanks to Microsoft DirectStorage. If you’re building a top-tier system with the latest AMD Ryzen or Intel i9 processors, this Lexar SSD is designed to unlock its full potential.
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Key Features:
- PCIe 5.0 technology delivers blistering read/write speeds up to 14,000/10,000 MB/s.
- Accelerates load times by 200% – great with AMD Ryzen and Intel i9 platforms.
- A powerful 6nm controller optimizes heat control for a smoother experience and more efficient performance.
- A perfect internal SSD for AI PCs: reduces bottlenecks and accelerates AI model training, inferencing, and real-time data processing.
- DRAM Cache and SLC Dynamic Cache greatly enhance data transfer speeds to reduce wait times and improve system responsiveness.
- Works with Microsoft DirectStorage to significantly boost game loads, minimize delays, conserve CPU power, and enrich the gaming experience.
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Pros:
- Unparalleled, industry-leading speeds.
- Ideal for future-proofing high-end PCs and AI workstations.
- Advanced heat management.
- DRAM cache for sustained performance.
- DirectStorage compatibility for next-gen gaming.
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Cons:
- Premium price point.
- Requires a motherboard with PCIe Gen5 M.2 support (currently limited to newer platforms).
- Likely requires a robust heatsink solution (often included with motherboards or sold separately).
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User Impressions:
Early adopters of the NM1090 PRO rave about its incredible speed, noting immediate and dramatic improvements in heavy workloads and game loading. Users with compatible hardware appreciate how it eliminates bottlenecks, making it the ultimate choice for a truly future-proofed and high-performance system.
Lexar 128GB NS100 SSD 2.5 Inch SATA III Internal Solid State Drive
For those on the tightest budget or simply needing a quick, reliable boot drive for an older system, the Lexar 128GB NS100 SSD is a perfect fit. While its capacity is smaller, it still offers the same significant speed advantages over traditional HDDs, making your old laptop or desktop feel much more responsive. It’s an excellent choice for breathing new life into a machine used primarily for web browsing, emails, and light office tasks.
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Key Features:
- Upgrade your laptop or desktop computer for faster startups, data transfers, and application loads.
- Sequential read speeds of up to 520MB/s.
- Faster performance and more reliable than traditional hard drives.
- Shock and vibration resistant with no moving parts.
- [128GB] 60TBW (Terabytes Written) endurance.
- Three-year limited warranty.
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Pros:
- Extremely affordable way to upgrade from an HDD.
- Provides instant performance boost for basic tasks.
- Durable and reliable with no moving parts.
- Wide compatibility with 2.5-inch drive bays.
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Cons:
- Very limited capacity for general use.
- Slower than NVMe drives.
- Best suited as a boot drive or for very light installations.
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User Impressions:
Customers who purchased this 128GB version are generally happy with its value, especially for use in older, secondary PCs or as a dedicated boot drive. They confirm it makes a noticeable difference in system responsiveness, despite its modest size.
Lexar 512GB NS100 SSD 2.5 Inch SATA III Internal Solid State Drive
If you need more storage than the 256GB model but still prefer the widely compatible SATA interface, the Lexar 512GB NS100 SSD hits the sweet spot. It offers a generous capacity for your operating system, essential applications, and a decent library of files, all while providing the reliable speed and durability that the NS100 series is known for. It’s a balanced choice for everyday users looking for a substantial performance uplift for their PC.
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Key Features:
- Upgrade your laptop or desktop computer for faster startups, data transfers, and application loads.
- Sequential read speeds of up to 550MB/s (slightly faster than lower capacity NS100 models).
- Faster performance and more reliable than traditional hard drives.
- Shock and vibration resistant with no moving parts.
- [512GB] 240TBW (Terabytes Written) endurance.
- Three-year limited warranty.
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Pros:
- Excellent balance of capacity and affordability for a SATA SSD.
- Reliable performance for daily computing.
- Good endurance rating.
- Easy upgrade for 2.5-inch drive bays.
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Cons:
- Still limited by SATA interface speeds compared to NVMe.
- Not ideal for intensive gaming or professional video editing compared to PCIe Gen4/Gen5.
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User Impressions:
Users often highlight the 512GB NS100 as a great all-rounder. It’s praised for being easy to install, significantly improving system speed, and offering enough space for a comfortable primary drive in many desktop and laptop setups. It’s a solid, practical choice for a general-purpose Lexar best internal SSD for PC.
Frequently Asked Questions About Lexar Internal SSDs
Q1: What’s the difference between SATA and NVMe SSDs?
A: SATA (Serial ATA) SSDs connect via the older SATA interface, offering speeds up to about 550MB/s. NVMe (Non-Volatile Memory Express) SSDs connect directly to the PCIe (Peripheral Component Interconnect Express) lanes on your motherboard, allowing for much higher speeds, ranging from thousands of MB/s, especially with PCIe Gen4 and Gen5. NVMe drives are generally faster but require a compatible M.2 slot.
Q2: Is Lexar a good brand for SSDs?
A: Yes, Lexar is a well-established and reputable brand in the memory and storage industry. They offer a range of SSDs known for their reliability, competitive performance, and good value, backed by decent warranties.
Q3: How much capacity do I need for my internal SSD?
A: It depends on your usage:
* 128GB-256GB: Good for a boot drive (OS and essential programs) if you have a secondary HDD for files.
* 512GB: A solid balance for most users as a primary drive, holding your OS, common applications, and some games/files.
* 1TB or more: Ideal for gamers, content creators, or anyone with large software libraries and extensive media files.
Q4: Will an internal SSD make my old PC faster?
A: Absolutely! Upgrading from a traditional hard drive (HDD) to any SSD, even a basic SATA one, will provide a dramatic improvement in boot times, application loading, and overall system responsiveness. It’s often the single most effective upgrade for an older PC.
Q5: Do I need a heatsink for my NVMe SSD?
A: For most PCIe Gen3 NVMe SSDs and casual use, a heatsink isn’t strictly necessary, but it can help. For high-performance PCIe Gen4 and especially Gen5 NVMe SSDs, a heatsink is highly recommended, or even essential, to prevent thermal throttling during sustained heavy workloads (like gaming, video editing, or large file transfers). Many modern motherboards include integrated M.2 heatsinks.
Q6: How do I install an internal SSD?
A:
* 2.5-inch SATA SSDs: These typically install into a drive bay (like an HDD) and connect via a SATA data cable and a SATA power cable from your power supply.
* M.2 NVMe SSDs: These tiny sticks slot directly into an M.2 slot on your motherboard and are secured with a small screw. Always consult your motherboard or laptop’s manual for exact instructions.
Q7: What is TBW (Terabytes Written)?
A: TBW stands for Terabytes Written and is a measure of an SSD’s endurance. It indicates the total amount of data that can be written to the drive over its lifetime before it’s expected to fail. Higher TBW values mean the drive is more durable and will last longer under heavy write loads. For most users, even lower TBW ratings are more than sufficient for many years of use.
Conclusion
Choosing the right internal SSD is a pivotal step in optimizing your PC’s performance. Lexar offers an impressive lineup, from the budget-friendly yet effective NS100 series perfect for giving old systems a new lease on life, to the cutting-edge NM1090 PRO that unleashes the full potential of next-gen hardware.
Whether you’re after a basic speed boost or the ultimate in data transfer performance, there’s a Lexar best internal SSD for PC that will fit your needs. Consider your budget, your motherboard’s compatibility (SATA, PCIe Gen3, Gen4, or Gen5), and your storage capacity requirements to make the best choice. Happy upgrading!