Lexar NS100 512GB vs Timetec Premium M.2 SATA SSD 512GB
Timetec Premium M.2 SATA SSD 512GB is at least the equal of the other on every measure that decides this, and ahead on at least one.
| Specification | LexarNS100 512GB | TimetecPremium M.2 SATA SSD 512GB |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity (GB) | 512 | 512 |
| Sequential read (MB/s) | 550 | 550 |
| Sequential write (MB/s) | 500 | 500 |
| Current best price | $205.81at Newegg Canada · captured 2026-09-02 | $98.99betterat Amazon.ca · captured 2026-09-13 |
| Price per TB | $401.97 | $193.34better |
| Endurance (TBW) | 256 | 256 |
| Warranty (years) | 3 | 3 |
| DRAM cache | — | No |
| NAND type | tlc | tlc |
| Controller | Marvell 88NV1120 | — |
How these two compare
Sequential throughput
Lexar NS100 512GB reads at 550 MB/s and writes at 500 MB/s; Timetec Premium M.2 SATA SSD 512GB reads at 550 MB/s and writes at 500 MB/s. Both ride the SATA bus, which caps sequential transfer near 550 MB/s in either direction — the ceiling every SATA drive works against — so what more decisively separates them is sustained and random behaviour, the DRAM cache, and endurance.
Price
Lexar NS100 512GB is $205.81 ($401.97 per TB); Timetec Premium M.2 SATA SSD 512GB is $98.99 ($193.34 per TB).
Endurance
Lexar NS100 512GB is rated for 256 TBW and Timetec Premium M.2 SATA SSD 512GB for 256 TBW — the total the maker warrants you can write over the drive's life. A typical desktop writes only a few terabytes a year, so either rating is many years of headroom; the figure matters mainly as a relative signal of how hard each is built to be driven.
DRAM cache
On the cache question: the catalog does not state whether Lexar NS100 512GB carries a DRAM cache, and Timetec Premium M.2 SATA SSD 512GB is DRAM-less. The DRAM keeps the flash-translation table close, sparing a lookup on nearly every access; a drive without it leans on host memory or its own flash, which usually shows as slower sustained random writes rather than in the headline sequential numbers.
NAND, controller and warranty
On the flash itself: Lexar NS100 512GB uses TLC, and Timetec Premium M.2 SATA SSD 512GB uses TLC. NAND tiers count bits per cell — more bits pack more capacity into the same silicon but shorten write endurance and slow sustained writes, which is why QLC sits below TLC on lasting performance even when the sequential numbers match. Controller: Lexar NS100 512GB uses the Marvell 88NV1120 and Timetec Premium M.2 SATA SSD 512GB's controller is not stated. The controller runs wear-levelling, error correction and the mapping table, so it shapes sustained and random behaviour as much as the flash does — though the model name alone predicts little without testing. Lexar NS100 512GB carries a 3-year warranty and Timetec Premium M.2 SATA SSD 512GB carries a 3-year warranty — the length the maker will stand behind the drive, and usually a proxy for the endurance it is rated to.
Which to buy
Against the other, Timetec Premium M.2 SATA SSD 512GB is even or ahead on every tracked measure and behind on none, which is the one case where the choice needs no compromise.
Common questions about this pair
- Which is faster, Lexar NS100 512GB or Timetec Premium M.2 SATA SSD 512GB?
- Lexar NS100 512GB reads at 550 MB/s and writes at 500 MB/s; Timetec Premium M.2 SATA SSD 512GB reads at 550 MB/s and writes at 500 MB/s. Both ride the SATA bus, which caps sequential transfer near 550 MB/s in either direction — the ceiling every SATA drive works against — so what more decisively separates them is sustained and random behaviour, the DRAM cache, and endurance.
- Which costs less per terabyte, Lexar NS100 512GB or Timetec Premium M.2 SATA SSD 512GB?
- Lexar NS100 512GB is $205.81 ($401.97 per TB); Timetec Premium M.2 SATA SSD 512GB is $98.99 ($193.34 per TB).
- Should you buy Lexar NS100 512GB or Timetec Premium M.2 SATA SSD 512GB?
- Against the other, Timetec Premium M.2 SATA SSD 512GB is even or ahead on every tracked measure and behind on none, which is the one case where the choice needs no compromise.