MSI Spatium M480 Pro 2 TB PCIe 4.0 M.2 NVMe SSD Review

The Spatium M480 Pro is MSI’s latest high-speed M.2 NVMe SSD to hit the market. Just like its two predecessors, the Spatium M480 and M480 Play is based on Phison’s E18 controller. We reviewed the original M480 in August of 2021, and we were highly impressed with its performance. Several improvements have been implemented in the Pro edition, so let’s start by looking at the features and specifications.

Specifications and Features

MSI’s Spatium M480 Pro is available in 1 TB, 2 TB, or 4 TB capacities and utilizes Phison’s powerful E18 controller. It features rated sequential read and write speeds of up to 7,400 MB/s and 7,000 MBs, respectively. The flash memory used is upgraded to 176 layer Micron 3D NAND. DRAM is handled by 2 GBs of SKHynix DDR4-2666. Longevity is excellent, with up to 3,000 terabytes written (TBW) guaranteed with a mean time between failure (MTBF) of up to 1.6 million hours. Additionally, the Spatium M480 Pro is backed by a 5-year warranty. Other features include TRIM, SMART, LDPC, End-to-End Data Path Protection, APST, and ES256/Pyrite encryption.

Packaging

Packaging is simple and efficient. Like the other Spatium products, it is enclosed in a black cardboard box with attractive details. The front of the box displays the model, while a sticker at the top right designates the drives capacity. The back of the box lists multiple certifications and several bar and QR codes with model numbers, EAN numbers, and UPC codes. Inside we find the SSD secured in a clear plastic clamshell. A European Union Regulatory Notice and user pamphlet is also included.

The MSI Spatium M480 Pro M.2 SSD

Just like the previous versions, the M480 Pro is a dual-sided drive and measures 22 mm wide and 80 mm long. This sample features a sticker on the top without an included heatsink. A quick search online confirms there are versions with heatsinks, so be aware of what you are purchasing if you choose to buy one. Affixed to the back of the drive is the Serial Number sticker. Removing this sticker will void the warranty, so do not remove it unless you don’t plan on returning it.

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A Closer Look

With the top sticker removed, we find the Phison PS5018-E18 controller at the center. One of two SKHynix DDR4 DRAM modules is positioned next to the controller, with the other located at the back side (2 TB and 4 TB models only). Each module features a memory capacity of 1 GB  and has a rated speed of 2666 MHz. The 2TB model features a total of six Micron 176-layer 3D TLC NAND chips. This is improved from 96-layer NAND on the original M480 and M480 Play.

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Testing Method and Test System

Below are the tests we run with a brief description.

• Crystal Disk Mark v8.0.4 x64 – Set to NVMe Settings (5 Passes)
• AS SSD v 2.0.7316 – Run at Default Settings
• ATTO v4.01 0f1 – Run at Default Settings except for the QD Set to 10
• Thermal Testing  (HWinfo64 v7.46-5110)– Monitored throughout testing
• DiskBench v2.8.1.0 – Use predefined 120 GB transfer file
• Anvil Storage Utility Benchmark v 1.1.0 – Default Settings

All tests will be performed with the drives installed in the top Gen 5 M.2 slot to utilize the direct CPU interface.

Benchmark Results

CrystalDiskMark

As we mentioned earlier, we’ve updated our CrystalDiskMark testing to use its NVMe settings. Test one and four remain unchanged and are still comparable to our previously reviewed drives. However, tests two and three are significantly different. Test two now performs the sequential read and write cycles with a block size of 128KB and queues 32 blocks in a single thread. The previous default set the block size to one MB and only queued a single block to one thread. The third test is not as drastic but is still significant. While the block size and number of blocks queued remain the same, 16 threads are tasked versus a single thread.

For comparisons, we chose to include 3rd, 4th, and 5th generation NVMe drives to provide a good spectrum. As expected, the 5th generation is considerably faster in most of our testing, and the 3rd generation lagged behind. Looking at the results above, MSI’s Spatium M480 Pro did a phenomenal job of holding its own. It was able to not only keep up with the other 4th Gen drive but was even faster than the 5th Gen in a couple of the tests.

AS SSD

AS SSD is another synthetic benchmark similar to CrystalDiskMark. Just like the first benchmark, the M480 Pro excelled in the random testing outperforming every drive in these comparisons.

ATTO

The ATTO benchmark utilizes a file size spectrum to gauge speeds based on the file’s relative size. Throughout the whole spectrum, the M480 Pro performed very well and excelled in the smaller file size categories.

Anvil Storage Utility

Anvil’s Storage Utility is another benchmark that measures read and write speeds, similar to CrystalDiskMark and AS SSD. The main difference with ASU is that it produces a performance score for comparison rather than an actual speed. This performance score is more of an all-encompassing overview of the drive’s capabilities.

The results from the Anvil testing are downright superb. A 4th generation NVMe taking the top spot in all three categories should not be understated. It truly is a performer.

Thermal Testing

We monitored the M480 Pro’s temperatures throughout the entire review process with the MSI ACE heatsink installed. The results were quite good, with a maximum temperature recorded of 52.9° Celsius. We need to keep in mind that these results will vary depending on different motherboard heatsinks, and they could vary widely. However, the results we see here indicate there are no issues with the M480 Pro in regard to temperature.

DiskBench

Our final benchmark is our first real-world test. Diskbench is designed to determine a file’s actual transfer time. Using a 120 GB file composed of random data, we transfer the file from the primary (OS) drive to the test drive, recording the actual transfer time. If you do a lot of large file transfers, this is the test to pay attention to.

It is crazy to see a 4th generation drive keeping up with a 5th generation drive. This is probably the most telling test so far. While the Corsair MP700 is rated considerably faster and is an excellent drive by its own rights, you simply don’t need the latest and greatest to be one of the top dogs.

Conclusion

We have broken down MSI’s Spatium M480 Pro and run it through some rigorous testing, and there is a lot to like about it. It not only performs as well or better than the other drives in its category, it even competes with the most recent generation of NVMe drives. Moreover, it features an excellent endurance rating, Mean Time Between Failures, and up to a five-year warranty. With capacities of 1 TB, 2TB, and 4TB available, MSI has provided plenty of options to fit your needs and budget. The lack of a heatsink could be considered a negative, though there are many applications where the user will choose to use the motherboard heatsink instead. Also, there are models with a heatsink included, so this is really not an issue worth worrying about. Just buy the one you need.

We were able to find the MSI Spatium M480 Pro 2TB with an included heatsink on Amazon for $129.99. We find this to be an excellent deal for what you’re getting. Newegg has it listed for $132.99 without the heatsink, which is still a great deal. The 4TB model is listed at both Amazon and Newegg for $249.99 and represents the best bargain if you need large amounts of storage. Simply put, we love MSI’s new Spatium M480 Pro making it one of the easiest drives to recommend.

-John Nester (Blaylock)

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