MSI SPATIUM M470 PRO 2TB PCIe 4.0 x4 NVMe M.2 2280

The MSI SPATIUM M470 PRO delivers excellent random performance and hardware encryption, but its $315-320 price tag is hard to justify when faster Gen4 drives cost less. The 94th percentile feature set is nice, but the 26th percentile affordability score is the real story. Wait for a sale or look at the WD Black SN850X instead.

Sequential reads at 6000 MB/s and writes at 5000 MB/s put this drive in the 78th percentile for speed. That's solid, but not chart-topping. The random performance is where it shines though, 950K IOPS on both reads and writes lands it in the 93rd percentile. That's one of the best on the market for random workloads, which matters more for real-world snappiness than big sequential numbers. The 640 TBW endurance rating is above average, and the 1.5 million hour MTBF is a nice reliability flex. Hardware encryption via TCG OPAL 2.0 and Pyrite is a genuine plus if you care about data security.

Stacked against the competition, the M470 PRO is in an awkward spot. The WD Black SN850X hits 7300 MB/s reads and has a massive reputation for reliability, usually at a lower price. The Samsung 9100 PRO is in a completely different league with Gen5 speeds. Even the Crucial T500 and Kingston FURY Renegade G5 offer better sequential performance for similar or less money. Where the MSI holds its own is random performance and that hardware encryption, which most competitors skip. But for most buyers, those advantages don't justify the price premium.

This is where things get tricky. At $315-320 USD, the M470 PRO is asking premium money for what is now a mid-pack Gen4 drive. The Samsung 9100 PRO and WD Black SN850X both offer better sequential speeds and stronger brand recognition, often at competitive prices. The 26th percentile affordability score tells the story: you're paying a lot for the MSI name and the hardware encryption. If you can find this on sale for under $250, it becomes a much more interesting option. At full price, it's a tough sell.

The MSI SPATIUM M470 PRO is a 2TB PCIe 4.0 drive that hits 6000 MB/s reads and 5000 MB/s writes. It's got TLC NAND, a DRAM cache, and a PHISON E27T controller doing the heavy lifting. On paper, this is a solid mid-to-upper tier Gen4 drive that should handle gaming, creative work, and general productivity without breaking a sweat.

Our database puts its feature set in the 94th percentile, which is genuinely impressive. Random performance lands in the 93rd percentile too. But here's the thing: the price is rough. Affordability sits in the 26th percentile, and with no current US listing in our data, you're looking at around $315-320 when it does show up. That's a lot of money for a drive that isn't the fastest Gen4 option anymore.

Skip this if you're building a gaming PC on a budget. The WD Black SN850X and Crucial T500 deliver better sequential speeds for less money, and you won't notice the difference in real-world gaming. Also skip it if you don't need hardware encryption, since that's one of the few features justifying the premium. And if you're on a laptop with limited cooling, the M470 PRO runs fine but there are more power-efficient options out there.

The MSI SPATIUM M470 PRO is a good drive that's priced like a great one. If you specifically need hardware encryption or you find it at a steep discount, it's worth considering. The random performance is genuinely impressive, and the 5-year warranty provides peace of mind. But for most people building a gaming rig or upgrading a laptop, there are faster and cheaper options from WD, Samsung, and Crucial that make more sense. This drive isn't bad, it's just not the best value in a crowded field.