# TLDR Review: MSI SPATIUM M480 1TB

*Published: 2026-03-01 | Updated: 2026-03-01 | Source: https://shopsavvy.com/reviews-tldr/msi-spatium-m480-1tb*

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## Product: MSI SPATIUM M480 1TB
**Brand:** MSI

## Pros
- Reliable performance as a boot drive replacement
- Excellent for PS5 storage expansion
- Speed performance meets advertised specs once properly cooled
- Straightforward installation process

## Cons
- Write speeds significantly degrade without a heatsink (throttling issue out of the box)
- Requires aftermarket cooling solution to achieve advertised performance

## Bottom Line

The MSI SPATIUM M480 is a solid NVMe drive that delivers reliable performance and makes a great choice for both PC upgrades and PS5 storage expansion—just don't expect to hit those advertised speeds right out of the box. The good news? Adding a heatsink completely resolves the thermal throttling issue and gets you the performance you paid for. If you're comfortable with that minor extra step and a small accessory investment, this drive punches above its weight for the price. However, if you'd rather skip the heatsink hassle entirely, you might want to compare with other PCIe 4.0 drives that come with better thermal solutions pre-installed.

## Pros vs Cons at a Glance

| Pros | Cons |
|------|------|
| Reliable performance as a boot drive replacement | Write speeds significantly degrade without a heatsink (throttling issue out of the box) |
| Excellent for PS5 storage expansion | Requires aftermarket cooling solution to achieve advertised performance |
| Speed performance meets advertised specs once properly cooled |  |
| Straightforward installation process |  |

## Current Prices

| Retailer | Price | Availability |
|----------|-------|-------------|
| Amazon | $219.99  | Check |

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*About this review: We pulled together findings from professional and user reviews, and cross-referenced them with ShopSavvy's pricing data from thousands of retailers to give you the short version.*