MSI Spatium M570 Pro Frozr
PCle 5.0 Interface and Sequential Performance | FROZR Passive Cooling Architecture | Enhanced Endurance and Security
Introduction
The MSI Spatium M570 Pro Frozr represents a significant leap in consumer storage technology as one of the first PCIe 5.0 NVMe SSDs to deliver sustained sequential read speeds exceeding 12 GB/s. Positioned for enthusiasts and professionals demanding cutting-edge performance, this drive leverages advanced thermal engineering to overcome the heat challenges inherent to PCIe 5.0 architectures. Its release in late 2023 marked a new era of storage solutions optimized for next-gen computing platforms.
Product Overview
Designed for high-performance computing environments, the Spatium M570 Pro Frozr combines Phison's E26 controller with Micron's 232-layer 3D TLC NAND flash. Available in 1TB, 2TB, and 4TB capacities, it targets users requiring rapid data throughput for tasks such as 8K video editing, large-scale simulation workloads, and latency-sensitive gaming. The drive's defining characteristic is its proprietary FROZR cooling system, which enables sustained performance without active cooling components.
Key Features
PCIe 5.0 Interface and Sequential Performance
The SSD achieves sequential read/write speeds of 12,400/11,800 MB/s in its 2TB and 4TB configurations, nearly doubling the bandwidth of PCIe 4.0 counterparts. This is enabled by the Phison E26 controller's support for NVMe 2.0 protocols and a x4 PCIe 5.0 lane configuration. While theoretical throughput reaches 14 GB/s in synthetic benchmarks, real-world testing confirms consistent 12+ GB/s transfers under optimal thermal conditions.
FROZR Passive Cooling Architecture
MSI's thermal solution employs three nickel-plated heat pipes connecting a vapor chamber base to an aluminum fin stack measuring 71.65mm in height. This design reduces controller temperatures by up to 20°C compared to uncooled configurations, maintaining sustained write performance even during extended 200GB SLC cache saturation. The passive approach eliminates fan noise while preventing thermal throttling thresholds (typically 70-75°C) from being reached during continuous operation.
Enhanced Endurance and Security
With a 1,400 TBW (Terabytes Written) rating for the 2TB model and AES 256-bit encryption support, the drive balances high-write durability with enterprise-grade data protection. The 5-year warranty covers either the endurance rating or time period, whichever occurs first, reflecting confidence in the 232-layer NAND's longevity.
Performance Analysis
Sequential Workload Optimization
In CrystalDiskMark benchmarks, the 2TB variant demonstrates 14,200 MB/s read and 12,400 MB/s write speeds under queue depth 32 conditions. However, practical file transfers show 10-12% performance degradation when moving non-cached data beyond the 200GB pseudo-SLC buffer, settling at 2.8 GB/s sustained writes. This represents a 87% improvement over first-gen PCIe 5.0 drives that throttled to 1.5 GB/s post-cache exhaustion.
Random Access Characteristics
While MSI doesn't publish official IOPS figures, third-party testing reveals approximately 1.5 million random read/write IOPS at queue depth 256. This parity with premium PCIe 4.0 drives like the Kingston KC3000 highlights the current generation's focus on sequential optimization rather than random access improvements.
Thermal Dynamics
The FROZR cooler maintains composite temperatures at 60°C during sustained writes, outperforming actively cooled competitors like the Corsair MP700 Pro by 3°C in stress tests. This thermal headroom allows full utilization of the Phison controller's 11.5W maximum power draw without performance degradation.
Compatibility
PlayStation 5 Considerations
Despite PCIe 5.0 backward compatibility, the Spatium M570 Pro Frozr's 71.65mm height exceeds PS5's 11.25mm M.2 slot clearance. Users seeking PS5-compatible Gen5 performance must opt for MSI's low-profile Spatium M480 Play variant instead.
Handheld PC Limitations
The drive's 11.5W peak power consumption and physical dimensions make it unsuitable for portable devices like the Steam Deck. Raspberry Pi implementations are similarly impractical due to lack of PCIe 5.0 support and thermal constraints in compact enclosures.
Desktop Platform Requirements
Optimal performance requires motherboard PCIe 5.0 x4 M.2 slots with ≥22mm vertical clearance. Users must verify component spacing, as the heatsink's 71.65mm height may conflict with GPU backplates or CPU coolers in compact builds.
Advantages and Limitations
Strengths
Unmatched Sequential Throughput: Delivers 94% of PCIe 5.0's theoretical 14 GB/s bandwidth in real-world applications.
Thermal Efficiency: Passive cooling solution prevents throttling while operating within 60°C thresholds.
Future-Proof Interface: Ready for upcoming platforms leveraging PCIe 5.0's 32 GT/s signaling rate.
Constraints
Power Consumption: Idle power draw of 144mW and active peaks reaching 11.5W exceed previous-gen drives by 50%.
Physical Dimensions: The 71.65mm-tall heatsink requires careful system planning for compatibility.
Diminishing Real-World Returns: Most consumer workloads show ≤10% improvement over PCIe 4.0 alternatives.
Conclusion
The MSI Spatium M570 Pro Frozr establishes itself as the premier choice for workstation users and content creators requiring maximum sequential throughput. While the MSRP positions it as a premium investment, the combination of PCIe 5.0 bandwidth and innovative thermal management justifies the cost for professional use cases. General consumers may find better value in PCIe 4.0 alternatives, but enthusiasts building cutting-edge systems will appreciate this drive's uncompromising performance.
Works Cited
"MSI Spatium M570 Pro Frozr 2TB SSD Review - Electric Performance." Club386, 17 Oct. 2024, www.club386.com/msi-spatium-m570-pro-frozr-2tb-ssd-review-electric-performance/.
"MSI Spatium M570 PRO FROZR PCIe 5.0 NVMe SSD Review - 12GB/s." Guru3D, 19 Dec. 2023, www.guru3d.com/review/msi-spatium-m570-pro-pcie-50-nvme-m2-frozr-12gb-s/.
"MSI Spatium M570 Pro Frozr 2 TB Review - Value & Conclusion." TechPowerUp, 3 Jan. 2025, www.techpowerup.com/review/msi-spatium-m570-pro-2-tb/19.html.
"MSI Spatium M570 Pro 2TB SSD Review - Tower of Power." TweakTown, 19 Dec. 2023, www.tweaktown.com/reviews/10616/msi-spatium-m570-pro-2tb-ssd-tower-of-power/index.html.
"MSI Heralds 'Revolutionary' Spatium M570 Pro Frozr PCIe 5.0 SSD." Tom's Hardware, 19 Dec. 2023, www.tomshardware.com/pc-components/storage/msi-heralds-revolutionary-spatium-m570-pro-frozr-pcie-50-ssd-claims-towering-cooler-delivers-20-degree-temperature-reduction.
