4 Ways to Test SSD Speed & Performance

Poor storage disk performance and slow disk speed are some of the most common reasons why your computer might feel slow. If your computer doesn’t feel as fast as it used to, try benchmarking your solid state drives to make sure they’re still working properly.

Test SSD speed with built-in applications

Most operating systems make hardware testing relatively easy. These systems are built-in tools that allow you to test your hardware without downloading any additional software.

Windows

Testing your SSD speed in Windows can be done through the Command Prompt. It is important to run Command Prompt as administrator to prevent any potential problems.

1. Type CMD in the Start Menu search bar, then right-click the Best Match and select it Run as Administrator.

2. Now, enter the following command: winsat disk -ran -write -drive [drive_letter]

Replace [drive_letter] with the designation of your drive. Your Windows files are usually installed on the “C” drive (because local drives in Windows start from C), as shown in the example image above. If you don’t know the assigned letter for your unit, you can find it by browsing This PC and check the disk you want to scan.

Linux

Linux users can use the operating system utility to benchmark read and write speeds separately:

1. Open a Linux terminal.

2. To run a typing test, type or paste the following command: dd if=/dev/zero of=/tmp/tempfile bs=1M count=1024 conv=fdatasync

3. To test the reading speed of your disc later, we need more configuration. The temporary file we created in the previous command is cached, giving a skewed result. Therefore, you need to clear the cache beforehand by entering the following: sudo /sbin/sysctl -w vm.drop_caches=3

4. Now you are ready to test your disk read speed with this command: dd if=tempfile of=/dev/null bs=1M count=1024

macOS

Finally, if you have a Mac, unfortunately, there is no built-in function to see our hardware specifications. Apple has always been discreet about what is under the shiny aluminum body and it is not different from the software of things. Fortunately, there are still ways to see the performance of your device with the help of some third-party applications.

Test SSD speed with third-party applications

While the operating system’s built-in tools are useful, there are plenty of third-party applications you can use to check storage drive speed and health.

CrystalDiskMark

CrystalDiskMark remains one of the most popular tools in Windows for measuring disk speed. Thanks to the user-friendly interface of the program, the measurement of the speed of your disk can be carried out simply by pressing the button. Everything button

The first result, which describes sequential read and write speed, might be the easiest performance measure to understand.

Download: CrystalDiskMark for Windows (free)

Novabench

Novabench is a program that measures the performance of your system’s core components: CPU, GPU, memory and storage. Running the disk speed test alone is not very intuitive to do, so it’s easier to get stuck Start all Benchmark tests and wait for the full report.

Quirks aside, Novabench’s broad cross-platform support more than makes up for it.

In addition to Windows support, Novabench also works on macOS. Since it is a third-party program, it is not available in the App Store, but it is available on the Novabench website. The tool has also been updated to support Intel-based processors and Apple’s M1 and M2 chips (otherwise known as Apple’s silicon chips).

Finally, since Linux is all about open-source software, it would be counter-intuitive for the platform to rely on proprietary software. However, if you need a benchmarking tool to test disk speed, Novabench also works on Linux systems.

Download: Novabench for Windows | macOS | Linux (free)

Blackmagic disk speed test

Blackmagic Disk Speed​​​​Test is a handy cross-platform SSD speed testing tool, available for Windows and macOS. Now available on the App Store, the software is mainly for Mac users. However, Windows users can still use the software by browsing their website and downloading the latest software update (you can find links below).

On the Windows download page, a registration screen will appear, but it is completely optional. Click Just download it in the lower left corner will allow you to skip the hassle. Once you launch the program, it is as easy as pressing Start speed test and let it do its magic.

Download: Blackmagic disk speed test for Windows | macOS (free)

What to do if you have a Slow Drive

As technology advances, the hardware in your computer becomes dated quickly. Upgrading an old drive to a modern SSD is an inexpensive way to dramatically boost your computer’s performance.

If you are upgrading from an older HDD to an SSD, you will definitely feel a night and day difference. However, you know that in some cases, RAM might be the best upgrade for your PC over an SSD. Also, the benefits may be minimal when upgrading from one SSD to another SSD from the same generation, but you’ll see. a difference between PCIe generations.

Installing a new SSD in your system only takes a few steps. First, make sure you know difference between NVMe, SATA and SSD M.2so you can buy one supported by your device. NVMe is the newest and fastest standard, but older computers or laptops may not have an NVMe port.

After buying an SSD, you will need to transfer the data from your original disk to the new one. Unfortunately, it’s not as simple as copying files, so the best practice is to clone the old disk to the new SSD.

Upgrading your computer’s main components can quickly become complex and expensive. A less expensive and easier component to upgrade is your storage device. Testing your disk speed is a fairly simple process; with the software above, the information is at your fingertips.