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An NVMe SSD (Non-Volatile Memory express Solid State Drive) is one of the fastest storage drives in computing. If you recently installed an NVMe SSD on your system, running a disk speed test to measure the I/O speeds of the NVMe can help determine how much of a performance boost your computer has received. The I/O speed tells you how fast your system transfers files between different storage devices.
If you don't know how to test NVMe speed, don't worry. Read on to learn how to easily and accurately test NVMe I/O speed on Windows and Mac.
NVMe (Non-Volatile Memory Express) I/O speed refers to the rate at which input/output operations are performed using the NVMe protocol. NVMe is an efficient, low-latency interface standard designed to maximize the high-performance capabilities of solid-state drives (SSDs). It significantly outperforms traditional SATA interfaces, offering higher data transfer rates, lower latency, and higher IOPS (Input/Output Operations Per Second). Specifically, NVMe I/O speeds can reach several gigabits per second (Gbps) for data transfer and tens of thousands of IOPS, making it excel in applications that require rapid access to large amounts of data, such as data centers, high-performance computing, and real-time applications demanding fast response times.
In computing, I/O speed refers to the rate at which a computer can perform input and output operations. It signifies the amount of data that can be transferred between the computer's processor and its input/output (I/O) devices within a specific time frame. These devices include hard drives, USB devices, and others. I/O speed is often measured in Input/Output Operations Per Second (IOPS).
The “I” in “I/O” stands for input, which refers to how quickly data is transferred into the computer. The “O” stands for output, or the rate at which data is sent from the computer to an output device. In NVMe, I/O speed means the number of input/output operations that can be performed each second. The higher the I/O speed, the better the performance of the NVMe.
How can I benchmark my NVMe I/O speeds on my own?
Testing the I/O speed of an NVMe drive isn't complicated, and it can be done using reliable disk benchmark software or built-in tools within the operating system. It's recommended to use dedicated speed testing software for more straightforward usage and accurate results. Here are three methods to test NVMe speed on both Windows and Mac: 1. **For Windows:** - **CrystalDiskMark:** This is a popular and user-friendly benchmark tool that provides extensive tests for SSDs, including NVMe drives. Download and run CrystalDiskMark, select the NVMe drive from the drop-down menu, and then run the standard test. It will display read and write speeds for various data transfer sizes. - **HD Tune Pro:** Another reliable tool, HD Tune Pro offers a comprehensive suite of tests, including a benchmark feature. Install the software, choose the NVMe drive, and run the benchmark to measure its performance. 2. **For Mac:** - **Blackmagic Disk Speed Test:** This is a free utility developed by Blackmagic Design that measures the read and write speeds of storage devices, including NVMe drives. Download the app, launch it, and select the NVMe drive from the list. Click "Write" and "Read" to start the tests. - **SSD Utility Suite (Intel):** If you have an Intel NVMe drive, you can use their SSD Utility Suite, which includes a benchmark tool. Download and install the software, then run the benchmark to test your drive's performance. Remember to ensure your computer is not running any resource-intensive applications during the tests for accurate results.
The first two methods are exclusive to Windows users, while the third one is recommended for Mac users. Among these, using CMD doesn't require any third-party applications, but its command-line interface might not be user-friendly. Running the wrong commands can also potentially harm your computer's operating system. Hence, for Windows users, it's best to use the Partition Master tool to test the NVMe I/O speed.
#1. Testing NVMe I/O Speed with Tools Partition Master on Windows
Partition Master Tool is the best free disk speed testing software for Windows to test NVMe I/O speed. This tool provides accurate and detailed speed results to help evaluate the performance of your NVMe SSD. It has a dedicated feature called "DiskMark" that is an ideal tool for testing the speed of storage drives like NVMe, M.2, SSD, HDD, USB, and more.
When testing the speed of an NVMe drive using tools like Partition Master, you'll encounter metrics such as read/write speed, I/O speed, and latency. Let's delve into what these terms mean: 1. **Read Speed**: This refers to the rate at which data can be read from the NVMe drive. It is usually measured in megabytes per second (MB/s) – the higher the number, the faster the data can be retrieved. 2. **Write Speed**: Write speed measures how quickly data can be written to the NVMe drive, also expressed in MB/s. A higher value indicates faster data writing. 3. **I/O Speed** (Input/Output Operations Per Second): IOPS is a metric that assesses a storage device's ability to handle input/output operations. It indicates how many read/write operations the device can perform in a single second. High IOPS is crucial for applications that frequently read and write small chunks of data, such as databases or operating systems. 4. **Latency Speed** or **Access Time**: Latency is the time it takes from sending a read/write request to receiving a response. It is commonly measured in milliseconds (ms). Lower latency translates to faster data access responsiveness, which is vital for applications requiring real-time data processing. These metrics help evaluate the performance of an NVMe drive and determine if it suits your specific requirements.
- Read/Write Speed: The read/write speed of an NVMe drive tells you how long it takes to read from or write to a specific amount of data within a given time frame. Measured in MB/s or GB/s, higher read/write speeds indicate a faster drive.
- Input/Output Operations per Second (IOPS): As mentioned, the IOPS of an NVMe SSD refers to how many input or output operations it can perform per second. A higher IOPS rating indicates a more powerful drive.
- Latency: The latency of your NVMe SSD refers to how long it takes to access stored data. This is also called latency rate, measured in milliseconds or microseconds. Faster NVMe drives will have lower latency rates.
Steps to test NVMe I/O speed with the tool Partition Master in UTF-8 encoding format
With its clean and intuitive interface, using this tool to test NVMe I/O speed is not difficult. Follow the steps below to test NVMe I/O speed with Partition Master:
Step 1. Launch AOMEI Partition Assistant. Then click the Download button to activate the "DiskMark" feature in the "Discovery" section.
Step 2. Select the target drive, test data, and block size from the drop-down menus.
Step 3: Once you have configured all the options, click on the "Start" button to begin the hard drive test. You will soon see the read/write speed, IOPS, and latency of your hard drive for both sequential and random operations.
#2. Testing NVMe I/O Through the CMD Command Line
The Command Prompt in Windows is also an excellent tool to test NVMe I/O speeds. However, its command-line interface might be confusing for infrequent users. To check the NVMe SSD's I/O speed, you'll need to use the WinSAT command. Follow these steps to test NVMe I/O speeds on Windows using CMD:
Step 1: To test NVMe I/O speeds on Windows, you need to run the Command Prompt as an administrator. First, open the Run feature using "Win + R." Type "cmd" in the box, and then start the Command Prompt with admin privileges by using "Ctrl + Shift + Enter."
Step 2: After opening the command prompt, run the following WinSAT command:
winsat disk -ran -write -drive Z (replace "Z" with the name of your NVMe drive)
Just wait until you see the I/O speeds of an NVMe SSD.
Test NVMe SSD speed using CMD 
#3. Running and Testing NVMe I/O Speeds on a Mac with Blackmagic Disk Speed Test
Wondering what the best tool is to test NVMe I/O speeds on a Mac? Blackmagic Disk Speed Test is an excellent lightweight and free utility for measuring storage drive speeds. It's completely safe and has a straightforward interface. Here's how to test NVMe I/O speeds on your Mac using Blackmagic Disk Speed Test: 1. **Download and Install**: Visit the App Store and download the Blackmagic Disk Speed Test application. Install it on your Mac. 2. **Launch the Application**: Once the installation is complete, locate the app in your Applications folder and double-click to open it. 3. **Select the NVMe Drive**: In the Blackmagic Disk Speed Test window, you'll see a drop-down menu labeled "Drive." Select the NVMe drive you want to test from the list provided. 4. **Choose the Test Type**: By default, the application is set to test both Write and Read speeds. If you wish to test only one, you can uncheck the respective box. 5. **Start the Test**: Click the "Start" button to begin the benchmarking process. The application will now write and read data to your NVMe drive, measuring its speed. 6. **Review the Results**: Once the test is completed, the application will display the write and read speeds in MB/s (megabytes per second). Make note of these numbers for future reference. 7. **Save the Results**: If desired, click the "Copy" button to copy the results to your clipboard or the "Save" button to save them as a text file. 8. **Repeat if Needed**: If you want to compare the performance with different settings or after making changes, you can repeat the process. Remember that actual performance may vary depending on various factors such as your system configuration, other running applications, and the specific NVMe drive model.
Step 1: Install Blackmagic Disk Speed Test on your Mac from the Apple Mac App Store and open it. If you want to run the speed test with the default settings, click the “Speed Test Start” button.
Step 2: To change the pressure value, first tap on the “Gear” icon to select a value, then tap on “Start Speed Test.” Once the test is complete, you can tap on the Gear icon and choose the “Save Screenshot” option to save the results.
Ultimate arbitration
Knowing how to test NVMe I/O speeds ensures you're aware of any improvements in your system's performance. If the results fall short, it could indicate an issue with the NVMe SSD or another system problem. Hence, on Windows, Partition Master is a great option as it helps resolve disk issues and provides accurate speed ratings. For Mac, Blackmagic Disk Speed Test is the best choice.
Frequently Asked Questions About Testing NVMe I/O Speeds
If you want to learn more about how to test NVMe I/O speeds, we've answered some common questions below:
1. How can I run an SSD read and write speed test online?
No, you cannot directly check the read and write speed of an SSD online. Since an SSD is a hardware component, you need to download a speed testing software on your device to perform the test. For Windows users, the best free SSD speed testing tool is Partition Master, while for Mac users, it's Blackmagic Disk Speed Test.
2. How do I test my NVMe performance?
To test the performance of an NVMe SSD, you can run a disk speed test on Windows by following these steps:
Step 1: Search for "Command Prompt" using the Windows search bar, then click "Run as administrator" to open CMD with administrative privileges.
Step 2: Run the "winsat disk -ran -write -drive (name)" command to check the NVMe performance.
3. How fast should my NVMe SSD be?
NVMe SSDs are some of the fastest storage devices around. Their top speed depends on the generation of PCIe they use. A common NVMe SSD with PCIe Gen3 should easily exceed 3,000 MB/s. NVMe SSDs with PCIe Gen4 can go beyond 7,500 MB/s.