SSD Performance File Copy Tests

SSD Performance

In this round of benchmarks, we start off with our real-world file copy tests. Currently, certain controllers benefit from compressed files, while others don't. Certain storage units hate small files, others work well with them. So it only makes sense to do some manual tests on that. Any storage unit's nightmare, whether that is an HDD or SSD, is storing really small files as fast as possible.

File Copy

The most basic and simple test anyone can perform. We drop a 38 GB compressed MKV file onto the SSD for it to copy and write. That write number starts at 1 GB/sec, however, once the unit runs dry in caches after writing roughly 28 GB of data, the TLC hole kicks in. It still manages to write at over 500 MB/sec at that point. 

Performance Game Load Times

Here at Guru3D.com, the audience catered to is primarily made up of gamers. And as such, I'd like to start offering real-world performance game tests. During game load, a lot of things happen in the system. The CPU is hard at work, your SSD loads up executables, binaries, shaders, textures and what not while the system memory process it all. Thing is, with a fast SSD you can really decrease the overall load time of your games and levels.

We now measure based on game sequence load and translate that into the number of MB/s the storage unit can manage and load. Higher is better in this chart.

Performance ISO Creation

An ISO file is often comprised of many files archived into a file-container, for example creating a DVD. Below, that situation is emulated. A fast writing SSD will be able to create an ISO much faster opposed to a slower writing SSD. In the chart below faster is better.

Performance Application Load Time

Here we emulate the loading of complex software like Photoshop, Internet Explorer, Word, PowerPoint etc. So how many applications / dlls / hooks / etc. simultaneously in MB/s this storage unit can cope with. High IOPS storage units will score better here as it can manage more files in less time.