How to Test SSD Read Write Speed via Professional Tool

When you upgrade your computer from an old hard drive to a modern SSD, the performance leap is supposed to be staggering. Windows should boot in seconds, and heavy video games should load almost instantly.

However, hardware marketing can be deceptive. A manufacturer might advertise an SSD with fast speeds on the box, but real-world performance depends heavily on your motherboard, background tasks, and thermal conditions. If your PC needs to be sped up, or if you simply want to verify that you got exactly what you paid for, you need to test the hardware.

In this comprehensive diagnostic guide, we will establish exactly what a "good" SSD speed looks like. We will show you exactly how to check the read and write speed of SSD drives using both native Windows utilities and professional benchmarking software, plus a bonus tip on how to fix an underperforming drive.

What is a "High Read and Write Speed SSD"?

Before you run a speed test, you need a baseline. If the test tells you your drive is running at 450 MB/s, is that good or bad? The answer depends entirely on the physical connection type of your SSD.

If your test results fall drastically below these numbers, for example, a Gen 4 NVMe only hitting 1,500 MB/s, your hardware is severely underperforming.

How to Check Read and Write Speed of SSD ( Windows Tools)

If you want a quick snapshot of your storage performance without downloading third-party software, Windows 10 and 11 offer two built-in methods.

Method 1: The Task Manager (Real-Time Monitoring)

The Task Manager does not push your SSD to its maximum limit; rather, it shows you exactly how fast the drive is working right now based on what you are doing.

Step 1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc on your keyboard to open the Task Manager.

Step 2. Click on the Performance tab on the left sidebar.

Step 4. Click on Disk to check your SSD.

Look at the bottom right of the window. You will see live graphs and exact numbers for Read speed and write speed. To see higher numbers, try copying a massive video file from one folder to another while watching the graph.

Method 2: Command Prompt (The Winsat Benchmark)

If you want to force Windows to test the maximum sequential speed of the drive, you can use the Windows System Assessment Tool (Winsat).

Step 1. Click the Windows Start button, type cmd, right-click Command Prompt, and select Run as administrator.

Step 2. Type the following command and press Enter: winsat disk -drive C (Replace C with the letter of the SSD you want to test).

Windows will run a brief benchmark. Look at the results for Disk Sequential 64.0 Read and Disk Sequential 64.0 Write to see your maximum speeds in MB/s.

Test Your SSD Drive Read Write Speed via AOMEI

Native Windows tools are decent for a glance, but they lack the depth, visual charting, and "Random I/O" testing required to truly evaluate an SSD. For industry-standard benchmarking, IT experts rely on the Disk Speed Test tool built into AOMEI Partition Software. This tool provides highly accurate results through an intuitive interface.

AOMEI Partition Software

A free and reliable disk partition software that helps you resize partitions, migrate OS, convert disks, and optimize PC efficiently.

 

Download Freeware Windows 11/10/8.1/8/7

Step 1. Install the Software. Download, install, and open AOMEI Partition Software.

Step 2. Launch the Speed Test. Navigate to the top toolbar, click on the Test tab, and select Disk Speed Test.

Step 3. A new window will appear. By default, it opens in Simple Mode, which is perfect for everyday users wanting to test standard sequential speeds. Simply select your SSD from the drop-down list and click Start.

Step 4. Once the test finishes, AOMEI provides a detailed, color-coded breakdown of your SSD drive's read and write speed. You can even click the "Export" icon to save the results as a text file or screenshot to share on PC-building forums or send to tech support.

Bonus Tip: How to Improve an Underperforming SSD

What happens if you run the AOMEI Disk Speed Test and discover your SSD is running at half the speed it should be?

While outdated motherboard drivers or overheating can slow down an SSD, the most common software cause is Partition Misalignment. When an SSD's logical software partitions are not perfectly aligned with the physical flash memory cells, the drive has to work twice as hard to process data, slashing your read and write speeds.

You can instantly restore your SSD's factory performance by upgrading to AOMEI Partition Software and running the SSD 4K Alignment tool.

Simply right-click your sluggish SSD in the software, select Advanced > Partition Alignment, ensure "4096 Sector" is selected, and click OK. The software will safely realign your memory cells, permanently boosting your drive's speed and extending its lifespan.

Conclusion

Whether you suspect your computer is underperforming or you simply want to brag about your new hardware build, knowing how to accurately test your SSD read write speed is a vital skill.

While checking the real-time graphs in the native Windows Task Manager offers a quick glimpse into your system's performance, it does not provide the complete picture.

By utilizing the dedicated Disk Speed Test tool inside AOMEI Partition Software, you gain access to comprehensive, highly accurate benchmark scores. And if your test results are disappointing, you can use AOMEI's powerful 4K Alignment feature to instantly optimize the drive, ensuring your PC runs blazing fast.

FAQs

Q: Does running a speed test damage my SSD?

A: No. A speed test works by writing and reading a temporary dummy file (usually 1GB) to the drive. While SSDs do have a finite number of "write cycles" over their lifespan, a 1GB test file uses an infinitesimally small fraction of that lifespan. It is completely safe to test your drive.

Q: Why is my write speed significantly lower than my Read speed?

A: This is normal for almost all storage drives. Reading data involves the controller scanning existing files, which requires very little power. Writing data requires the controller to actively erase old cells and program new electrical charges, which is a slower, more complex physical process.

Q: Will filling my SSD up to 100% capacity lower its read/write speeds?

A: Yes, drastically. SSDs rely on a technology called "wear leveling," which requires a buffer of space to move data around efficiently. If your SSD is over 85% full, you will notice a severe drop in write speeds. Always leave at least 15% of your SSD empty for optimal performance.