What is write speed?
Write speed refers to how quickly data can be written to a storage device like a hard disk drive (HDD), solid state drive (SSD), or other type of storage media. It is typically measured in megabytes per second (MB/s) or gigabytes per second (GB/s).
Write speed indicates how fast data can be saved or recorded to the storage device. Faster write speeds allow data to be written more quickly, which improves overall system performance and productivity. Slower write speeds result in longer save times and can create bottlenecks, especially when working with large files or programs.
Why is write speed important?
Write speed is an important specification to consider for any storage device. Faster write speeds offer a number of benefits:
– Quicker save times – Files, programs, and other data can be written to the drive much faster with higher write speeds. This improves workflow and productivity.
– Better multitasking – With faster write speeds, the system can write data to storage in the background while you continue to work, browse, or game in the foreground.
– Faster transfer speeds – When copying files from one drive or device to another, higher write speeds allow the transfer to complete quicker.
– Improved performance – Programs and games that frequently write data to storage will benefit from faster write speeds with improved load times and frame rates.
– Future-proofing – As file sizes continue to grow and operating systems evolve, write speed becomes even more critical to take advantage of new technologies and workflows.
In summary, higher write speeds let you get more done in less time and improve the overall responsiveness of a system. When storage can’t write data fast enough, it creates a bottleneck that impacts everything you do on your computer.
Types of storage and write speeds
Write speed varies significantly across different storage devices and technologies:
Hard Disk Drives (HDDs)
HDDs have physical platter disks that a read/write head changes data on. Current consumer HDDs have maximum write speeds of around 150-210 MB/s, with high performance models reaching over 250 MB/s. Advantages of HDDs include large capacities and low prices. Drawbacks are slower speeds, higher failure rates, fragility, noise, and heat output.
Solid State Drives (SSDs)
SSDs are flash-based drives with no moving parts. Consumer SATA SSDs now offer max write speeds of 550-580 MB/s. High performance NVMe PCIe SSDs can reach over 5000 MB/s write speed! SSD advantages include extremely fast speeds, cool and quiet operation, and durability. Downsides are higher prices and smaller capacities compared to HDDs.
USB Flash Drives
Small flash memory sticks connect via USB ports. Maximum write speed depends on the USB standard – USB 2.0 has a max write around 35 MB/s, while USB 3.2 reaches 1000 MB/s. Convenient for transferring and accessing files on the go. Capacities and speeds are generally less than SSDs.
SD Cards
Secure Digital (SD) cards are flash memory cards used in phones, cameras, and other mobile devices. Write speeds peak around 90-100 MB/s for high performance models. Well-suited for expanded storage in portable gadgets. Capacities and speeds are limited compared to SSDs.
M.2 NVMe SSDs
A new form factor of SSD designed to maximize performance in a compact design. M.2 SSDs connect directly over PCIe bus. Top write speeds exceed 7000 MB/s! Ideal for high performance laptops, gaming PCs, and workstations. Expensive per gigabyte compared to HDDs and 2.5″ SATA SSDs.
U.2 NVMe SSDs
Utilize the NVMe protocol like M.2 drives but use a larger U.2 form factor. Designed for enterprise and server applications requiring both fast speeds and higher capacities. Write speeds can reach similar levels as M.2. More expensive than consumer SSDs.
Factors that affect write speed
There are several factors that determine the real-world write speed that a storage device can achieve:
Interface/Connection
The interface between the storage device and computer impacts maximum speeds. SATA 3 has a limit of around 550 MB/s. M.2 NVMe SSDs connected via PCIe x4 can exceed 3500 MB/s. Faster interfaces like USB 3.2 10 Gbps or Thunderbolt 3 allow higher potential write speeds.
Controller & Flash Memory
The controller manages operations on SSDs and the quality of NAND flash chips impact how quickly writes occur. More channels and faster flash memory translates to faster write performance potential.
File Size & Type
Write speed is faster writing large sequential files than many small random files. Compressed or encrypted files may write slower too. Sustained write speed describes performance writing large files continuously to storage.
Workloads & Multitasking
If the system is busy with other tasks, write speed may be slower compared to idle. Opening other programs while writing large files to storage can affect write speed.
Drive Format
How the drive is formatted can impact written speeds. For example, RAID 0 configurations spread data across drives for faster writes compared to a single volume. NTFS vs exFAT vs other file systems have differences in write performance too.
Write speed requirements by use case
Ideal write speeds depend on your specific needs and use cases. Here are some common requirements:
General home/office use
Light office work, web browsing, media consumption. An entry-level SATA SSD with 350-500+ MB/s writes is sufficient for good performance. Or a 7200 RPM HDD.
Gaming
Faster write speeds provide shorter game load times and improved texture streaming. A high performance NVMe SSD with 3000+ MB/s writes recommended for high-end gaming PCs.
Creative work
For photo/video editing and multimedia production, fast SSDs help speed up workflow. NVMe drives with 3000-5000+ MB/s writes are ideal for working with large raw files.
Server and enterprise use
Data centers and other enterprise environments demand fast write speeds to serve many users concurrently. U.2 SSDs with 5000+ MB/s writes or large RAID 0 HDD arrays are common.
Scientific computing
Modeling, simulations, and scientific datasets require responsive storage for reading/writing massive files. Leading-edge NVMe or enterprise drives with 5000+ MB/s writes advised.
In summary, matching your write speed needs to your specific storage use cases and workload requirements results in the best performance experience. Faster writes provide more responsive systems, but higher speeds also come at increased costs.
Measuring and benchmarking write speeds
There are several ways to test and determine the real-world write speed of a storage drive:
Manufacturer Specifications
Drive manufacturers provide maximum rated write speeds, which provide a starting point for expectations. These are achieved under ideal test conditions.
Benchmarking Software
Programs like CrystalDiskMark perform sequential and random write speed tests using compressible or incompressible data. Provides detailed measurements.
Real-World File Transfers
Timing a large file copy/move from one drive to another tests sustained real-world write speed for a specific workload. Easy to do yourself.
In-Game Frame Rate Tests
Testing game load times and frame rates between drives can reveal differences in write speed performance for gaming.
Performance Monitoring
The Windows Task Manager or third party utilities can monitor disk activity and write speeds in real time as you run apps. Shows variability.
While manufacturer specs provide a starting point, real-world write speed tests are important to understand how a drive performs for different file types and workloads. Results can vary between benchmarking tools as well depending on test methodology.
Improving and optimizing write speeds
If your write speeds seem slower than expected, here are tips to optimize performance:
– Update SSD firmware – Later firmware versions can improve write consistency and speed.
– Enable TRIM – Helps maintain SSD write speed over time by clearing invalid data blocks.
– Minimize drive fragmentation – Defragment HDDs and optimize SSDs to maintain speed.
– Upgrade interface – Switch from SATA to NVMe SSD or USB 3.2 for faster interface.
– Upgrade drive – Newer generation drives boast faster write specs.
– Clean install OS/apps – Helps avoid bloatware slowing down writes.
– Close other programs – Avoid multitasking during large writes for best speeds.
– Replace cables – Swap out any damaged or low-quality SATA/USB cables restricting speed.
– Check for viruses – Malware running in the background can limit write performance.
– Consider RAID 0 – Combines two drives for faster writes by splitting data across them.
– Disable encryption – File/folder encryption adds overhead that can reduce write speeds.
With some tuning and upgrades, you can help maximize the write performance of your storage devices to improve transfers, load times, and overall system responsiveness.
Conclusion
Write speed defines how quickly data can be written to storage, like HDDs and SSDs. Faster write speeds provide better overall performance and responsiveness. Top factors affecting real-world write speeds include the interface, controller, and flash memory for SSDs, as well as the workload and file sizes involved.
Matching your write speed requirements to your use case is important. For gaming and creative applications, NVMe SSDs with 3000+ MB/s writes are recommended. Business servers demand enterprise drives with 5000+ MB/s write speeds. Benchmarking tools and real-world file transfer tests can quantify actual write performance. With some tuning like firmware updates, defragmentation, and closing other programs during large writes, you can optimize write speeds.