Testing SSD's on Windows 10: best ways to do so?

[80251]

I only have two ways to test my SSD's-HDD's (three ways for SSD's if you include Samsung Magician's built-in diagnostic):

1. speedfan can initiate either a short or long SMART self-test
2. chkdsk

Are either of these utilities a valid way to test the integrity of an SSD? Or should I be looking for something else?

 

[ThrashZone]

Hi,
Yeah I can't remember a couple of utilities one not free but has a trial period I used on three adata 8200 pro's couple years ago
I know which one not to use
as-ssd

 

[evernessince]

chkdsk checks the integrity of the file system, not the SSD itself. Errors in the file system aren't necessarily indicative of an issue with the drive itself.

The best way to test device integrity is using manufacturer provided tools for the drive you are testing. Samsung Magician as you pointed out is one of them. Typically these programs can run a SMART / Self-diagnostic test. Different manufacturers use different SMART values or sometimes output some SMART data in a different format so it's important you use software that can correctly interpret that. CrystalDisk info is a utility that can be used to get smart and health data on all drives, just note that it may not interpret all SMART data from all manufacturers correctly.

In addition to those tests, you can run basic performance tests like Anvil and compare to review results to ensure you are getting advertised performance levels.

The last test I would optionally recommend is an extended copy test with a mix of small and large files (200GB+). This can sometimes find issues with the controller or NAND that would be missed on shorter tests. I recommend this optionally though as it puts a significant amount of writes on the drive and depending on the NAND type may be significant (like QLC for example). For HDDs I always do a full write then delete to ensure there are no bad sectors on the drive as number of writes is not much of a concern for HDDs.

 

[ThrashZone]

Hi,
Okay I remember ATTO disk benchmark is one.

Disk Benchmark for Windows Software | ATTO

Use the ATTO Disk Benchmark for Windows Software to test HBAs, hard drives, solid state drives, and hybrid drives. Free Windows download.

www.atto.com

Crystal disk mark this one can be confirmed with hwinfo64 speed reads to

CrystalDiskMark

CrystalDiskMark is designed to quickly test the performance of your hard drives.

www.techspot.com

 

[droid-I]

@ OP, then there is AIDA64, not sure if it covers what you are looking for.

AIDA64 - Disk benchmark

With this module, we can measure the performance of the PC's storage devices, including (S)ATA or SCSI hard disk drives, RAID arrays, optical drives, solid-stat

aida64.co.uk

 

[Deleted member 57642]

The best way to test device integrity is using manufacturer provided tools for the drive you are testing. Samsung Magician as you pointed out is one of them. Typically these programs can run a SMART / Self-diagnostic test. Different manufacturers use different SMART values or sometimes output some SMART data in a different format so it's important you use software that can correctly interpret that.

Unfortunately, Samsung and its Samsung Magician is heavily biased in this regard... when it comes to SSDs designated for OEM (like Samsung PM981 - which comes with a multitude of laptops) and their end user commercial products (EVO & PRO). As in...

SSD made by Samsung but you get exactly the same support as if using an SSD from OCZ,WD, etc.

 

[evernessince]

Unfortunately, Samsung and its Samsung Magician is heavily biased in this regard... when it comes to SSDs designated for OEM (like Samsung PM981 - which comes with a multitude of laptops) and their end user commercial products (EVO & PRO). As in...

View attachment 287182View attachment 287183View attachment 287184

SSD made by Samsung but you get exactly the same support as if using an SSD from OCZ,WD, etc.

Samsung magician does not support OEM drives but it does support retail models including the EVO and Pro products. If you are not seeing SMART info or features are disabled for drives it should support, there is something wrong with the interface you have them connected with. I have had this issue when connecting a 870 Evo to my PC via a SATA to usb adapter and it was resolved by directly connecting the SSD to a sata port on the motherboard.

 

[Deleted member 57642]

Samsung magician does not support OEM drives but it does support retail models including the EVO and Pro products. If you are not seeing SMART info or features are disabled for drives it should support, there is something wrong with the interface you have them connected with. I have had this issue when connecting a 870 Evo to my PC via a SATA to usb adapter and it was resolved by directly connecting the SSD to a sata port on the motherboard.

That's just it - Samsung whitelisted only the EVO & Pro line for Samsung Magician - depriving the SSDs they make for OEMs - even of the most basic appraisal. Thus, if the OEM which puts together your product (be it Laptop or PC) - is lazy or incapable of making a tool that can properly asses the functionality of your SSD (that's basically most of OEMs) -3rd party tools are your only remaining option.

It's a nVme SSD - even the primary drive (which hosts the OS) - and fortunately, it does work properly & can even check the SMART info - while using a 3rd party tool:

No Firmware updates support - is one thing (which particularly affects MSI products users - since MSI is as lazy or incapable as an No-Name Brand in this regard, as in: only company that doesn't offer a firmware update - so you're stuck with the one made by Samsung in the factory - yet, others like Lenovo and Dell - released 2 or 3 firmwares since then - last one last year) - but not even a basic support (as much as 3rd party tool) - for SSDs made by Samsung....

BTW: https://www.pugetsystems.com/support/guides/critical-samsung-ssd-firmware-update/

 

[chrcoluk]

Its harder with NVME devices.

For SMART tests, I havent found a way to do it in windows without using OEM software.

For SATA devices linux and BSD can do it easily via smartmontools.

For NVME those tools cant seem to be able to do it, the only way I have found is using OEM tools such as samsung magician. Even then they lock it behind certian SKU's e.g. my 970 EVO doesnt support all the tests in magician but my 980 PRO does.

 

[Calenhad]

What are you trying to achieve? Use CrystalDiskInfo to read the S.M.A.R.T. data stored in your drive. Self tests are performed by the drive while your computer is powered on, so performing a manual test is very rarely required. Any potential issues should show up in the stored data.

Even so, check the uefi on your motherboard. I have worked on several modern motherboards that have the option to run short and long tests directly in the NVMe section.

And if you really, really want to manually run tests and do not have that option in the uefi. You can make an Ubuntu live boot usb. Make sure smartmontools is installed. And use smartctl to run all the tests you want to. Just make sure you start with smartctl -h and rtfm. You have to do sudo smartctl to actually run any tests. Just be very, very aware that smartctl (and hdparm) are god mode for your drive. You can brick it if you do the wrong command.

 

[evernessince]

That's just it - Samsung whitelisted only the EVO & Pro line for Samsung Magician - depriving the SSDs they make for OEMs - even of the most basic appraisal. Thus, if the OEM which puts together your product (be it Laptop or PC) - is lazy or incapable of making a tool that can properly asses the functionality of your SSD (that's basically most of OEMs) -3rd party tools are your only remaining option.

It's a nVme SSD - even the primary drive (which hosts the OS) - and fortunately, it does work properly & can even check the SMART info - while using a 3rd party tool:

View attachment 287240

No Firmware updates support - is one thing (which particularly affects MSI products users - since MSI is as lazy or incapable as an No-Name Brand in this regard, as in: only company that doesn't offer a firmware update - so you're stuck with the one made by Samsung in the factory - yet, others like Lenovo and Dell - released 2 or 3 firmwares since then - last one last year) - but not even a basic support (as much as 3rd party tool) - for SSDs made by Samsung....

BTW: https://www.pugetsystems.com/support/guides/critical-samsung-ssd-firmware-update/

I'm not sure if you are aware but OEM SSDs are typically not supported by the original manufacturer. If they do receive software support it will be through the system manufacturer. Intel, Solidigm, Samsung, WD, SK Hynix, Micron, and more do not support OEM products in their retail software.

This is down to the fact that OEM software often has custom firmware for that OEM so it's not logical to expect them to support every variant out there.

The moral of the story is that you should buy your product from a reputable vendor or build yourself.

Now you can still get SMART data for those drives and run tests on them (file copies, Anvil, ect)

For SMART tests, I havent found a way to do it in windows without using OEM software.

CrystalDiskInfo is able to display SMART data for NVMe drives or any drive connected via PCIe. I have SATA, M.2, and U.2 drives all displaying SMART info in CDI.

 

[chrcoluk]

I'm not sure if you are aware but OEM SSDs are typically not supported by the original manufacturer. If they do receive software support it will be through the system manufacturer. Intel, Solidigm, Samsung, WD, SK Hynix, Micron, and more do not support OEM products in their retail software.

This is down to the fact that OEM software often has custom firmware for that OEM so it's not logical to expect them to support every variant out there.

The moral of the story is that you should buy your product from a reputable vendor or build yourself.

Now you can still get SMART data for those drives and run tests on them (file copies, Anvil, ect)



CrystalDiskInfo is able to display SMART data for NVMe drives or any drive connected via PCIe. I have SATA, M.2, and U.2 drives all displaying SMART info in CDI.

Thats just showing the SMART counters, SMART itself has tests you can actually run on the drives which crystal diskinfo doesnt have as a feature.

SMART tests with smartctl - Thomas-Krenn-Wiki-en

All modern hard drives offer the possibility to monitor its current state via SMART attributes. These values provide information about various parameters of the hard disk and can provide information on the disk's remaining lifespan or on any possible errors. In addition, various SMART tests can...

www.thomas-krenn.com

Samsung magician if I remember right supports short and long tests but not conveyance.

 

[Calenhad]

Thats just showing the SMART counters, SMART itself has tests you can actually run on the drives which crystal diskinfo doesnt have as a feature.

The drive will run these tests periodically, while powered on. The results will be reflected in the SMART data. There is no point running SMART tests manually, unless you are diagnosing a problem. If the SSD is reporting that everything is fine, it is almost guaranteed fine.

HDDs can be a different story, but there are Windows utilities that can perform SMART tests on those anyway. I have used HDDScan for that successfully, for example.