Artificial Intelligence / Machine Learning

As AI grows in importance, so will the models, which means efficient disk I/O is needed for quick reaction time. Before any AI model can be used, its models have to be loaded from disk into main memory. In this test we're loading a 300 MB pretrained model to perform ImageNet classification. The time reported is the time it takes for Python to start and load the model, before the first inference is completed.

Large File Copy (Read)

This test measures the time it takes to read the 75 GB installed files of Guardians of the Galaxy during a copy operation to another drive.

Large File Copy (Write)

The previous test looked at read speed, this test measured the time it takes to write the same 75 GB of data, with another drive as source. Like all our real-life tests, this test runs with the drive 85% full, so there's additional strain placed on the various caching mechanisms.

ISO File Copy

The ISO disc image of Windows 11 gets copied to a different folder on the same drive. This represents a typical large-file usage model.

Steam Unpacking and Decryption

When a new game is released, and you want to be the first to play, you're often held back by the time it takes Steam to decrypt and unpack the preload data. We timed the duration of the process for a 20 GB game installation.