Samsung 990 Pro 1 TB slow speeds

[Lordle]

Hello,

I just received my Samsung 990 Pro and the reading and writing speeds are really low from the said speeds and Performance mode is slower than the standard mode.

The bottom one is standard top one is performance mode. Random read and random writes seems okay at first.

I found another post about this issue and that guys recommended using "EaseUS Partition Master" to do "4K Alignment" it did improved to 5850/4850 but the random read and write slowed down hugely also. After that I thought if I switched to performance mode and it got back to what I started.

 Bottom one is standard top one is performance mode.

[user_ams007]

I haven't had any issues with my 990pro NVMe SSD drive. However, I did use the Aomei Partition Assistant to Format the Drive, and it automatically optimizes the File system

https://www.diskpart.com/articles/4k-hard-drive-manager.html

[MrXGeekX · Accepted solution]

It sounds like you're experiencing slower-than-expected speeds on your Samsung 990 Pro SSD, even after trying some troubleshooting steps like enabling "Performance Mode" and using "4K Alignment" through EaseUS Partition Master. Given the symptoms you've described, here's a structured approach to try and resolve the issue:

1. Check Your System Configuration

Interface Compatibility: Ensure that your motherboard supports PCIe 4.0 (or PCIe 3.0 if you're using the older standard) and is properly configured to take full advantage of the SSD's capabilities. Check your BIOS settings to confirm if PCIe is set to Gen 3 or Gen 4. For maximum speed, PCIe 4.0 should be enabled.

M.2 Slot: Double-check if the SSD is installed in a slot that supports PCIe 4.0 for full performance. Some motherboards have different slots, and only certain ones support PCIe 4.0.

Operating System and Drivers: Make sure you're running the latest drivers for your motherboard chipset and storage controller (especially for NVMe SSDs). Also, ensure that your operating system is up to date, as outdated firmware or drivers can affect SSD performance.


2. Samsung Magician Software

Run Samsung Magician: This tool can help optimize your SSD, check for firmware updates, and give you a better idea of the health and settings of your drive.

Update your SSD firmware through Magician if you haven’t already, as updates can address performance-related bugs or inefficiencies.

Use the "Performance Optimization" feature within Magician to ensure your drive is set to "Maximum Performance". If Performance Mode is slower than Standard Mode, it might be a firmware or compatibility issue.



3. 4K Alignment

4K Alignment Tool: Although "4K Alignment" can improve performance in some scenarios, it doesn't always yield the expected benefits and can cause issues with random read/write speeds (as you’ve already noticed). If it worked partially but also caused a significant drop in random performance, you may want to undo the 4K Alignment and test again.

Partition Alignment: Ensure that your partitions are correctly aligned to 4KB sectors, as misalignment can negatively affect performance, especially on high-performance SSDs like the 990 Pro. However, if 4K alignment caused issues for you, it’s worth trying to remove it and seeing if the random read/write speeds improve.


4. Performance Mode vs. Standard Mode

Testing Both Modes: Since you found that Performance Mode is slower than Standard Mode, it’s possible that Performance Mode is triggering aggressive power-saving features that throttle the drive under certain conditions. Try running benchmarks in both modes and comparing the results.

In Standard Mode, the SSD may be running at a more consistent pace, while in Performance Mode, it could be overactive in certain areas like caching, which might not always translate into higher speeds.


Thermal Throttling: Check for temperature issues. High temperatures can throttle performance, especially in performance mode, where the SSD may work harder. Ensure that your SSD has adequate cooling, and if possible, run the tests while the SSD is under lower heat conditions.


5. Benchmark Your SSD Performance

Use Reliable Benchmarking Tools: Benchmarking with tools like CrystalDiskMark or AS SSD Benchmark can provide you with more granular insights into how your SSD is performing in different modes.

Be sure to perform tests with different queue depths and test both sequential and random read/write speeds. Sometimes performance anomalies are more noticeable with random IOs.

Run benchmarks both before and after changes to help diagnose if a particular configuration or software tweak is affecting the speeds.



6. Revisit EaseUS Partition Master

Undo 4K Alignment: Since 4K alignment caused random read/write slowdowns, you might want to revert the changes made by EaseUS Partition Master and see if that helps the overall performance.

[MrXGeekX]

Test without Any Modifications: If you've tried multiple optimizations and changes, testing with a clean, unmodified SSD can help identify if the performance problems are due to third-party tools or settings.


7. Perform a Fresh Installation

Reformat: If the above steps don’t solve the issue, try formatting the drive and reinstalling your operating system fresh. This ensures no underlying issues with partitioning or old settings are lingering.

Driver Reinstall: Sometimes, a clean reinstall of SSD drivers can help clear up inconsistencies in the system's interaction with the drive.


Conclusion

It seems that "Performance Mode" might not be functioning as expected in your case, or there could be a thermal or software-related issue. I’d recommend trying the following:

Run Samsung Magician to ensure you're on the latest firmware and check the drive health.