First, you select the hard disk you want to test, and then you choose a function. In this guide, we will go through the most important ones.
Benchmark
Why should one perform a benchmark?
A benchmark is conducted to assess the performance and response time of the disk. This way, you always have an overview of the minimum, maximum, and average speed of your hard disk.
It can also show what your access time is, indicating how quickly you can access your files on your hard disk and how much your CPU is utilized during large file transfers.
File Benchmark
A File Benchmark works more or less the same way as a normal benchmark, with the exception that we do not test for speed with hard disk stability.
With a simple graph, you can see how stable your hard disk is and whether it experiences any dips in performance or errors during data transfer. In the example shown, you can see a hard disk that is relatively stable, of course, within reasonable limits.
In the test, 600MB per second is transferred, which is the maximum that the installed SSD can handle.
Health
This function utilizes S.M.A.R.T. (Self-Monitoring, Analysis, and Reporting Technology) to gather information about the hard disk's health. The table shows the following parameters:
ID: Measured parameter
Current: Current value of the measured parameter
Worst: The worst value recorded since the hard disk was first used
Threshold value: One of the parameters should never fall below the threshold.
Status: Parameter status (OK, failed, or requires attention).*
Hard Disk Error Scan
You need to press the Start button, and the entire surface of the disk will be scanned for errors.
This test takes a long time as it thoroughly examines your entire hard disk for errors and bad sectors. These are displayed as red blocks, while green represents sectors on your hard disk that are functioning properly. This can provide a better understanding of your hard disk's condition.
In the image, you can see how a healthy hard disk looks.
This test was conducted on a Sharkgaming SSD 480GB and took just over 19 minutes.
In the test, you can also see a transfer speed of approximately 429 Mb/s, which is very acceptable for a standard SSD.