Solved SSD very low reading speed

Hello folks,

I'm having the problem that loading my libraries into RAM in Kontakt is done at a "whopping" speed of about 10-20 MB/s.
After trying a few solutions from this forum and other internet sources (full list at the end), I ran my own tests to further isolate the problem.

So I tested copying some files and found the following:

• copying Kontakt Symphony Series String Ensemble from the Western Digital SSD (WDC WDS500G2B0A-00SM50) to a Crucial SSD (Crucial CT525MX300SSD1) matched the problematic 10-20 MB/s reading speed

• copying equivalent big .iso files with the same SSD configuration is done with average ~450 MB/s

These measurements were taken using Western Digital's Dashboard software. I assume that the data is taken from the Windows resource monitor. In addition, I roughly double checked the read/write speeds by also measuring the time.

Using Kontakt without the DAW did produce the same slow reading speeds. Also I am quite sure, that loading the vsts was much faster in the past.

Questions:

1. Have any of you had a similar problem and perhaps have a clue as to what is going wrong and how it can be fixed?
2. Since copying from SSD to RAM (in Kontakt) and SSD to another SSD (in Windows Explorer) produces equivalent errors, I am inclined to believe that the SSD itself has problems with the library data. Is there a solution for this or is it a typical problem with the Kontakt libraries and my memory (my brain) is simply deceiving me in this case?

List of checks and changes:

• The Dashboard software from WD states, that the SSD Health is in normal condition and the firmware is up-to-date. There seems to have been no firmware update ever, because no firmware change was done by myself. I don't know if an automatic system did a firmware update by itself, but I am doubting it.
• Both SSDs are formatted in NTFS
• Both SSDs are connected internally to the southbridge SATA 6 GB/s connectors
  
• Trim is enabled
• I changed from native IDE to AHCI. That did improve the measured value for the disk sequential read from 120 MB/s to about 231 MB/s. (measured with the "winsat disk -seq -read -drive X" command in the powershell)
  
• Batch resave brought no improvement
• implemented exceptions in Avast Antivirus for the folders of libraries, Kontakt and the DAW
• Both SSDs have more than 25% free space (SSD1: 28%, SSD2: 39%)

System Specs:

• OS: Windows 10 Education, Version 20H2
• Processor: AMD FX(tm)-8150 Eight-Core Processor 3.60 GHz
• Mainboard: Gigabyte GA-990FXA-UD3
• RAM: 4x Corsair XMS3 DDR3
• SSD1 (OS): Crucial CT525MX300SSD1
• SSD2 (Kontakt+DAW+Libraries): WDC WDS500G2B0A-00SM50
• DAW: Cubase pro 10, Version 10.0.20 Build 187
  
• Kontakt 6 Player, Version 6.5.3 (R125)

I thank you for reading this far and hope someone can nudge me in a right direction to identify and solve the problem.

Edit:
-Both SSDs have more than 25% free space

 

Hi Ruhkar, as I reading I was wondering about trim, but you have that enabled. Some of the things you've said I dont know about, but one thing I don't see you mention is how full are the SSDs? I was recently doing some research for external SSDs and the general consensus all round is SSDs dont like being too full and markedly slow down if they are. At least 25% free was a common recommendation but the more free space the better.

 

Hi Jojo123,

you are absolutely right and I forgot to mention that. Both SSDs have more than 25% free space. I will edit it into the previous post so that it is directly visible to others.

to be precise:
SSD1 has 28%
SSD2 has 39%

 

Hi Ruhkar,
Another thought - have you by chance changed where you've installed your apps? I wonder if having your DAW on the non system drive may have something to do with it? For the most part I think apps are better on the system drive and content/libraries generally go on the 2nd internal/external drive. I know NI highly recommends any apps are better on the OS drive. Going by your precision post it looks like you've done some comprehensive research and I hope someone with better knowledge than me chimes in. 10-20 MB/s. must be crippling.

 

Hi Jojo123,

good point, that will be the next step. It still is odd though, that the low transfer rate is reproducible by copying the files from SSD to SSD. Hence the DAW and Kontakt are not involved in this case, I assumed all beeing on one drive would not be the reason for the slow reading speed of the SSD.

Thank you very much so far for looking into it!

 

Hi again Ruhar, sorry I can't be of more help. I'm not up with PC specs (Im on Mac) so Im not sure how old your system is but it doesn't sound that old. For sure something isn't right, I mean Im getting really good speeds out of my External T5s and a T7 and internals should be quicker than these. I hope something turns up for you. I'd like to hear if you figure out whats going on.

 

Hello Jojo123,

the problem is solved. Backing up the data, wiping the SSD2 with the WD Dashboard software and formatting it with the Windows tools did the trick.
I have no idea how the problem came about as the SSD was used exclusively for Cubase, Kontakt software and the two vst libraries. Also, I haven't used it for quite a while, but had it connected to my PC the whole time. Maybe a system update messed something up.

The data transfer between the two SSDs is now as fast as expected. Also, just to be on the safe side, Kontakt and Cubase are now on the system drive, as you mentioned.

Some of your tips turned out to be very enlightening as they offered possibilities to rule out. Therefore, many thanks for them!

 

Ruhar your'e welcome! Good news that this is sorted and thanks for reporting back. Mine was just a small contribution but I guess every little bit helps.