*Hard Disk Speed Test Free
*Free Speed Test For Mac
Mar 31, 2015 Here’s a list of 5 hard disk speed tester software for Windows 10 which you can use to test hard disk performance, read and write speed to be more precise, using your Windows 10 powered PC. Windows 10 comes out soon and checking out hardware performance is probably one of the first things tech oriented people are going to be doing. The Disk Benchmark software by ATTO helps estimate performance of the storage system by running a range of tests to identify speed of the hard disk. It’s one of the leading tools used in the industry that establishes performance in hard drives, SSDs, and more.
All the data your MacBook uses to operate is stored in a single location: the drive. For many users, this specifically means a hard drive (HDD), which is a physical disk the spins at very high speeds to access chunks of data.
If you’re using a newer Mac, you probably have a solid-state drive (SSD, or flash storage), which is completely electronic with no mechanical parts and thus does not spin.
To check whether your MacBook is with an HDD or SSD, click on the Apple icon on the top left of your screen, select About This Mac, and select Storage.
Hard drive performance is measured in two categories: read speeds and write speeds. The former is a measure of how fast you can open something that already exists, while the latter is how fast you can add something new to your computer’s drive.Why Should I Test Hard Drive Speed?
Measuring your hard drive speed is one of the easiest and most effective ways to benchmark your MacBook. The data you get by testing will provide a standard to measure customizations such as added extra RAM or drive replacements against, and will also tell you if you need an upgrade in the immediate future.
Knowing your hard drive speed can also help you determine if you’ll be able to run certain programs (such as heavy creative software) effectively or if you don’t have the necessary read and write speeds.How to Test Hard Drive Speed on a Mac?
To test your HDD, you’re going to need a third-party program, since this functionality isn’t built into macOS. Two of the most popular are BlackMagic and NovaBench, so we’ll show you how to use both.
For context, most modern hard drives have read speeds averaging 120 Mbps and write at 128 Mbps.Blackmagic Disk Speed Test
First, you’ll need to download BlackMagic from the Mac App Store (it’s completely free!). Once it is installed, launch the app.
If you only have one hard drive (if you’re not sure, then you probably just have one), all you have to do is hit “START” since the program only has one window.
If you do have more than one drive (such as an external drive), you can navigate to FILE > SELECT TARGET DRIVE to choose which one you would like to test, and how strenuously. You can also CTRL + CLICK or right-click with a mouse to bring up a small menu.
Whichever you choose, your results will be shown on the two large gauges at the top of the window. Since Blackmagic was created for video editors, underneath the main measurements is a series of tables for those creative professionals who need to know what their computer is capable of. If you’re not in that business, however, you can ignore these and focus on your overall speeds instead.NovaBench
First, download Novabench from the official website or the Mac App Store. The basic version is free, but you can also upgrade to Pro to access more tools if you like the application.
Once you’ve downloaded and installed, open the program and choose “start tests” from the splash screen. There may be a pop up advising you to close other applications, and then NovaBench will proceed with testing.
Once completed, the test results will be saved with the date and time in the application, and you can view them at any time from the NovaBench start screen.What to Do If My Disk Speed is Slow?
If your hard drive doesn’t seem to be performing up to par, there are a few things you can do to keep your data safe and your MacBook running at its best.
1. Replace the drive
This is the most effective way to get your computer back in order, but it isn’t the best option for everyone. If your MacBook was made after 2013, you probably don’t have this option at all since models made after this point cannot be opened without voiding the warranty. Additionally, the MacBook Air has never been able to be modified.
If you want to replace your drive, you have two options: buy another HDD, or upgrade to an SSD. A new HDD will be cheaper and get you more space for your money but will eventually face the same problems as your current drive. An SSD will offer significantly faster speed and you can consider one of these SSD upgrades for MacBook we listed.
2. Supplement Your Drive
Not sure about replacing the entire drive or physically can’t do it? You can get an external HDD or SSD that plugs in with USB. It will work in tandem with your existing drive and can be a great fall back in case your drive fails or needs a little extra help.
If this sounds like the right solution for you, check out our list of the best external drives for MacBook Pro.
3. Backup Your Data
Since slow read/write speeds could be a sign of the impending death of your hard drive, it’s a good idea to make sure your computer is completely backed up. You’ll need at least as much storage space on the cloud platform (we recommend Google Drive or Dropbox) or an external drive of your choice as you’re currently taking up on your computer.
Then, you can copy your entire library of files, images, videos, and more to this backup location. Many cloud services also offer an automatic backup service, so you never have to worry about accidentally missing your recent files in the event of a hard drive failure. Additionally, getting excess files off your overworked hard drive could help increase its speed.Final Words
Testing your MacBook hard drive is something everyone should be doing at least occasionally. It provides valuable data for future reference, helps you understand how your computer is functioning and is a good indicator of when it may be time to upgrade a few things.
How has testing your MacBook’s drive speed turned out? Leave us a comment below and tell us what you’ve done with the information you discovered!
*1. Mac Files Tips
*2. Mac Software
*3. Mac Storage Tips
*4. Mac Troubleshooting
*5. Mac OS
by Anna SherryUpdated on 2020-03-29 / Update for Mac OS
'Any standard tests i can use to check my new iMac - it's slow'
Over time, as you use your computer more and more, the components on it will slow down. If you are facing any slowdowns with the hard drive of your computer, you can test hard drive speed to find out if your drive has actually slowed down. There are a number of ways to perform speed test for hard drive and the following guide covers some of those methods for you.
In this guide, you are going to find out how you can run a speed test for the hard drives on both your Windows and Mac based computers. Once you have the data you were looking for, you can then take appropriate actions to speed-up your hard drive. Maybe you can buy a new drive or you can use a software to clean-up whatever it is causing your drive to slow down. Before you do that, here's how to find out the speed of your hard drives:Part 1. How to Test Hard Drive Speed on Windows 10/8/7 Free?
If your computer runs Windows 10, 8, or 7, you have a few free methods to run a test for your hard drive speeds. These methods are easy to do and will not take more than a few minutes to do their job.
If you are curious how to use these methods to test hard drive speed Windows 10, the following shows how to use one of these methods on your Windows based computer. Let's check it out.
You are going to use a software called Parkdale to run a speed test for your hard drives on your PC.
Step 1. Open a new tab in your web browser and head over to the Parkdale website. Download and install the software on your computer.
Step 2. When the software is installed, launch it from your desktop. On the main screen of the software, you will see all your hard drives listed. Click on the one you want to run a test on, configure the options shown on your screen, and finally click on the Start button.
Step 3. On the following screen, you should be able to view the speeds of your Windows PC's hard drive.
So that is how to test hard drive speed efficiently on a computer that runs modern versions of Windows.Part 2. How to Test Hard Drive Speed on Mac Free?
If you do not use a Windows computer but you have a Mac, you can also run hard drive speed tests as there are utilities available to help you do it. In fact, the tool that you are going to use in the following method to perform a hard drive speed check is much easier to use than the Windows one we mentioned above.
The tool that you are going to use is called Blackmagic Disk Speed Test and it is available on the official Mac App Store. You can grab the tool from there and then use it to check the speeds of your hard drives.
Even though it is easy to use the tool to check your hard drive speeds, we have given steps on how to do it make the task even more easier for you.
Let's see how to test hard drive speed Mac:
Step 1. Head over to the Mac App Store and download and install the Blackmagic Disk Speed Test tool on your Mac.
Step 2. When the tool is installed, launch it from the Launchpad of your Mac.
Step 3. When the tool launches, click on the button that says Start to start a speed test. The button is easy to find as it is located in the center of the tool interface.
Soon the tool will display all the information you need regarding the speed of your Mac's hard drives.Hard Disk Speed Test Free
Now that you have the speed data with you, you can think of any improvements you can make to your Mac.Extra Tip: If You Lost Important Data on Hard Drive?
One of the issues people often run into is they end-up losing their data when they are just playing around with their hard drives. If you have lost your data in a similar scenario, there is tool that will help you get your lost data back on your computer.
The tool is called Tenorshare UltData - Windows/Mac and it is available for both Windows and Mac computers. It is capable of restoring data from any data loss scenario. It helps recover hundreds of file formats and you can even preview your data before you recover it. You are highly recommended to use it to recover lost data on Windows and Mac machines.
If you want to test hard drive speed on your Windows PCs or Mac machines, our guide above should help you do it efficiently. It provides you with the easiest methods to do the task so you do not face any difficulties.Recover Unlimited Mac Data for YouFree Speed Test For Mac
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