HardwareStorageSSDsCheck out your gaming PC’s storage chops with 3DMark’s new DirectStorage benchmarkWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
HardwareStorageSSDsCheck out your gaming PC’s storage chops with 3DMark’s new DirectStorage benchmarkWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
(Image credit: UL Benchmarks)
If you’ve just bought a shiny newgaming PCor anultra-fast SSDin the Black Friday sales, then you might be wondering just how well it can fling data between the storage and the graphics card. Well, it turns out that 3DMark has been wondering the same thing because it’s just released anew benchmark toolto test DirectStorage performance.
If you’re wondering what DirectStorage is, just think of it as a software toolkit that when used in games can help speed up the loading of data, between the storage drive and graphics card’s VRAM, as well as reducing the load on the CPU.
Image1of2(Image credit: UL Benchmarks)(Image credit: UL Benchmarks)
Image1of2(Image credit: UL Benchmarks)(Image credit: UL Benchmarks)
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(Image credit: UL Benchmarks)(Image credit: UL Benchmarks)
(Image credit: UL Benchmarks)(Image credit: UL Benchmarks)
(Image credit: UL Benchmarks)
(Image credit: UL Benchmarks)
(Image credit: UL Benchmarks)
(Image credit: UL Benchmarks)
(Image credit: UL Benchmarks)
(Image credit: UL Benchmarks)
(Image credit: UL Benchmarks)
(Image credit: UL Benchmarks)
(Image credit: UL Benchmarks)
(Image credit: UL Benchmarks)
Note how much data per second is able to be transferred from the system RAM to the graphics card’s VRAM when using DirectStorage. Also, note how big the effective bandwidth is when using GDeflate.
At this point, you’re probably thinking ‘Why doesn’t every game use DirectStorage?’ and it’s a very good question. Some do, of course, such asHorizon Forbidden Westbut even that doesn’t use the GDeflate option.
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It still benefits from using DirectStorage, of course, which is why it loads up saves so darn quickly. However, all of the data decompression is done via the CPU.
(Image credit: UL Benchmarks)
Now, if you’ve run the new 3DMark test a few times and noticed that the results aren’t as high as you expected, bear in mind that read/write transfer speeds for SSDs are always quoted as theoretical maximums. They’re achievable in very short bursts but not for a sustained transfer, though how long that window is depends on the model.
Anyway, 3DMark’s DirectStorage test is pretty much the maximum throughput your gaming PC or SSD is likely to get. It’s not free unless you already have the previously released storage benchmark DLC for 3DMark, but for a handful of pounds, bucks, or dollarydoos, you can check out your system’s storage chops
Best SSD for gaming: The best speedy storage today.Best NVMe SSD: Compact M.2 drives.Best external hard drive: Huge capacities for less.Best external SSD: Plug-in storage upgrades.
Best SSD for gaming: The best speedy storage today.Best NVMe SSD: Compact M.2 drives.Best external hard drive: Huge capacities for less.Best external SSD: Plug-in storage upgrades.
Best SSD for gaming: The best speedy storage today.Best NVMe SSD: Compact M.2 drives.Best external hard drive: Huge capacities for less.Best external SSD: Plug-in storage upgrades.
Best SSD for gaming: The best speedy storage today.Best NVMe SSD: Compact M.2 drives.Best external hard drive: Huge capacities for less.Best external SSD: Plug-in storage upgrades.
Best SSD for gaming: The best speedy storage today.Best NVMe SSD: Compact M.2 drives.Best external hard drive: Huge capacities for less.Best external SSD: Plug-in storage upgrades.
Best SSD for gaming: The best speedy storage today.Best NVMe SSD: Compact M.2 drives.Best external hard drive: Huge capacities for less.Best external SSD: Plug-in storage upgrades.
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