FC-Test Results

Website: FC-Test

Our FC-Test benchmark is split into three parts. First is a write test involving the creation of a file pattern similar to common files such as MP3s or large video files. Once created on the drive, we then copy the file pattern from the drive back to a different folder on the same drive producing a combined read/write test. Finally we test the read speed of the drive by performing FC-Test's read test of the the files copied.

For our benchmarks, we're using both the MP3 pattern, consisting of two hundred and seventy small files totalling 0.99GB, and the the ISO pattern, consisting of three large files totalling 1.6GB in size. We feel these file patterns represent the most common files people will be frequently copying to and from an drive, and can be interpreted as as close to a real world file transfer test as possible.




Switching to the ISO test, which consists of just three large files rather than 270 smaller ones, we see very much the same picture in the initial write test, with the Intel X25-M able to match the fastest writing mechanical drive on test, the Seagate 1TB 7200.11, and the j-Micron based SSDs lagging behind by a whopping margin.

Interestingly though, the combined read/write of the copy test for the ISO file pattern was remarkably similar for every drive we tested, indicating either a CPU or I/O limitation on the motherboard itself rather than in the drive's speeds or disk controllers.

Switching to the read test once again sees the SSDs able to flex their muscles, delivering extremely quick read speeds. While the G.SKill and Patriot drives are a marked improvement over the mechanicals, it's the Intel X25-M that once again really impressed, outpacing even the fastest mechanical drive with a read time less than half of the Seagate 1TB – awesome!