How we test SSDs and RAM
This is a plan, not a record of tests. Our test bench does not exist yet, and no product on TheSSDLab has been tested so far. This page describes how we intend to test once the bench is assembled. Until then, comparisons on the site are spec-based and say so.
Methodology version: v0.1 (draft plan, 30 October 2026). When testing starts, the first published version will be v1.0, and every review will name the version it was tested with.
Test bench (planned)
The bench will be one fixed system for storage and one for memory, so that results stay comparable over time. We will list every component here — CPU, motherboard, BIOS version, operating system and build, driver versions — when the hardware exists, and add photos of the actual setup. We will not publish a component list for hardware we do not have.
SSD tests (planned)
| Test | What it shows | Planned tool |
|---|---|---|
| Sequential read/write | Large-file transfer speed vs. the rated figure | CrystalDiskMark, fio |
| 4K random, QD1 and QD32 | Responsiveness in everyday use and under load | CrystalDiskMark, fio |
| Sustained write | How long the fast write cache lasts and what speed follows | fio, continuous write until the drive is full |
| Temperature and throttling | Whether speed drops when the drive heats up | thermocouples or a thermal camera |
| Game loading | Real-world load times, including DirectStorage titles where a repeatable method exists | 3DMark Storage benchmark |
RAM tests (planned)
- XMP / EXPO profile: does the kit run at its rated speed on our boards?
- Stability under a memory stress test at the rated profile.
- Latency (AIDA64 or an equivalent tool).
- Frame rates in 3–5 games at settings where memory makes a measurable difference.
Memory cards, flash drives and external SSDs (planned)
We plan to measure real speeds in the devices people use them in (for example a Steam Deck, a Nintendo Switch 2 or a camera), not only in a card reader, and to check the speed-class markings (A1/A2, V30/V90) against what we measure.
Scores
We publish no scores yet. Scores will start with v1.0. Before the first scored review, this page will list the criteria, their weights and how a final score is calculated.
Where review samples will come from
We intend to buy most products ourselves. If a manufacturer sends a sample, the review will say so; the manufacturer does not see the review before publication and cannot change it.
What you can rely on today
- Spec-based comparisons quote manufacturer datasheets and standards bodies (JEDEC, PCI-SIG, SATA-IO) and link to them.
- Manufacturer speed figures are “up to” values measured by the manufacturer, not by us.
- Pages say when they were last updated.
Methodology changelog
| Version | Date | Change |
|---|---|---|
| v0.1 | 30 Oct 2026 | Draft plan published. No tests run yet. |
Related
- About The SSD Lab — who runs the site and how it is funded.
- Authors — The SSD Lab Team.
- Affiliate disclosure
- Spec-based comparisons so far: NVMe vs SSD, SSD vs HDD, DDR4 vs DDR5.