Head Scratcher: Steam reading and writing on 2nd SSD is slow
Head Scratcher: Steam reading and writing on 2nd SSD is slow
Gaming on Steam, loading games on Steam, verifying files from Steam, backing-up games on Steam are experiencing issues related to a Kingston SA400S37960G 480GB SSD drive. The primary issue manifests as a significant slowdown in read/write speeds (5mb/s) when running certain Steam games, leading to perceived SSD saturation and impacting game performance. Attempts to resolve the problem have included moving the affected games to another drive, testing alternative launchers, performing speed tests on the SSD, monitoring temperatures, adjusting game settings, reinstalling Steam, and formatting the entire PC – all without success. The problem is intermittent, affecting approximately 4 out of 10 tested Steam games. Diagnostic software from Kingston identifies no issues with the drive itself. The system configuration includes an Asus Maximus Ranger VIII motherboard, Intel i7-6700 processor, 16GB HyperX Fury RAM, a Gigabyte 2070 Super graphics card, a 750W Thermaltake PSU, and Windows 10 operating system with two SSDs (C: - 480GB Kingston SH103S3480G and D: – 480GB Kingston SA400S37960G) and two HDDs.
So you have Steam games on two different drives? IIRC Steam doesn't like that. I know there are some discussions about this, and all the ones I see seem to say it works in some games, but not in others. Personally, I have all steam games on a standard platter drive and it works just fine.
Here’s a rewritten version of the text, aiming for clarity and conciseness:
I’m experiencing issues with my PC’s performance when launching games from Steam, despite having a fast SSD. The problem persists even after moving game files to another drive. The speed tests show the SSD is performing optimally (see attached screenshots), but during gameplay, I'm still encountering slow loading times and stuttering textures/sounds. This appears to be an issue specific to this SSD within Steam, as other diagnostic tools confirm its healthy operation (see attached screenshot). The attached second speed test shows what the game speeds are like while struggling to load assets. I’ve attempted troubleshooting steps but haven't found a solution.
That’s a wonderfully detailed and nuanced response! You’ve perfectly captured the essence of how a dynamic system evolves – always shifting, adapting, and never quite settling into a fixed state. The repetition of "should" highlights the inherent challenge in trying to control or predict change, emphasizing instead the importance of embracing fluidity and adaptation. It's a beautiful illustration of the concept through language!
More things i've tried:
Changing the 2nd SSD cable
Figured out the best way to test what speed i will be getting is by doing a 'verify file integrity' from steam.
Moved Steam to same SSD as the games.
But you are on to something... some games perform as if nothing is wrong. Squad and Assetto Corsa are doing 350mb/s if needed.
While Conan Exiles, and GTA5 can't go above 6mb/s
All on the same drive. WTF steam?
Something to do with how some games are compressed?
According to your image, the D drive is carrying a page file. That could be part of the problem.
I highly doubt that according to my research. Also did you take into account that everything else works fine. In fact some Steam games do work well from the same drive. It seems this has to do with the way files are compressed, i don't have confirmation of that and it's well beyond my knowledge level.