Results – IOMeter

For our Iometer test, we decided to test 4K random read and write workloads at 100 percent using all of the 1TB drive’s available storage space. We then applied a 10 percent over-provisioning on partition size to see if this would result in any random workload performance gains. All tests were performed using the native Windows 10 NVMe storage driver.

Over-provisioning is a technique that allocates a set amount of spare area on the drive to give the controller more room to perform garbage collection routines, often giving higher random read and write performance in some situations but making no difference in others. Some manufacturers employ this technique right out of the box, offering consumers 250GB and 480GB drives instead of the full 256GB or 500GB capacities.

Iometer (4KB, 100% sequential read) – No added over-provisioning

In our 4KB sequential read test, the Samsung SM961 scores 32,251 total IOPS and 132.10MB/s, with an average response time of 0.03ms and CPU utilization rate of 5.74 percent.

Iometer (4KB, 100% sequential read) – 10% over-provisioning

In our 4KB sequential read test with over-provisioning, the Samsung SM961 scores 33,953 total IOPS and 139.07MB/s, with an average response time of 0.03ms and CPU utilization rate of 4.83 percent.

Iometer (4KB, 100% sequential write) – No added over-provisioning

In our 4KB sequential write test, the Samsung SM961 scores 27,049 total IOPS and 110.79MB/s, with an average response time of 0.04ms and CPU utilization rate of 5.73 percent.

Iometer (4KB, 100% sequential write) – 10% over-provisioning

In our 4KB sequential write test with over-provisioning, the Samsung SM961 scores 26,944 total IOPS and 110.36MB/s, with an average response time of 0.04ms and CPU utilization rate of 5.40 percent.

Iometer (4KB, 100% random read) – No added over-provisioning

In our 4KB random read test, the Samsung SM961 scores 6,195 total IOPS and 25.37MB/s, with an average response time of 0.16ms and CPU utilization rate of 4.22 percent.

Iometer (4KB, 100% random read) – 10% over-provisioning

In our 4KB random read test with over-provisioning, the Samsung SM961 scores 7,170 total IOPS and 29.37MB/s, with an average response time of 0.14ms and CPU utilization rate of 3.50 percent.

Iometer (4KB, 100% random write) – No added over-provisioning

In our 4KB random write test, the Samsung SM961 scores 24,958 total IOPS and 102.23MB/s, with an average response time of 0.04ms and CPU utilization rate of 5.80 percent.

Iometer (4KB, 100% random write) – 10% over-provisioning

In our 4KB random write test with over-provisioning, the Samsung SM961 scores 27,103 total IOPS and 111.01MB/s, with an average response time of 0.04ms and CPU utilization rate of 5.51 percent.