Question External SSD Speed Problem

[Eminmetehan]

Hello, i have a Seagate 1 TB external SSD and it was working flawlessly for first few months reaching 700-1000 MB write speeds and can hold 300-400 MB for large transfers around 100 GB. But since i almost completely filled it few months back it can not reach those speeds anymore. It is dropping from 700 to 20-40 MB write speeds within only 10 seconds and never recovers back. What do you think the problem could be?

It is 431 GB empty right now so over provisioning should work unless there is a firmware problem ofc. Im also using both type c and usb 3 cables they both drop performance after 10 seconds so not cables most probably. Also crystaldiskmark result is exactly same as before it was working right, im really clueless.

Old working right result:

Current working ''right'' result:

 

[rgd1101]

exact model?
sound like cache is not turn on

 

[Lafong]

Have you tried a full wipe and re-format of the drive?

Are you attempting to copy roughly the same average file size now as you were previously when all was working well?

Have you played with the write cache settings? I think that is in Device Manager?

Have you experimented with different chipset drivers?

I'm just grasping at straws based on my personal experience using external SSDs as backups.

 

[Eminmetehan]

exact model?
sound like cache is not turn on

It is STLH1000400, Expansion SSD. It might be i have no idea how to check or turn on however.

Have you tried a full wipe and re-format of the drive?

Are you attempting to copy roughly the same average file size now as you were previously when all was working well?

Have you played with the write cache settings? I think that is in Device Manager?

Have you experimented with different chipset drivers?

I'm just grasping at straws based on my personal experience using external SSDs as backups.

I didn't do anything as it always had a lot of files. Yeah im using similar sizes but it doesn't really change speed anything larger than 10 GB it drops to 20-50 MB write speeds. Im currently emptying it entirely we can do anything you suggest, format, driver changes etc. Only around 3 GB it writes with 500 MB speeds, at first months it was writing entire games with such speed.

 

[rgd1101]

Optimizing External SSD drive write performance | Seagate US

 

[dwd999]

Did you try Optimizing, Defragmenting and/or Trimming the drive?

 

[Eminmetehan]

Optimizing External SSD drive write performance | Seagate US

It should be staying idle for hours and it is 750 GB empty now. But perhaps steam doesn't allow it to become idle, im using it as a mobile steam library. Here are results of it is reading and writing a 47 GB game:
Reading:

It still has reduced performance but at least can hold decend speed between 200-400 MB.

Writing back same game:

Started with 400 then dropped 40, briefly recovered to 500 then stayed between 60 and 20 MB for the rest. Even if there is a cache problem i don't think it should drop to these speeds. I feel like it is thermal throttling but Hwinfo shows it only became 49 degree celsius.

Did you try Optimizing, Defragmenting and/or Trimming the drive?

It is still same as it came from factory. Im emptying it then will try formatting, changing driver etc. If you have suggestions i would try them

 

[rgd1101]

in windows, do you have write caching on for the drive?
what the ram usage?

 

[Eminmetehan]

in windows, do you have write caching on for the drive?
what the ram usage?

Windows cache setting is default quick removal but it was always same while working right as well.
I have 16 GB 3200, usually around 6 GB usage with W10, steam, chrome etc.
Formatting it, do you think i should leave it as exFAT or change it to NTFS?

 

[rgd1101]

test with the cache turn on

use the seagate seatools to get the ssd?

 

[Eminmetehan]

test with the cache turn on

use the seagate seatools to get the ssd?

I tried to use Seatools but there is nothing there, only test options. Seagate site says there is no firmware updates for this product. After formatting it began working right again writing 35 GB and 40 GB two games:

Second time started slow i guess was erasing cache, windows setting is still same quick removal. What do you think the problem could be? Steam isn't seeing it as library anymore so perhaps it is steam which doesn't allow it to become idle and erase cache?