QuickBench™

Integrity™

Disk benchmark utility which provides more than
70 different built-in
disk
performancemeasurements
andTest thestabilityof virtuallyalla powerful,
highlycustomizableself-directed
rewritablestoragedevices andinterfacestest.
Part of the Intech’s SpeedTools™ Software
MacOS™ 2000
X
For use withfor
Windows™
and later

User’s
Guide
User's Guide© 2003
IntechSoftwareCorporation© 1996- 2007
IntechSoftwareCorporation

Document Revision: 1.0
Document
Revision: 2.0

License Agreement

For One Computer

READ THE FOLLOWING SOFTWARE LICENSE AGREEMENT ("LICENSE")
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Table of Contents
1

Chapter 1. Guide Introduction

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About this Guide
Conventions Used in this Guide
User Registration
Technical Information

2

Chapter 2. Describing the QuickBench Utility

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3
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About QuickBench
QuickBench is Non-Destructive
Measurement and Size Nomenclatures
Describing the QuickBench Window Controls
Test Location Menu
Allow Cache Effects Checkbox
Max I/O Segment Size Menu
Test Cycle Menu
Test Size Menu
Graphic and Numeric Results Tab Button
Graphic Results - Overlay Averages Checkbox
Graphic Results - View As Line or Bar Chart Buttons
Numeric Results - Emphasize Low and High Marks Boxes
The QuickBench Toolbar Buttons
Save Results
Open/View Results File
Print Results
Rescan for New Volumes
Change Cache Effects Delay
Clear Results
Revert to Default Settings
QuickBench Preferences
About QuickBench
Go To Intech’s Website
The Start Test Button
Exiting/Quitting the QuickBench Utility

9Chapter 3. Using the QuickBench Utility

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The QuickBench Tests
Standard Test: 4 KBytes - 1024 KBytes
Large Test: 2 MegaBytes - 10 MegaBytes
Extended Test: 20 MegaBytes - 100 MegaBytes
Custom Size Streaming Test
Custom Size Streaming Test - Transfer Size Parameter
Custom Size Streaming Test - Transfer Count Parameter
Starting a QuickBench Test
Changing Test Options
QuickBench Benchmarking Tips

1

Guide Introduction

About This Guide
The instructions and explanations in this guide assume that you understandhow to operate your computer system. You should, for example, know how
to choose, select, drag and launch/start an application by using your mouse.
In addition, you should also understand how the desktop, windows, dialog
boxes, buttons and file/folders work within the system environment. For
more information about these items, please refer to your operating system’suser guide and/or your computer’s user guide.

Conventions Used In This Guide
Note: This symbol calls your attention to important information
about the adjacent text. A note will always appear in standard print.

Warning: This symbol calls your attention to procedures in
the adjacent text which could cause harm to you, your data orcomputer system. A warning will always appear in bold print.

User Registration
Please take a moment to register your copy of this software on-line via the Intech
Software World Wide Web site at http://www.SpeedTools.com.

Technical Information
If you received this software with the purchase of a drive subsystem and you
require technical support, Intech as made special arrangements with yourdrive manufacturer to support this software directly via their technicalsupport department. For customers who have purchased this software
product as stand-alone, Intech provides technical information and otherlate-breaking information via its web site at http://www.SpeedTools.com.

Chapter 1. Guide Introduction

Page 1

2

Describing the
QuickBench™ Utility

About QuickBench
QuickBench is a simple yet powerful disk drive performance evaluation tool.
It provides three pre-defined test sets as well as a custom test for measuring
speeds using virtually any transfer size. QuickBench for Macintosh® is alsoavailable - providing the unique ability to compare the speeds of various
devices on the two most popular operating systems in the world.

Figure 1. The QuickBench Main Window (Shown in Graphic View)
Chapter 2. Describing the QuickBench Utility

Page 2

QuickBench is Non-Destructive
All QuickBench tests are performed by reading and writing to temporary test
files exclusively. This means QuickBench is extremely safe and can be used
on existing disk devices which may already contain data.
However, for maximum test repeatability, it is recommended that tests are
conducted on disk devices which contain little or no data. See “QuickBench
Benchmarking Tips” later in this guide for more information.

Measurement and Size Nomenclatures
QuickBench always presents byte sizes in powers of two. For example, aKilobyte is considered to be 1024 (2^10) Bytes, NOT 1000 (10^3) Bytes. A
Megabyte is considered to be 1024 Kilobytes, NOT 1000 Kilobytes, etc. Intech
realizes that this is no longer the preferred nomenclature according to the U.S.
National Institute of Standards and Technology. However, Microsoft
Corporation continues to use this nomenclature throughout its applications
and utilities, and so to reduce confusion, Intech has follows this same practice.

Describing the QuickBench Window Controls
Test Location Menu
This menu, located near the top of the window, allows you choose a disk volume
for testing. Disk volumes will not be listed in this popup menu if they are write
protected or are too small to be tested such as floppy disk devices, for example.

Figure 2. The QuickBench Test Location Menu
Allow Cache Effects Checkbox
Running a test with the Allow Cache Effects box checked, located justbeneath the Test Location menu, will result in a very short pause (delineatedin milliseconds) between each transfer size being tested.

Chapter 2. Describing the QuickBench Utility

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The purpose of the feature is to provide a small amount of time to allow yourdrive to anticipate the next request and to pre-fill its read-ahead cacheduring read tests. For write tests, this pause can provide time for the drive tocommit the data that it may have stored in its write cache to the physicalmedia. These pauses are meant to reflect what might happen when data is
copied to and from two physical drives, for example. When the “read drive” isin operation, the “write drive” may see a small pause and vise-versa.
These pauses can have a dramatic effect on overall drive performance. Further, by
testing your drive with and without this feature enabled, you should be able to see
first-hand the powerful roll that disk caching plays in today’s drive technologies.
The amount of default “pause” time is 30 ms (milliseconds) for reads and 20 ms
for writes. However, these values are not necessarily the most efficient for every
disk device available. As such, QuickBench provides you with the ability tochange these values, so that you may apply the right amount of delay that youfind works best for your hardware configuration. See “Change Cache Effect
Delay” later in the guide for more details.
Note: The “Allow Cache Effects” setting is ignored during random
testing.
Max I/O Segment Size Menu
Very often, large transfer requests are automatically divided within the
Windows operating system into several smaller size data segments(sometimes called “chunks”). These segments are transferred individually
until the entire transfer has been completed. This segmenting process isentirely beyond the control of QuickBench.
The optimum segment size is impossible to determine in advance because
all test configurations are unique. As a result, QuickBench provides the“Max I/O Segment Size” menu. This feature allows you to select a segment
size which best suits your specific hardware configuration.
It is important to note that larger segment sizes do not necessarily translate
to improved performance. In fact, many times a larger segment size canequate to poorer performance. Conversely, a segment size which is too
small can reduce overall performance because the disk drive access time
becomes a greater overall factor in the transfer.

Chapter 2. Describing the QuickBench Utility

Page 4

Test Cycle Menu
A test cycle repeats the exact same test for as many cycles as are specified
and calculates the simple mean average for each result. Since there is often
a great degree of variance in speeds for any given single read or write, theaddition of multiple test cycles can greatly assist in accurately andrepeatability quantifying a drive's performance at a given task. This, in turn,can shed a much more consistent light on the comparison of the relative
merits of one drive vs. another.
Test cycles are averaged by QuickBench on-the-fly, so each successive test
cycle provides an increasingly accurate and repeatable picture of a drive's
capabilities. In general, to increase the accuracy and repeatability of the test
results choose a larger number of test cycles. But, of course, the more cycles
chosen, the longer the test will take to complete.
Test Size Menu
This menu allows you to choose from one of three pre-defined test sets anda custom test.

Figure 3. The QuickBench Test Size Menu
Additionally, it provides you with the option to run all three pre-defined test
sets at once as well as view the details of your disk device and system
environment. See “Using QuickBench” later in this guide for more about thedifferent tests offered in this menu.
Graphic and Numeric Results Tab Button
This button allows you to choose a presentation for your benchmark results.
Each result view has its presentation strength. The Graphic view allows you
to quickly perceive device performance patterns. The Numeric view provides
precise performance details.

Figure 4. The Graphics and Numeric Results Tab Button
Chapter 2. Describing the QuickBench Utility

Page 5

Each view has associated presentation options which may further improve its
usefulness. These options are discussed below:
Graphic Results - Overlay Averages Checkbox
This option displays a translucent colored line over the graph to indicate
an average for a given test. After a test has concluded and if this featured
is enabled, hovering your mouse over the colored arrow (at the end ofeach average line) will reveal the average performance in numeric form.
Graphic Results - View As Line or Bar Chart Buttons
This option provides yet another way to graphically view your results data.
The bar chart option is particularly useful if you have read/write results withsimilar performance marks since each bar graphic cannot overlap another.
Numeric Results - Emphasize Low and High Marks Checkboxes
Use these options to highlight the lowest and/or highest results for agiven test. When the “Low Marks” checkbox is enabled, the lowest marks
will appear in blue. When the “High Marks” checkbox is enabled, thehighest marks will appear in red.

The QuickBench Toolbar Buttons
The toolbar buttons, located at the top of the QuickBench window (justbelow the title bar), provide the means to save, recall and print test results,
among other functions. You may notice at different times while using
QuickBench that some of these buttons may become enabled and available
or disabled and unavailable. QuickBench knows when a button’s function isuseful and when its not and the toolbar buttons will reflect this. The “Save”
toolbar button is not useful if there are no results to save, for example.
Each button is shown and discussed below, starting from left to right as they
appear in the QuickBench window:
Save Results: This button allows to save your test results to a file.
The file is created as a “.txt” text file which can be read by any word
processing and text editing applications. Additionally, these files canbe re-read by QuickBench to review past results. Alternatively, you
can press “Ctrl-S” when this button is enabled to save your results.

Chapter 2. Describing the QuickBench Utility

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Open/View Results File: This button will allow you to select and open
a previous QuickBench results file. Once the file is open, the results willshow in both graphic and numeric forms as if you had just run a test. The
test options that where used when the test was originally conducted will
be reselected in all controls, but will be grayed-out and not available forchange. Additionally, the disk device details and system environment will
also be preserved and is available using the “View Test Environment”
selection in the Test Menu. Alternatively, you may press “Ctrl-O” when thisbutton is enabled to select and open a saved results file.
Print Results: This button allows to print the currently displayed
results. When this button is clicked it will present you with options
that will allow you to choose a specific test report to print. You
may, for instance, choose to print only the 4 KB - 1024 KB test
results and no other. Alternatively, you can press “Ctrl-P” when thisbutton is enabled to print your current results.
Rescan for New Volumes: This button allows you to rescan for
new disks and/or volumes that you may have added after starting
QuickBench initially without the need to restart QuickBench again.
Change Cache Effects Delay: This button displays a window thatallows you to individually set, in milliseconds, the specific amountof delay time for reads and writes as shown below:

Figure 5. Set Cache Delay Window
Chapter 2. Describing the QuickBench Utility

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You may choose a value between 1 and 1000 milliseconds for thecache effect read and write delays. See “Allow Cache Effects
Checkbox” earlier in this guide for more details about this feature.
Alternatively, you may press “Ctrl-D” when this button is enabled
to view and/or change these values.
Clear Results: This button allows you to clear all current results.
Alternatively, you can press “Ctrl-X” when this button is enabled toclear your results.
Revert to Default Settings: This button allows you to easily reload
the “Intech factory” settings for all QuickBench options.
Alternatively, you can press “Ctrl-R” when this button is enabled torevert to the default settings.
QuickBench Preferences: Clicking this button will provide awindow of general application options and behavior choices.
About QuickBench: Clicking this button will open a window which
provides version and copyright information about QuickBench.
Alternatively, you can press “Ctrl-I” to view this information.
Go to Intech’s Website: Clicking this button will automaticallystart your default internet browser and display Intech’s home page.

The Start Test Button
After selecting a valid test location, the “Start Test” button will become
enabled and turn from gray to blue, allowing you to begin a test. When thisbutton is enabled, you may also press the “Enter” key to start a test.

Exiting/Quitting the QuickBench Utility
Quitting the QuickBench utility is as easy as closing the main window. Simply
click the red “X” button located at the top-right corner of the window asshown below. You may quit QuickBench at anytime - even while a test is
taking place.

Figure 6. The Close Window Button (Used to Quit)
Chapter 2. Describing the QuickBench Utility

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3

Using QuickBench™

The QuickBench Tests
QuickBench test results reflect the following influences: the drive's internal
media transfer rate, drive access time and cache efficiency, the efficiency ofthe various drivers controlling the drive and, lastly, the speed of the bus
interface connecting your drive to your computer. QuickBench makes every
attempt to limit the influence of the Windows file system cache because, in
our view, the file system cache can make it very difficult to determine thedrive’s true performance - which is the ultimate goal of QuickBench!
Standard Test: 4 KBytes - 1024 KBytes
The first QuickBench test set found in the Test Size menu is the 4 KBytes 1024 KBytes test. This set is called the Standard Test because it tests a
range of transfer sizes that are used most frequently in common
application and file system use.
The Standard Test set measures nine different data transfer sizes under four
different scenarios: Sequential Reads, Sequential Writes, Random Reads andRandom Writes. This test requires 307 Megabytes of available disk space.
Large Test: 2 MegaBytes - 10 MegaBytes
The Large 2 MB - 10 MB Test set is designed to measure the drive's ability
to sustain large amounts of data transferred to and from your PC.
The Large Test set measures nine different data transfer sizes under two
different scenarios: read performance and writes performance. This test
requires 672 Megabytes of available disk space.
Extended Test: 20 MegaBytes - 100 MegaBytes
The Extended 20 MB - 100 MB test set is the last pre-defined test set
offered in the Test Size menu. Like the Large 2 MB - 10 MB test set, it isdesigned to measure the drive's ability to sustain very large amounts ofdata transferred to and from your PC. This test is large enough, in mostcases, to overwhelm today’s disk caches and should be used to help
Chapter 3. Using QuickBench

Page 9determine a given disk device’s true unassisted media rate. However, if
testing a multi-disk array where the sum amount of on-board disk cache
is very large, you may need to use the Custom Streaming test with a larger
transfer size setting to measure the actual sustainable media transfer rate.
The Extended Test set measures nine different data transfer sizes under
two different scenarios: read performance and writes performance. This
test requires 840 Megabytes of available disk space.
Custom Size Streaming Test:
The Custom Test section of QuickBench provides a nearly unlimited rangeof sequential read/write tests which can be performed. There are two test
parameters which must be chosen before you begin a test. The two test
parameters are Transfer Size and Transfer Count and will automatically bedisplayed when the Custom Size test has been selected. These test
parameters are shown and discussed below:

Figure 7. The Custom Size Test Parameters
Custom Size Streaming Test - Transfer Size Parameter:
The transfer size is the amount of total data to be read from and written
to the drive with each request. The menu to the right of this value toggles
the delineation of this value between Kilobytes and Megabytes. Validvalues range from one Kilobyte to 1024 Megabytes.
Custom Size Streaming Test - Transfer Count Parameter:
The transfer count is the number of sequential reads or writes which will
be performed with the chosen transfer size for each test cycle.
Note: When using the Custom Size Test, you will need to be mindfulof the amount of free space available on the test volume. The size ofthe test file which needs to be created is equal to the Transfer Size
multiplied by the Transfer Count plus 50 Megabytes of additional
space for a warmup.
Chapter 3. Using QuickBench

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Starting a QuickBench Test
To begin a test, first select a test location (a disk or volume). Next, selectthe test that you wish to conduct in the Test Size menu. Choose any test
options that you would like to apply and click the “Start Test” button.
Alternatively, you may push the “Enter” key at this point to start a test.
While a test is running, a small window will appear providing you with
progress information about the running test. In all tests, except custom,
results will display dynamically as they become available.
Note: Once a test begins, you may choose to terminate the test at
anytime by pressing “Ctrl-T”. However, doing so will clear any datathat was collected during the course of the selected test.

Changing Test Options
Changing any test option which could influence or change a testing result
will automatically clear any current benchmark data. This is because yourcurrent results are no longer valid with the new test option and, therefore,
must be discarded.

QuickBench Benchmarking Tips
1) Quit all other non-essential programs. It is strongly recommended thatyou close all unnecessary applications when using QuickBench. Competition
for processor time can significantly affect test results, especially during
heavy CPU usage. Additionally, many applications and other processes
generate disk access which also can adversely affect reliability of the
QuickBench tests.
2) Fresh Format - If possible, you should re-format a disk/volume prior tobeing tested. Because QuickBench testing is file-based, other files on thetest volume can effect the accuracy of QuickBench with respect to anotherwise identical test configuration.
3) Smoother is better - Test with at least 5 cycles, if possible, especiallywith smaller size tests. If your test results look similar to a saw blade (i.e.
up, then down, then up again etc.), try increasing the cycle count until thepattern flattens out. If you are testing with cache effects enabled, you may
need to adjust the delay time up or down to smooth out the results.
Chapter 3. Using QuickBench

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4) Re-test if necessary - Sometimes an unrelated process will generatedisk access on the disk you are testing right in the middle of a QuickBench
test set. This will produce a clear anomalous result which shows up as an
unexplained drop in performance at some arbitrary point in the test. If thishappens, please ignore it and retest. If it happens repeatedly, you may needto track down which process is generating the I/O and terminate it before
testing.
5) Do not put QuickBench into the background during testing - Strictly
speaking, this should have no effect on test results. But we assume that if
you put QuickBench into the background, you did so in order to dosomething else. It is this "something else" action which may adversely affect
QuickBench's results.
6) Maximum accuracy - Your file system may need to regularly read andwrite data to the boot volume at fairly random intervals. When accesses
occur during a QuickBench test set, it may adversely affect the test results.
This is true even if you are testing a different volume which belongs to thesame drive as the boot volume. For optimum results, do not test a drive
which shares a data bus (channel) with the boot drive (such as a master/slave ATA pair) since only one drive will be able to send/receive data overthe bus at one time which could then induce a bottleneck.
7) Not for use on “Virtual Machines” - Using QuickBench in virtualenvironments (applications which allow a Windows™ operating system to run
on alternative platforms or hosts) may produce unpredictable and/or
unrealistic disk device benchmark results.

Chapter 3. Using QuickBench

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