The new NVMe SSD drivers in Windows 11 enable 85% faster loading times.

 

Following Microsoft's release of new drivers specifically designed for NVMe SSDs, a significant improvement in storage performance on Windows Server 2025 has been observed. While this feature is primarily designed for enterprise use, it can also be implemented on Windows 11, albeit with minor registry modifications. The results are quite impressive.

A user, Mouse&Keyboard, tested Windows 11 25H2 with a 2TB SK hynix Platinum P41 SSD using AS SSD Benchmark. The overall score increased from 10,032 to 11,344, or approximately 13%. Specifically, random write performance in 4K and 4K-64Thrd tasks improved by 16% and 22%, respectively.

Meanwhile, a Reddit user tested a Claw 8 AI+ system upgraded with a 4TB Crucial T705 SSD. While sequential speed improvements were only slight, the results were noticeable. However, random performance has improved significantly. Random Read speeds increased by approximately 12%, while Random Write speeds increased by as much as 85%, aligning with Microsoft's goal of increasing IOPS and reducing latency.

The core of this change is a rethinking of how Windows works. Previously, the system typically instructed NVMe SSDs to function like traditional SCSI devices, a concept from the HDD era that involved more complex processes. This new NVMe driver eliminates unnecessary command translation steps, reducing system load and unlocking the full potential of NVMe more directly.

However, this feature is still primarily designed for servers. Tasks like databases, virtualization, and AI will see much greater impact than general use. Furthermore, SSD management software from many vendors doesn't yet fully support it. The key question now is when Microsoft will officially release this new NVMe driver for general Windows versions.