SSD Performance Drops After Windows 11 Upgrade, Simple Driver Fix Helps

Users upgrading from Windows 10 to Windows 11 are reporting significant SSD performance drops, according to findings highlighted by Neowin. The issue appears to affect certain NVMe drives, with one widely shared case involving the Samsung 970 Evo.

SSD Speeds Drop After Upgrade

After upgrading, a user tested their drive using CrystalDiskMark and recorded dramatically reduced speeds. Sequential read performance dropped to around 897 MB/s, while write speeds reached only 859 MB/s.

These figures fall far below the expected performance range for the Samsung 970 Evo, which typically delivers up to 3400 MB/s read and 2500 MB/s write speeds under normal conditions.

Driver Update Fixes the Issue

The problem did not appear to stem from hardware limitations. Instead, installing updated SSD drivers restored performance almost immediately. Post-update benchmarks showed a roughly fourfold increase in read speeds and a threefold improvement in write speeds, bringing the drive closer to its expected capabilities.

Interestingly, random read and write performance remained mostly stable throughout, suggesting the issue primarily impacted sequential operations.

Likely Cause: Missing or Outdated Drivers

The root cause appears linked to missing or outdated storage drivers following the OS upgrade. In some cases, firmware differences between Windows versions may also contribute to degraded performance.

Since system responsiveness relies heavily on disk I/O, such slowdowns can noticeably affect overall user experience, especially during tasks like file transfers, application loading, and system boot.

Broader Context

The issue highlights a common risk associated with major operating system upgrades: hardware may not perform optimally without proper driver support. Updating drivers and firmware remains a critical step after moving to a new OS.

Meanwhile, Microsoft continues refining Windows 11 through ongoing updates. The company recently rolled out KB5083631 to the Release Preview channel, introducing AI-related features, UI changes, and improvements to system stability and File Explorer performance.