Microsoft’s new native NVMe driver for Windows Server 2025 is creating waves among high-end SSD users, and it turns out Windows 11 can also tap into this hidden feature. Early tests from the first group of users show significant speed gains on both desktop PCs and portable gaming devices.
User Mouse&Keyboard tested the NVMe driver on Windows 11 version 25H2 with an SK hynix Platinum P41 2TB SSD. Results showed the AS SSD score jumped from 10,032 to 11,344, a 13% increase. Notably, 4K and 4K-64Thrd random write speeds rose 16% and 22% respectively.
Meanwhile, Reddit user Cheetah2kkk tested the driver on a Claw 8 AI+ gaming handheld with a Crucial T705 4TB SSD. Sequential speeds improved modestly, but random write performance soared up to 85%, aligning with Microsoft’s goal to maximize IOPS.
Why the Performance Boost?
The new driver communicates directly with NVMe SSDs, bypassing the older SCSI protocol. This reduces processing overhead and latency, unleashing the full potential of NVMe SSDs something users have waited over 14 years for.
SCSI was designed in the era of spinning hard drives, making it less compatible with modern SSD architecture, especially for enterprise-level workloads. The native NVMe driver is a major milestone, promising dramatic improvements for high-speed storage access.
Cautions
- Registry tweaks are required to enable the feature on Windows 11.
- Popular SSD management software may not yet support the new driver, causing potential issues.
- Maximum benefits are seen in server workloads, databases, or AI applications rather than typical consumer use.
- Microsoft’s official rollout to standard Windows versions is still pending.
Windows 11 users in the SEA region can now experiment with Microsoft’s new NVMe driver to push their SSDs closer to peak performance.
Origin: Tomshardware
