Steam download / write slow to NVME C: drive but not SATA SSD E: drive

[Markaner]

Hi,

Have this really weird issue where my download starts fast but keeps dropping to 0mb/s when downloading to my superior C drive (WD SN550 1TB NVME). However, when downloading to my SATA SSD it is downloading at 100mb/s non stop. What could be the issue to this? No other game store has any problems downloading to my C drive.

[nullable]

What are your specs?

[mimizukari]

No other game clients install data mid-download either. Steam downloads sometimes install data while you're downloading depending on how the developer set things up, that's why you'll get drops to 0MB/s during those times.

[Markaner]

Originally posted by Snakub Plissken:

What are your specs?

Quite high end PC so that should not be the problem. RTX 3080 (not that it matters), Ryzen 5600x, 16GB 3600Mhz ram, 1 tb NVME ssd (WD sn550), MSI gaming plus b550 mobo.

[Markaner]

Originally posted by deneb altair vega:

No other game clients install data mid-download either. Steam downloads sometimes install data while you're downloading depending on how the developer set things up, that's why you'll get drops to 0MB/s during those times.

Well if that was the problem then the download should be even slower on the slower drive?

[mimizukari]

Originally posted by SousVideGuy:

Originally posted by deneb altair vega:

No other game clients install data mid-download either. Steam downloads sometimes install data while you're downloading depending on how the developer set things up, that's why you'll get drops to 0MB/s during those times.

Well if that was the problem then the download should be even slower on the slower drive?

Try the same exact download on two drives and see what happens? Some games have the behavior where they drop to 0MB/s multiple times during DL to install things.

[Markaner]

Originally posted by deneb altair vega:

Originally posted by SousVideGuy:

Well if that was the problem then the download should be even slower on the slower drive?

Try the same exact download on two drives and see what happens? Some games have the behavior where they drop to 0MB/s multiple times during DL to install things.

That is exactly what I did. The download to my nvme was going back and forth between 100mb/s to 0 whilst the other slower drive held a consistent 100 mb/s

[Ettanin]

Disabled write cache is the likely issue. I recommend leaving it disabled if you have power outages frequently.

[Markaner]

Originally posted by Ettanin:

Disabled write cache is the likely issue. I recommend leaving it disabled if you have power outages frequently.

Interesting. Is it likely to default to being off on the C drive but on for the sata?

[Markaner]

Originally posted by SousVideGuy:

Originally posted by Ettanin:

Disabled write cache is the likely issue. I recommend leaving it disabled if you have power outages frequently.

Interesting. Is it likely to default to being off on the C drive but on for the sata?

Reading about it more it does not seem to be the problem. The disk should be fast enough not having to send it to ram before.

[OneGram]

I don’t know if you ever got this fixed, but I had the same problem and I did find a way to fix it. By default, your system has what is called “windows write caching” enabled for your internal drives. This basically downloads things to your ram to keep your system running faster but it takes FOREVER to unpack from ram and it does it super lazily causing your write speeds to plummet. Disable windows write caching (google it, it’s easy) and it will fix these download issues

TLDR; DISABLE WINDOWS WRITE CACHING TO SPEED UP STEAM DOWNLOADS

[Markaner]

Originally posted by OneGram:

I don’t know if you ever got this fixed, but I had the same problem and I did find a way to fix it. By default, your system has what is called “windows write caching” enabled for your internal drives. This basically downloads things to your ram to keep your system running faster but it takes FOREVER to unpack from ram and it does it super lazily causing your write speeds to plummet. Disable windows write caching (google it, it’s easy) and it will fix these download issues

TLDR; DISABLE WINDOWS WRITE CACHING TO SPEED UP STEAM DOWNLOADS

THANK YOU! Didn't see your reply until now. This fixed it 100%. I now download at a consistent 100MB/S without dropping. Really appreciate your help.

[Iceira]

Did you bother read Both option, option 2 is not recommeded by most experience system user, its not even ON as default. i can say with it on you will get lost data if system crash.

as always someone think they know what they are doing, such option is for static pc, ( thats mean no change no other then a server that handle incoming data, not recomended for a gamer pc. )

ps.
Warning last save game have a huge chance for lost data get caught in this, steam support and games devs support, will not help you with option you did.
worst case steam wont even bother with reply or help, what a user made as own mistake or choise, not even sure they will lock this post as harmfull option.( they might should do that )

This is nothing new, write behind cache from the past, it has consequence.

[Elucidator]

Originally posted by OneGram:

I don’t know if you ever got this fixed, but I had the same problem and I did find a way to fix it. By default, your system has what is called “windows write caching” enabled for your internal drives. This basically downloads things to your ram to keep your system running faster but it takes FOREVER to unpack from ram and it does it super lazily causing your write speeds to plummet. Disable windows write caching (google it, it’s easy) and it will fix these download issues

TLDR; DISABLE WINDOWS WRITE CACHING TO SPEED UP STEAM DOWNLOADS

This is in itself extremely weird.

RAM has a much faster direct connection linked to the processor, heck its even right next to it.

If it slows down due to unpacking, it indeed has to be going through hoops, but those hoops then have to be somewhere where it is slower to read, write and unpack, in other words some form of cache or temporary ram space elsewhere.

I am guessing wildly that you maybe short on ram if that is the issue, or that it decides to relocate it to a different disk.
I mean, modern RAM is unbelievably fast to the point your processor might get confused instead due to some threads being done while others are still on going and it wanting to multitask. Meaning, it makes little sense.

I am guessing if that option fixed it, that it is a driver or firmware bug. It may have already been fixed. I recommend trying to update your stuff.

[Markaner]

Originally posted by Iceira W10:

Did you bother read Both option, option 2 is not recommeded by most experience system user, its not even ON as default. i can say with it on you will get lost data if system crash.

as always someone think they know what they are doing, such option is for static pc, ( thats mean no change no other then a server that handle incoming data, not recomended for a gamer pc. )

ps.
Warning last save game have a huge chance for lost data get caught in this, steam support and games devs support, will not help you with option you did.
worst case steam wont even bother with reply or help, what a user made as own mistake or choise, not even sure they will lock this post as harmfull option.( they might should do that )

This is nothing new, write behind cache from the past, it has consequence.

What option 2 are you talking about? I did not check the second option if that is what you are talking about.

[Markaner]

Originally posted by Elucidator:

Originally posted by OneGram:

I don’t know if you ever got this fixed, but I had the same problem and I did find a way to fix it. By default, your system has what is called “windows write caching” enabled for your internal drives. This basically downloads things to your ram to keep your system running faster but it takes FOREVER to unpack from ram and it does it super lazily causing your write speeds to plummet. Disable windows write caching (google it, it’s easy) and it will fix these download issues

TLDR; DISABLE WINDOWS WRITE CACHING TO SPEED UP STEAM DOWNLOADS

This is in itself extremely weird.

RAM has a much faster direct connection linked to the processor, heck its even right next to it.

If it slows down due to unpacking, it indeed has to be going through hoops, but those hoops then have to be somewhere where it is slower to read, write and unpack, in other words some form of cache or temporary ram space elsewhere.

I am guessing wildly that you maybe short on ram if that is the issue, or that it decides to relocate it to a different disk.
I mean, modern RAM is unbelievably fast to the point your processor might get confused instead due to some threads being done while others are still on going and it wanting to multitask. Meaning, it makes little sense.

I am guessing if that option fixed it, that it is a driver or firmware bug. It may have already been fixed. I recommend trying to update your stuff.

I also find it weird given the speed of RAM memory. I have 16GB 3600Mhz C17 ram so that should not be an issue. My PC is very new with only high tier parts and should also be fully up to date.

So, I have no idea why the write cache has caused me so much trouble. And also only when downloading via Steam.