CrystalDiskMark for PC: How to Download and Install on Windows (2026 Guide)

Your new SSD claims speeds of several thousand megabytes per second on the box — but is it actually delivering them in your PC? And is that old hard drive really the reason everything feels slow, or is something else to blame? CrystalDiskMark answers both questions with a two-minute test: it measures your drive’s real read and write speeds and shows the numbers in plain MB/s.

This guide shows you how to download CrystalDiskMark for PC from the official CrystalMark website, run it on Windows 11 or 10, and read your first benchmark correctly. Features, requirements and first-use steps are covered below — plus an honest note on cost, because this well-known tool is entirely free.

What Is CrystalDiskMark?

CrystalDiskMark is a free disk benchmark utility developed by Crystal Dew World (programmer Noriyuki Miyazaki). It tests storage devices — internal SSDs and hard drives, external USB drives, even memory cards in a reader — by writing and reading test data in several patterns, then reporting sequential and random read/write speeds.

Those two kinds of numbers tell different stories. Sequential speed is what matters for copying big files and is the figure drive makers advertise; random speed, measured with tiny blocks, is what decides how responsive Windows and your programs feel. CrystalDiskMark is the companion to CrystalDiskInfo from the same developer: CrystalDiskInfo monitors a drive’s health, while CrystalDiskMark measures its speed. It is also available from the Microsoft Store if you prefer installing it that way.

Key Features of CrystalDiskMark

Sequential speed tests: Measures large-file read and write performance (SEQ1M) — the headline numbers used to compare drives.
Random speed tests: Measures small-block random performance (RND4K), which reflects everyday responsiveness and game loading.
Multiple test patterns: Several queue-depth and thread combinations show how a drive behaves under light and heavy workloads.
Any drive you own: Benchmark internal SSDs and HDDs, external USB drives and other storage Windows can see.
Adjustable test runs: Choose how many passes run and how large the test file is, from a quick check to a thorough test.
Peak and real-world profiles: Recent versions include profiles that mimic everyday mixed use, not just best-case numbers.
Copyable results: Copy your results as text to compare drives or share them when asking for buying advice.

System Requirements

Operating System: Windows 11 or Windows 10 (64-bit or 32-bit)
Processor: Any modern Intel or AMD CPU
RAM: 2 GB or more
Storage: Under 50 MB for the program itself; the drive you test needs a few GB free for the test file
Display: Any resolution
Internet: Only needed for the download (or use the Microsoft Store version)
Account: None — no sign-up, licence key or activation

How to Download CrystalDiskMark (Official Method)

Popular benchmark tools attract copycat download pages that wrap the small free program in their own installers and add unwanted extras. CrystalDiskMark is free from its developer, so get it only from the official CrystalMark website linked below — or, if you prefer, install the same genuine tool from the Microsoft Store.

Official Website: Download CrystalDiskMark from the official website

Step-by-Step Installation

Open the official CrystalDiskMark page linked above.
Click the download button for the standard edition installer (a portable ZIP is also offered if you prefer no installation).
Save the installer to your Downloads folder.
Double-click the installer and approve the Windows permission prompt.
Choose your language and keep the default installation folder.
Click Install (or Next through the setup screens), then Finish when setup completes.
Launch CrystalDiskMark from the Start menu — the main window opens with its green test buttons ready.

First-launch note: Before your first test, close heavy programs and let the PC sit idle for a minute. Benchmarks measure whatever the drive is doing at that moment, and a Windows update or a big download running in the background will drag your results down unfairly.

How to Run Your First SSD Benchmark

Open CrystalDiskMark — at the top you will see the test count, test size and a drive-letter selector.
Select the drive you want to test (your Windows SSD is usually C:).
Leave the defaults as they are for a first run — 5 passes with a 1 GiB test file is the standard setup reviewers use.
Click the “All” button on the left to run every test in sequence.
Wait without using the PC — the full run usually takes a few minutes, and the buttons turn red while tests are active.
Read the results: the top SEQ1M Q8T1 row shows your drive’s headline sequential read and write speeds in MB/s — compare those with the speeds your drive advertised.

CrystalDiskMark Free vs Paid: What Is the Difference?

There is no difference to explain, because there is no paid version. CrystalDiskMark is free software from Crystal Dew World: the download from the official website (and the Microsoft Store listing) is the complete tool, with every test, every profile and no limits, for home and professional use alike.

The developer supports the project through donations and the Store, and themed special editions of the program exist with different artwork — but those change the colours, not the capability. Nobody legitimate charges for CrystalDiskMark itself, so treat any site asking for payment as a warning sign and use the official link above instead.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is CrystalDiskMark safe to download and use?
Yes, from the official CrystalMark website linked above (or the Microsoft Store). It is a long-established free utility that only writes and reads a temporary test file on the drive you choose, then deletes it. Bundled copies on unofficial download pages are the risky ones.

Is CrystalDiskMark free?
Yes, entirely. There is no paid edition, no trial and no locked tests. The developer accepts optional donations, but the program itself is free for everyone.

What is the difference between CrystalDiskMark and CrystalDiskInfo?
They are companion tools from the same developer that do different jobs. CrystalDiskMark measures SPEED — how fast a drive reads and writes. CrystalDiskInfo monitors HEALTH — temperature, power-on hours and the drive’s built-in S.M.A.R.T. warnings. Use Mark to test performance and Info to keep an eye on a drive’s condition.

Will running a benchmark wear out my SSD?
A benchmark writes test data — with the default settings, a few gigabytes per run. Occasional runs are a normal part of checking a drive and are nothing to worry about; just avoid looping benchmarks over and over for no reason, the same way you would avoid any pointless heavy writing.

Conclusion

CrystalDiskMark replaces guesswork with two honest numbers: how fast your drive reads, and how fast it writes. Download it free from the official CrystalMark website, run the full test once on your main drive, and you will know whether your storage is performing as it should — or whether it is the bottleneck you have been blaming on everything else.

Download CrystalDiskMark from the Official Website

CrystalDiskMark for PC: How to Download and Install on Windows (2026 Guide)