Benchmarking SSDs is often done using third-party programs that evaluate speed with scores. But for those interested in the real-world performance, specifically the actual time it takes to copy and paste a file, a different approach is needed.
Usually, you might think of recording your computer screen or using a stopwatch to manually track the time it takes for the copy and paste operation. But there haven’t been any dedicated programs for this task – until now.
We’ve developed an open-source Python program called “Window Life Span” for our recent SSD reviews, and it makes the process much easier. It precisely calculates the exact duration a window was opened, making it the perfect tool for timing copy and paste operations.
Here’s how you can benchmark the copy and paste process in Windows Explorer using Window Life Span:
Step 1: Download Window Life Span
First, download the WindowLifeSpan.exe program from the following link on Github:
Step 2: Copy and Paste Benchmark
Once downloaded, open the program. A command prompt window will appear, actively tracking the programs you have open. When a program is closed, it will display the number of seconds it was opened for.
To benchmark the copy and paste operation, simply paste the file you want in any directories to measure.
Once the task is completed, a message will appear showing that the “[XX% complete window] was opened for XX.XX seconds.” This is the result you need for your benchmark.
Before proceeding with the benchmark, ensure that the file you are pasting does not already exist in the destination folder. If it does, you’ll encounter a prompt, which can affect the accuracy of the timing.