Microsoft has introduced a new NVMe driver for Windows Server 2025 to enhance SSD performance, which is also included in Windows 11. This update promises to significantly boost Input/Output Operations Per Second (IOPS) and overall data throughput while reducing CPU load.
The previous driver setup posed a bottleneck because Windows converted NVMe commands to the older SCSI commands, which, though efficient in the past, could not keep pace with modern SSD capabilities. To activate the new NVMe driver in Windows Server 2025, users need to add a specific registry key. For Windows 11, however, there are three additional registry values that must be set. Instructions for these modifications can be found online.
Creating a simple registry file and executing it will apply the necessary changes:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00 [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESYSTEMCurrentControlSetPoliciesMicrosoftFeatureManagementOverrides]"735209102"=dword:00000001"1853569164"=dword:00000001"156965516"=dword:00000001It’s important to back up your system before making these changes, as they could cause unwanted side effects.
After successfully adjusting the registry settings, users can verify that the new driver is operational by checking the Device Manager. The SSD should then appear under "Storage media," transitioning from its previous classification under "Drives," and show the driver details for "nvmedisk.sys."
Initial tests indicate impressive performance improvements, including a 10-15% increase in throughput for PCIe 4.0 SSDs, as well as quicker system responsiveness after reboots. While these tests have provided anecdotal evidence of performance gains across SSD types, further rigorous testing is needed for definitive conclusions.
For more information on improving SSD performance in Windows, refer to Microsoft’s official NVMe SSD improvements.