The instructions and explanations in this guide assume that you understand how to operate your Macintosh computer. You should, for example, know how to choose, select, launch, and drag by using your mouse. In addition, you should also understand how the desktop, windows, dialog boxes, buttons and file/folders work within the Macintosh environment. For more information about these items, please refer to your Macintosh User?s Guide.

SpeedTools ZoneBench is a benchmarking application designed to measure the read and write speeds over an entire local storage device. That device can be either logical (such as a disk volume which is actually a RAID array made up of two or more disk drives) or physical (such as your internal ATA disk drive). ZoneBench also has the capability to measure the speed of read-only volumes such as a mounted CD or DVD data disc. ZoneBench does not measure the speed of burning recordable CD/DVD discs, however.

Measuring speeds across an entire device is important because most storage devices do not maintain consistent speeds across their entire storage area. For example, all modern hard disk drives get slower as data is accessed further and further toward the physical end of the drive. Conversely, CD and DVD ROM discs get faster as you access toward the physical end of disc. (This is because CD’s and DVD’s are read starting at the center of the disc moving progressively outwards.

Warning: ZoneBench is designed to be non-destructive. However, because ZoneBench reads and writes directly to your storage device, there is always a possibility of data corruption. Please make sure you a have current backup of any writable device you wish to test.

ZoneBench was created with maximum flexibility in mind. All zone test variables can be easily modified to suit almost any testing situation. Test results can be saved into tab-delimited text files suitable for importing into your favorite spreadsheet application or word processor.

Download pdf ZoneBench User Guide