For any application that relies on a database—from e-commerce sites to SaaS platforms—storage performance is not just a feature, it's the foundation of the user experience. Slow database queries lead to slow page loads, frustrated users, and lost revenue. While both Solid State Drives (SSDs) and Non-Volatile Memory Express (NVMe) drives are fast, the underlying technology makes a world of difference under pressure.
At NordicVM, we exclusively use NVMe storage for all our Cloud VPS and as the primary storage for our Dedicated Servers. But we don't just want you to take our word for it. We put two drives to the test in a real-world database scenario to show you why this matters.
The Test Setup
To ensure a fair comparison, we used two identical dedicated servers from our inventory, with the only variable being the primary storage drive.
- CPU: AMD EPYC 7302P (8 Cores assigned)
- RAM: 32 GB DDR4 ECC
- OS: Ubuntu 22.04 LTS
- Database: PostgreSQL 14
- Benchmark Tool: `pgbench`, PostgreSQL's own benchmarking tool, simulating a high-concurrency transactional workload.
- Drive 1 (SATA SSD): 1TB Enterprise SATA SSD
- Drive 2 (NVMe SSD): 1TB Enterprise NVMe SSD
Benchmark 1: Transaction Throughput (IOPS)
Input/Output Operations Per Second (IOPS) is a critical metric for database performance, measuring how many read and write operations a drive can handle each second. For a database serving many users simultaneously, higher IOPS means more queries can be processed without delay.
Results (Transactions Per Second)
| Test Type (128 concurrent clients) | SATA SSD | NVMe SSD |
|---|---|---|
| Read-Only TPS | ~8,900 | ~34,500 (+287%) |
| Read-Write TPS | ~2,100 | ~7,800 (+271%) |
Analysis: The results are staggering. The NVMe drive delivered nearly 4 times the number of transactions per second in both read-only and mixed read-write scenarios. This is because NVMe communicates directly with the CPU via the PCIe bus, bypassing the much slower SATA interface used by traditional SSDs. For a high-traffic database, this means significantly more user requests can be handled concurrently before performance starts to degrade.
Benchmark 2: Average Transaction Latency
Latency measures the time it takes for a single operation to complete. For a user waiting for a page to load, storage latency is a major contributor to the overall delay. Lower latency is always better, as it means the application feels more responsive.
Results (Average Latency per Transaction)
| Test Type | SATA SSD | NVMe SSD |
|---|---|---|
| Read-Write Latency | ~60.8 ms | ~16.4 ms (-73%) |
Analysis: The NVMe drive's latency was dramatically lower, at just a fraction of the SATA SSD's. This 73% reduction in wait time is directly felt by the end-user. It's the difference between a snappy, responsive application and one that feels sluggish. The parallel architecture of the NVMe protocol allows it to handle thousands of simultaneous command queues, whereas SATA is limited to one, resulting in this massive latency improvement.
Conclusion: Why We Choose NVMe
The data is clear: for any serious database workload, NVMe storage is not just an upgrade; it's a necessity. While a SATA SSD is a huge leap from a traditional hard drive, the NVMe protocol unlocks the true potential of solid-state storage, delivering game-changing improvements in both throughput (IOPS) and responsiveness (latency).
By building our platform on 100% NVMe storage, we ensure that every NordicVM client has the high-performance foundation required to build fast, scalable, and successful applications. When you host with us, you're not just getting a server; you're getting a competitive advantage built on superior hardware.
Ready to experience the difference yourself? Deploy a Cloud VPS on our platform in seconds.