crystaldiskmark.exe

CrystalDiskMark Benchmark Tool

Application ProcessSafeDisk Benchmark

CPU Usage

1-10%

Memory

20-60 MB

Location

C:\Program Files\CrystalDiskMark

Publisher

Hiyohiyo

Quick Answer

crystaldiskmark.exe is safe. It's CrystalDiskMark, a legitimate disk benchmarking tool that runs read/write tests to measure sequential and random speeds.

Is it a Virus?

✔ NO - Safe

Must be in C:\Program Files\CrystalDiskMark\CrystalDiskMark.exe

Warning

Benchmarks run only when invoked

CrystalDiskMark launches tests only when you start them; multiple test phases create separate work threads

Can I Disable?

✔ YES

Close the app after testing; it does not auto-run by itself unless launched

What is crystaldiskmark.exe?

crystaldiskmark.exe is the CrystalDiskMark benchmark executable. It measures disk performance by running a series of read and write tests on a selected drive, using preset patterns. It generates temporary test data and reports speeds in MB/s for sequential and random operations.

CrystalDiskMark.exe performs deterministic I/O tests (sequential and random) against a target drive using predefined patterns, producing repeatable throughput results without altering user data beyond temporary test files.

Quick Fact: CrystalDiskMark has been a go-to Windows disk benchmark since its early versions for quick, visual throughput comparisons.

Types of CrystalDiskMark Processes

Main GUI Process: User interface and orchestration of benchmark runs (1 instance)
Benchmark Worker: Per-test worker threads performing read/write patterns
Temporary Test Data: Creates and deletes small temporary test files on the target drive
Log/Report Writer: Generates results summary after tests complete

Is crystaldiskmark.exe Safe?

Yes, crystaldiskmark.exe is safe when it comes from the official CrystalDiskMark release and is located in a standard program folder (e.g., C:\Program Files\CrystalDiskMark).

Is crystaldiskmark.exe a Virus or Malware?

The real crystaldiskmark.exe is NOT a virus. Malware may masquerade with similar names; always verify the path and signature.

How to Tell if crystaldiskmark.exe is Legitimate or Malware

File Location: Must be in C:\Program Files\CrystalDiskMark\CrystalDiskMark.exe or C:\Program Files (x86)\CrystalDiskMark\CrystalDiskMark.exe. Any crystaldiskmark.exe elsewhere is suspicious.
Digital Signature: Right-click the file in Explorer → Properties → Digital Signatures. Should show a valid signer like "CrystalDiskMark" or the developer "Hiyohiyo".
Resource Usage: Normal benchmarking uses a brief spike, then settles. Extremely high usage when idle is suspicious.
Behavior: CrystalDiskMark should run only when launched by the user. Background activity without user action could indicate tampering.

Red Flags: If crystaldiskmark.exe is located in unusual folders (Temp, AppData, System32), runs without user launch, has no signature, or shows unexpected network activity during tests, scan with antivirus and compare with official releases.

Why Is crystaldiskmark.exe Running on My PC?

crystaldiskmark.exe runs when you start a CrystalDiskMark benchmark or when a monitoring script calls the tool to measure disk performance.

Reasons it's running:

User-initiated benchmark: You explicitly started CrystalDiskMark to measure a drive's performance.
Automated test in a script: A batch file or automation task launched CrystalDiskMark as part of a test suite.
Monitoring tool invocation: A system monitor or hardware test utility invokes CrystalDiskMark to record throughput during checks.
Post-configuration performance check: After changing storage settings, you re-run benchmarks to compare results.
Portable/USB usage: Running CrystalDiskMark from a removable drive triggers the executable on demand.

Can I Disable or Remove crystaldiskmark.exe?

Yes, you can disable crystaldiskmark.exe. It does not affect system stability; simply close the app or remove CrystalDiskMark from your system if you no longer need it.

How to Stop crystaldiskmark.exe

Close the app: Click the X or choose Exit to terminate the current benchmark.
End task: Open Task Manager → Processes → crystaldiskmark.exe → End Task
Prevent startup: If the launcher or script auto-starts it, disable the startup entry via Task Manager -> Startup or the script.
Uninstall: Control Panel or Settings → Apps → CrystalDiskMark → Uninstall

How to Uninstall CrystalDiskMark

✔ Windows Settings → Apps → Apps & Features → CrystalDiskMark → Uninstall
✔ Control Panel → Programs → Uninstall a program → CrystalDiskMark → Uninstall
✔ Consider alternatives: AS SSD Benchmark, Blackmagic Disk Speed Test, HD Tune

Common Problems: Benchmark Fails or Reports Odd Results

If crystaldiskmark.exe behaves unexpectedly during a test:

Common Causes & Solutions

Test runs while the drive is busy with another operation: Close other disk-intensive apps, wait for I/O to settle, then re-run the benchmark.
Using a drive with insufficient free space: Ensure at least several hundred MB free on the target drive; free space helps temporary test files.
Antivirus or Windows Defender interfering with test writes: Add CrystalDiskMark to exclusions or temporarily disable real-time protection during the test.
Outdated CrystalDiskMark version: Update to the latest release from the official site to fix known issues and improve accuracy.
Temporary files left behind from previous tests: Manually clean test folders or re-run after a reboot to reset test state.
Incorrect test pattern selection: Verify the test configuration matches your intended patterns (Sequential, Random) and iterate with consistent sizes.

Quick Fixes:
1. Close all other disk-intensive apps
2. Run CrystalDiskMark as Administrator
3. Update to the latest CrystalDiskMark version
4. Check disk space and free space on the target drive
5. Temporarily disable antivirus real-time protection during test

Frequently Asked Questions

Is crystaldiskmark.exe safe?

Yes, crystaldiskmark.exe is safe when downloaded from the official CrystalDiskMark site and located in a standard path like C:\Program Files\CrystalDiskMark. Verify digital signatures to be sure.

What does crystaldiskmark.exe do?

Crystaldiskmark.exe runs disk I/O benchmarks, testing sequential and random read/write speeds and reporting MB/s results to help compare drive performance.

Where should crystaldiskmark.exe be located?

Typically, it resides in C:\Program Files\CrystalDiskMark\ or C:\Program Files (x86)\CrystalDiskMark\CrystalDiskMark.exe for the 32-bit variant.

Can CrystalDiskMark harm my drive?

No. CrystalDiskMark performs read/write tests using temporary data. It should not modify user data; however, ensure you test on a healthy drive with sufficient space.

How do I read CrystalDiskMark results?

Results show sequential and random read/write speeds in MB/s for different test patterns. Compare values across drives and note the best/worst performing patterns.

Why is CrystalDiskMark slow to start?

First run may initialize resources; ensure the drive is not busy, the application is updated, and no antivirus scans are delaying disk I/O.