Dell Precision 5490 Intel Core Ultra 7 165H NVMe SSD Speed Fix Windows 11

The NVMe SSD in your Dell Precision 5490 Intel Core Ultra 7 165H is running at slower speeds than expected for a PCIe Gen 4 drive – CrystalDiskMark shows sequential read around 3500MB/s instead of the expected 5000-7000MB/s. Intel RST driver configuration and PCIe link speed negotiation determine NVMe SSD performance on the Precision 5490.

This guide covers Intel RST driver installation, PCIe Gen 4 link speed verification, and SSD firmware updates to maximize NVMe SSD speed on the Dell Precision 5490 Intel Core Ultra 7 165H in Windows 11.

“Precision 5490 NVMe felt slow compared to my old laptop. CrystalDiskMark showed 3500MB/s read. Dell Support had Intel RST driver update. After installing, SSD speed jumped to 6800MB/s as expected for the Gen 4 drive.” – Maizatul, data engineer from Cyberjaya

Why NVMe SSD Shows Slow Speed on Dell Precision 5490

The Dell Precision 5490 PCIe Gen 4 NVMe SSD achieves 3500MB/s instead of 6000-7000MB/s when the PCIe link is operating at Gen 3 speeds instead of Gen 4. This can happen when the Intel RST (Rapid Storage Technology) driver is missing or outdated – without the correct Intel storage driver, Windows uses the generic Microsoft NVMe driver that may not negotiate the full PCIe Gen 4 link speed with the SSD controller. The performance difference between Gen 3 and Gen 4 speeds is significant for large file workloads in professional applications.

• Intel RST driver missing – Windows using generic Microsoft NVMe driver at reduced PCIe Gen 3 speeds
• PCIe link speed negotiated at Gen 3 x4 (3500MB/s) instead of Gen 4 x4 (7000MB/s)
• SSD firmware outdated with known speed regression in specific firmware versions
• BIOS PCIe Gen setting at Auto with Gen 3 fallback due to initialization issue

Fix 1 – Install Intel RST Driver from Dell Support

Go to dell.com/support, enter Precision 5490 service tag, and download Intel Rapid Storage Technology (RST) driver from the Storage or Chipset category. Install and restart. Intel RST includes the NVMe driver component that properly negotiates PCIe Gen 4 link speed and enables full NVMe queue depth management. After installation, run CrystalDiskMark again and verify sequential read speed increases from Gen 3 range (3500MB/s) to Gen 4 range (5000-7000MB/s) confirming the PCIe link is now operating at Gen 4.

Fix 2 – Verify PCIe Link Speed in CrystalDiskInfo

Download CrystalDiskInfo and open it. Select the NVMe SSD (not the OS partition, the physical drive). Look at the Transfer Mode line which shows the current and maximum PCIe link speed. If it shows PCIe 3.0 x4 as the current link speed but PCIe 4.0 x4 as maximum, the drive is capable of Gen 4 but operating at Gen 3. This confirms the Intel RST driver fix is needed. After installing Intel RST, recheck CrystalDiskInfo to confirm Transfer Mode shows PCIe 4.0 x4 for the current link speed.

Update BIOS for PCIe Gen 4 Stability

Download the latest BIOS update for Dell Precision 5490 from Dell Support. BIOS updates include Intel Meteor Lake PCIe controller configuration improvements that ensure PCIe Gen 4 link negotiation succeeds on every boot. Some early BIOS versions default Gen 4 slots to Gen 3 compatibility mode during initialization, and updated BIOS corrects this by properly signaling Gen 4 capability to the NVMe SSD during the PCIe link training phase at boot.

Fix 3 – Update NVMe SSD Firmware

Identify the SSD manufacturer (Samsung, WD, or Toshiba depending on factory config) using CrystalDiskInfo. Download the SSD manufacturer firmware update tool. For Samsung SSDs, use Samsung Magician. For WD SSDs, use WD Dashboard. Run the firmware update tool and install any available SSD firmware update. SSD firmware updates occasionally fix PCIe Gen 4 link speed negotiation bugs specific to certain host controllers, including the Intel Meteor Lake platform in the Precision 5490.

Fix 4 – Enable DRAM Cache in SSD Software

If the NVMe SSD is a Samsung model, open Samsung Magician and check the over-provisioning and DRAM cache settings. WD Black SN850X and similar drives have DRAM cache enabled by default. For non-DRAM SSDs (QLC or budget NVMe drives), write speeds can drop significantly after the cache fills. Verify the Precision 5490 factory SSD is a DRAM-equipped model – all Samsung PM9A1 and Toshiba XG8 enterprise SSDs factory-installed in Precision laptops include DRAM cache for consistent performance.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is the NVMe SSD slow on Dell Precision 5490 Intel Core Ultra 7 165H?

Intel RST driver missing causing PCIe link to negotiate at Gen 3 instead of Gen 4. Install Intel RST from Dell Support and verify PCIe 4.0 x4 link in CrystalDiskInfo.

How do I check NVMe SSD speed on Dell Precision 5490?

CrystalDiskMark for speed benchmark. CrystalDiskInfo for PCIe link speed – should show PCIe 4.0 x4 for correct Gen 4 operation.

What NVMe SSD does Dell Precision 5490 Intel Core Ultra 7 165H have?

M.2 2280 PCIe Gen 4 NVMe – Samsung PM9A1, Toshiba XG8, or WD PC SN740 depending on ordered configuration.

Can I upgrade the SSD in Dell Precision 5490?

Yes – one M.2 2280 PCIe Gen 4 slot. Remove bottom panel to access. Clone OS drive with Macrium Reflect Free before swapping.

Conclusion

Dell Precision 5490 Intel Core Ultra 7 165H NVMe SSD speed running at Gen 3 levels in Windows 11 is resolved by installing the Intel RST driver from Dell Support, which correctly negotiates PCIe Gen 4 x4 link speed with the NVMe SSD. CrystalDiskInfo confirms the link speed change from Gen 3 to Gen 4 after driver installation. BIOS update ensures Gen 4 link training succeeds on every boot. SSD firmware update and manufacturer software address any drive-side PCIe negotiation issues for complete NVMe speed restoration on the Precision 5490 workstation.