CrystalDiskMark

When you create, copy or move files on the hard disk you might wonder why it takes so long. CrystalDiskMark is a free tool that can be used to benchmark the read and write speeds of your hard disk.

Just install the tool, pick your hard disk from the dropdown and choose which of the four tests you would like to try. The Sequential read-write will usually give the highest speed. But it is highly unlikely that it reflects any real-world use. The 512K and 4K tests are more realistic.

Tried with: CrystalDiskMark 3.0.3, Western Digital WD7500BPKX-00HPJT0 750GB hard disk and Windows 7 Professional 64-bit