long hard drive writing time after 100% on export

[integrityvideo]

I've noticed that Media Encoder uses CPU to export, but at 100%, all of a sudden the hard drive spins up, and stays active for several minutes before the video file is ready. Is it common for Media Encoder to sit at 100% for several minutes while the hard drive does this? It almost doubles the export time as a result. If it takes 7-8 minutes to render, it then takes several minutes at 100% before completing. Thank you for your input!

[Peru Bob]

What are the complete computer specs, including hard drives (how many, what kind, what is on each, what capacity, and how full)?

What are the media properties and sequence settings?

What effects and transitions are being used?

Any third party effects or transitions?
If NVIDIA graphics, make sure to use the latest Studio Driver from NVIDIA (NOT the Game Driver).

[integrityvideo]

i7-9700K CPU @ 3.60 GHz

48 GB RAM

nVidia Quadro RTX 4000 

internal SSD drive 78 GB of 475 GB free

internal SSD drive 185 of 223 GB free

2 exernal USB 3.0 drives both with 8.93 TB of 12.7 TB free

no effects or transitions being used

timeline is 720p 3 Mbps mp4 files source material and exporting out as 720p 3Mbps mp4 files (basically just stitching files together and exporting)

Please let me know if you need further info

[integrityvideo]

I should add that a 2 hr video file exports out at about 8 minutes until it reaches 100%, and then it takes about 3 more minutes on 100% while hard drive is writing before the file is completed

[Peru Bob]

That may be normal.

[Peru Bob]

internal SSD drive 78 GB of 475 GB free

internal SSD drive 185 of 223 GB free

2 exernal USB 3.0 drives both with 8.93 TB of 12.7 TB free

By @integrityvideo

What is on each drive (media, cache, etc.)?

[integrityvideo]

Media cache is stored on C: drive

Source files are located on one of the external USB drives, and the rendered video is saved onto the same external USB drive

I've also tried rendering/saving onto the C: drive, and this did not change performance

[Peru Bob]

If you can make enough room, temporarily locating only the media used in the project and exports on an SSD might be faster instead of USB.

[Sven S]

You mentioned "(basically just stitching files together and exporting)". Is it one file you are exporting, like a PPro project where you are having the clips in one timeline or are you using the AME stiching function. And second, what export preset are you using?