Aight guys I fail. Same issue is back with Blood and Wine. I suspect a software issue but upon search only find similarly befuddled users (including ssd users reporting > 1 min loads). Hoping a fellow gamer will have some insight to offer? I will probably upgrade to an ssd soon regardless.

It legit was a lot better when I posted the prior update, I had been timing with a stop watch and not just making up numbers.