enter value/s in increments of 1 between 150 and 430
Recommended products
Member only
This test score is for members only. Join now to unlock our expert results.
Join nowAlready a member? Log in now
Average read speed (Mbps)
Connected with USB 3.0, real-time throughput are averaged over multiple runs of transferring data sets (large and small files) to and from each drive. For the Buffalo DriveStation Velocity HD-LXU3 the figures used are without using the included TurboCopy software (which averaged slightly slower figures for both read and write in our testing).
enter value/s in increments of i between 660 and 789
Average write speed (Mbps)
Connected with USB 3.0, real-time throughput are averaged over multiple runs of transferring data sets (large and small files) to and from each drive. For the Buffalo DriveStation Velocity HD-LXU3 this figure doesn't include results for TurboCopy software (which averaged slightly slower figures for both read and write in our testing).
enter value/s in increments of i between 746 and 917
Image backup software
Creates a full snapshot "image" of the entire drive including all software and files. Most drives will include backup software that will back up all files, but it may not create a full disk image for easy restoration of the entire drive and all contents.
Hardware encryption
Some makers provide hardware-based encryption to protect your data from prying eyes. Hardware encryption is generally considered to be superior to software-based encryption but beware that in either case an up-to-date backup is vital as a hardware failure can prevent access to all your data. Likewise, loss of the password can prevent future access.
Ease of use score
We assess the time to get set up, how easy it is to install the software and use it to set a back-up regime, and how easy it is to restore a particular version of a backed up file. Ease of use makes up 25% of the overall score.
enter value/s in increments of i between 64 and 74
Performance score
Performance makes up 50% of the overall score. We transfer sets of 5GB of data to and from each drive multiple times, and note both the read and write speeds to measure the drive's performance.
enter value/s in increments of i between 74 and 79
Software versatility score
The number of options and potential applications available in the software. Software versatility is made up of backup (50%), security (40%) and power management (10%) support. Software versatility makes up 25% of the overall score.
enter value/s in increments of i between 0 and 86
Annual energy cost
Calculated at 28c/kWh.
enter value/s in increments of i between 4.94 and 7.6
Included in this review
- CHOICE Buy
- Overall score
- Performance score
- Ease of use score
- Software versatility score
- Average read speed (Mbps)
- Average write speed (Mbps)
- Weight inc power (kg)
- Good points
- Bad points
- Brand
- Model
- Price
- Capacity (TB)
- Cost per GB ($)
- Annual energy cost
- Size DxWxH (mm)
- Default file format
- Physical power switch
- Positioning
- Power management software
- Hardware encryption
- Software encryption
- Lock slot
- File backup software
- Image backup software
- Mac reformatting instructions
- Online storage
- USB 3 connector type
- Warranty (years)
- Website