ADATA DashDrive Elite HE720 USB 3.0 Drive Review
Manufacturer: ADATA Technology Co., Ltd.
Product Name: DashDrive Elite HE720 Slimmest Profile USB 3.0 External Hard Drive
Model Number: AHE720-500GU3-CTI
UPC: 4713435795934
Price As Tested: $79.99 (Newegg / Amazon)
Full Disclosure: The product sample used in this article has been provided by ADATA.
The Adata DashDrive Elite HE720 promises a sleek and light weight method of moving hundreds of gigabytes of data from point A to point B. Imagine showing up at your friends' door with four seasons of their favorite TV show in your pocket. Although USB memory devices currently offer the lightest and smallest way to move data, the cost per gigabyte becomes quite high as capacity increases. In this article, Benchmark Reviews looks at the features and performance for the lightweight, portable and overall good-looking ADATA DashDrive Elite HE720 USB 3.0 External Hard Drive.
If you have to move around hundreds of gigabytes of data, then cloud storage and USB flash drives quickly become slow and capacity limited. Anyone with a large music or video collection, especially HDTV format, will quickly be looking for a better solution for portable storage.
At under $80, the Adata DashDrive Elite HE720 product offers a cost-effective way to store and transport large files. Not only that, but it is fast and it looks good while it is doing its job. In this article, Benchmark Reviews will look at how the Adata DashDrive Elite HE720 performs, and where a device like this might best be put to use.
Adata DashDrive Elite HE720 Features
- 8.9mm Slimmest Profile
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Stainless Steel Enclosure with 9H Scratch Resistance
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One-Touch Backup Button Allows for Easy Backup Process, Software Pre-Loaded on the HDD
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SuperSpeed USB 3.0 (backward compatible with USB 2.0)
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Free Download software:
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OStoGO Tool
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HDDtoGO Tool
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Norton Internet Security 2012 (60-day Trial)
AHE720-500GU3-CTI Specifications
Source:ADATA web site:
- Capacity 500GB
- Color Titanium
- Dimensions 117x 79 x 8.9mm (4.6 x 3.1 x 0.4in)
- Weight 164g (0.4 lb)
- Interface (USB) SuperSpeed USB 3.0 (backward compatible with USB 2.0)
- Interface (HDD) 2.5" SATA II
- System requirements Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7 / Mac OS X 10.6 or later / Linux Kernel 2.6 or later
- Temperature Operating 5ºC~50ºC; Storage -40ºC~60ºC
- Accessories USB 3.0 cable; Quick Start Guide
- Texture Stainless steel metal brushed surface, plus mirror-like polish
- Warranty 3 years
Closer Look: DashDrive Elite HE720
You could say the DashDrive Elite HE720 really shines when it comes to appearance. About the size of a typical smart phone, the HE720 is wrapped in highly polished stainless steel and features rounded bevel edging. One downside of the highly polished surface is that it quickly collects fingerprints and smudges. The only visible external features are a small status light, the USB 3.0 connector and a small recessed button labeled "backup".
The back of the device contains the product identification sticker and four microscopic bumps to provide one micrometer of clearance when it is resting on a flat surface. One thing is certain, you will not be taking this unit apart out of curiosity or in an attempt to upgrade the hard drive. It appears to be almost hermetically sealed .
The thin form factor of the DashDrive Elite HE720 makes it very easy to place the device in your pocket, purse or laptop case. The same thin form factor can also make the device easy to misplace in a bag full of papers and folders. And although the device fits just about anywhere you would normally place your smart phone, it's nearly half pound weight makes it a bit uncomfortable to place in a shirt pocket.
DashDrive Elite HE720 Detailed Features
The DashDrive Elite HE720is shipped in a simple package which contains the DashDrive, a quick start guide and a small USB 3.0 cable.
Installation of the DashDrive Elite HE720 couldn't be easier. Plugging it in to an available USB 3.0 port brings up the Windows file manager and shows the product with approximately 465 GB of available storage. The single LED status indicator on the HE720 lights up to indicate connection to the host PC.
Most USB 3.0 devices ship with a small 1 foot USB cable, and the Elite HE720 is no different. This potentially makes locating the portable device a bit awkward, as most USB 3.0 ports are on the back of the computer, and access to a flat surface to place the device is not always available.
The good news is that the DashDrive Elite HE720 is small enough and light enough to just hang off the end of the USB cable for temporary attachment to the computer. This is probably the same way you will attach the device with the included cable to a smart HDTV, as most HDTV USB ports are somewhere in the middle of the back or side of the TV. The purchase of a longer USB 3.0 cable is highly recommended.
That little button at one end of the device won't do too much until you install the free companion software from the ADATA website. After installation of the software you are able to initiate a backup of selected directories by pressing the button on the DashDrive Elite HE720. This is probably of limited usefulness, but it is a nice extra feature.
DashDrive Elite HE720 Testing and Results
As nice-looking as the DashDrive Elite HE720 is, if it cannot take advantage of the fast USB 3.0 bandwidth then it is going to be of limited value. Fortunately the product makes good use of the USB 3.0 port, and averages between 90 and 100 MB per second in both read and write operations.
The screenshot below shows the results of a CrystalDiskMark 3.0.1 benchmark test with greater than 90 MB per second in both directions.
Similarly, the ATTO disk benchmark below shows consistently fast read and write performance once the block size becomes sufficiently large.
Another use for a portable drive like this is to attach it to a smart HDTV with a USB interface for media file access. Testing the DashDrive Elite HE720 with a smart Samsung HDTV produced error-free results, with all available media files showing up quickly in the HDTV media browser.
External Drive Final Thoughts
To rework the analogy of a well-designed sports car, the DashDrive Elite HE720 looks like it's going 100 MB/sec even when it's standing still. This device was born to move, and it would be a waste of the device to simply attach it to a PC and forget about it. You really need to take the Elite HE720 out and show it to your friends, or move it around between your PC and HDTV.
As of December 2012, the ADATA DashDrive Elite HE720 cost $79.99 (Newegg / Amazon). With almost 500 GB of available storage, the ADATA DashDrive Elite HE720 is not intended to compete with fast external SSD devices. However, as an inexpensive and relatively large capacity portable storage device, the HD 720 provides quick file transfers and a very compact form factor.
There is a large spectrum of portable storage devices available. Small USB flash drives are great for smaller data files such as music and photographs, but quickly bog down with larger files such as HDTV video. At the other end of the spectrum, 3 TB portable hard drives can easily manage large video files and full system backups, but are large and heavy, and quite often require their own power supply.
The DashDrive Elite HE720 excels as a portable device that fits in the middle of the available external drive options.
ADATA DashDrive Elite HE720 Conclusion
There is no question that the DashDrive Elite HE720 is a good-looking device that you will be proud to show off to your friends. Stainless steel has a classic good appearance in spite of its tendency to attract fingerprints.
That same stainless steel construction adds to the feeling of solidity when handling the device, and in general the DashDrive Elite HE720 feels very well constructed.
The DashDrive Elite HE720 makes good use of its USB 3.0 interface, providing speedy file transfers and quick connection to a host PC or smart HDTV.
The DashDrive Elite HE720 also fits an important niche in the value equation for external storage. Much less expensive than a flash drive of similar capacity, and a much smaller form factor than large external storage devices, the HE720 is very good value for its price.
The ADATA DashDrive Elite HE720 is an attractive solution to anyone who needs to transfer large files in a convenient, portable form factor.
 Pros:
+ Compact form factor
+ Good-looking stainless steel finish
+ Fast read and write performance
+ Solid construction
Cons:
- External finish tends to smudge
- Included USB 3.0 cable a bit short
- Backup button probably useless in most applications
Ratings:
- Presentation: 9.0
- Appearance: 9.5
- Construction:9.5
- Functionality: 8.5
- Value: 9.0
Final Score: 9.1 out of 10.
Excellence Achievement: Benchmark Reviews Golden Tachometer Award.
Benchmark Reviews invites you to leave constructive feedback below, or ask questions in our Discussion Forum.
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