| Patriot Gauntlet 320 Wireless HDD PCGTW320S |
| Reviews - Featured Reviews: Storage | |
| Written by Olin Coles | |
| Monday, 15 October 2012 | |
Patriot Gauntlet 320 Wireless Drive Review
Manufacturer: Patriot Memory LLC Full Disclosure: The product sample used in this article has been provided by Patriot. If you've ever wanted a compact storage device that was small, had its own power supply, and wirelessly accessible, then the Patriot Gauntlet 320 fits the build perfectly. While capable of connecting via SuperSpeed USB 3.0, the Patriot Gauntlet is so much more. Designed as a portable hard disk drive with 320GB of storage space, 5.5-hour lithium-ion battery, and and integrated 150Mbps Wi-Fi b/g/n access point, the Patriot Gauntlet 320 (PCGTW320S) simultaneously streams media to up to five devices. In this article, Benchmark Reviews tests the Patriot Gauntlet 320 using Google Android and Apple iPhone devices as well as digital media players and the PC platform. People become more mobile as technology allows them, which is why portable devices and wireless technology have become so popular. When it comes to portable data storage the two predominant standards have been USB drives, either flash or hard disk. Plug and cable-connected devices generally exclude mobile storage items, such as tablets and smartphones, which rely on wireless data transmission. This is where Patriot has focused their latest product, Gauntlet 320, and the focus of our review.
Gauntlet 320 FeaturesSource: Patriot Memory
The Gauntlet 320 is the perfect all-in-one portable wireless storage solution to enhance the limited storage options of devices like tablets, smart phones, and laptops. With an onboard 320GB hard drive, the Gauntlet 320 provides an easy way to take a vast media collection on the go. Launching with App support for Android, iOS, and Kindle Fire and off ering the ability to connect up to 8 devices and stream to 5 simultaneously; the Gauntlet 320 provides the most accessible wireless storage solution for streaming content like videos, music, and pictures. A battery powered wireless solution, the Gauntlet 320 is also plug and play USB 3.0 capable for high speed wired data transfers to and from USB 3.0 compatible desktops and laptops. Powered by a lithium-ion battery, the Gauntlet 320 is capable of streaming up to 5.5 hours continuously, providing the ultimate solution for on-the-go productivity or entertainment. Backed by Patriot Memory's award winning customer service, the Gauntlet 320 carries a 2-year limited warranty. PCGTW320S Specificiations
Closer Look: Patriot Gauntlet 320The Patriot Gauntlet 320 is a wireless hard disk drive with a lithium-ion battery to power the device for nearly six hours. Gauntlet 320 measures 5.5" long, 3.4" wide, and 1" tall, with a device weight of 10 ounces (11 oz with USB cable). Included in the PCGTW320S kit is the Patriot Gauntlet 320 Wireless HDD, custom USB 3.0 data/power cable, USB type "A" DC power adapter cable, and AC power adapter with USB port. The Patriot Gauntlet 320 is a wireless storage device with internal hard disk and battery. Gauntlet 320 is essentially identical to Patriot's Gauntlet Node enclosure (PCGTW25S), but ships as an assembled device with hard disk drive installed. For those who want to outfit a larger hard disk or solid state drive, the Patriot Gauntlet Node is the way to go.
The Gauntlet 320 features a fine-textured plastic shell with flat-black finish to avoid visible fingerprints or smudges. When powered on a white LED glows beside the power symbol, a blue LED lights when the Wi-Fi function is operational, and a LED illuminates red when power is supplied via USB or AC and the unit is charging before turning blue once fully charged.
Patriot locates all button and connection interfaces along the front of Gauntlet 320. A special combination USB 'Micro B' connector allows for data/power through one cable, or users can plug in the separate USB 'A' cable through the AC wall adapter. The power button is minimal tactile feedback, so little effort is necessary to turn the unit on and off.
Ventilation holes perforate the enclosures side walls, identical to Patriot Node, and allow Gauntlet 320 to cool the internal hard disk drive and electronic components. The orientation of the device is unimportant, as heat will escape regardless of positioning. Patriot offers their own Gauntlet Connect software application that allows portable devices to access the wireless drive: Gauntlet Connect for Amazon Kindle Fire, Gauntlet Connect for Google Android, and Gauntlet Connect for Apple iPad, iPhone (3GS or later), and iPod Touch running iOS 4.2 or later. Apple Mac and Microsoft Windows PC's can access the Gauntlet 320 without Gauntlet Connect software through the standard file explorer function.
Patriot's design embeds the wireless antenna into the units printed circuit board (PCB), which reduces product cost by streamlining the number of components needed, and helps reduce overall product weight. Gauntlet's wireless access point allows Internet connection pass-through, which was tested and confirmed available for Apple iOS versions of Gauntlet Connect. Gauntlet 320 PerformanceBecause Gauntlet 320 accepts connections from many wireless devices across various platforms, it was difficult to settle on a fair test method. Each device, be it Apple iPhone/Google Android smartphone, tablet, or digital media devices (such as the Patriot Memory PBO Alpine Media Player), is capable of different data transfer rates. So I decided to go with the one platform that would push Gauntlet 320's hard drive to the hardest: SuperSpeed USB 3.0 via PC. Using the ASMedia (ASM1042) USB 3.0 controller on our ASUS P9X79 Deluxe (Intel X79 Express) motherboard, the Gauntlet 320 was pushed to deliver maximum throughput using ATTO Disk Benchmark. Intel X79 Express Test System
According to ATTO Disk Benchmark, the Patriot Gauntlet 320 produced a peak read/write transfer speed of approximately 93 MB/s. This coincides with the internal hard disk's maximum throughput specifications, which is why the Gauntlet 320 would not benefit from anything faster than the wireless-n 150 Mb/s connection it currently supports. For users with Hi-Speed USB 2.0 ports, Gauntlet 320 is backwards compatible but will likely saturate the connection and top out around 25 MB/s. In terms of lithium ion battery life, the Gauntlet 320 was tested after being charged overnight to ensure maximum battery capacity before connecting wirelessly and streaming a large music playlist. The system shut down the wireless connection nearly six hours later, and required a short recharge before it would power-on again. Since streaming media discharges the unit at the same rate regardless of media type (audio, video, images, etc.), most users can expect to play through two full movies between charges. Unfortunately, there's no access to the Li-Po battery if it ever needs to be replaced. Patriot Gauntlet 320 ConclusionIMPORTANT: Although the rating and final score mentioned in this conclusion are made to be as objective as possible, please be advised that every author perceives these factors differently at various points in time. While we each do our best to ensure that all aspects of the product are considered, there are often times unforeseen market conditions and manufacturer changes which occur after publication that could render our rating obsolete. Please do not base any purchase solely on our conclusion as it represents our product rating specifically for the product tested, which may differ from future versions of the same product. Benchmark Reviews begins our conclusion with a short summary for each of the areas that we rate. Beginning with performance, the Patriot Gauntlet 320 demonstrated that it was capable of 93 MB/s data transfers speeds over USB 3.0 and wireless-n network connections. While these speeds are presently limited by internal hard drive throughput, it's more than enough bandwidth to concurrently support streaming media out to five different devices. USB 2.0 users will still see transfers reach 25 MB/s, which is more than enough for a single cable-connected device. While highly unnecessary, hardware enthusiasts could replace the hard disk with a solid state drive to support even greater concurrent streaming media connections to Gauntlet 320. Appearance is a much more subjective matter, especially since this particular rating doesn't have any quantitative benchmark scores to fall back on. The Patriot Gauntlet 320 is a portable storage device offered only in the color black, with a compact footprint not much thicker than most modern smartphones. While the finish is elegant and subtle, the modest looks become a moot point because Gauntlet will most likely be stowed away and hidden from view until needed.
Like most portable devices, Patriot Gauntlet 320 is designed to withstand drop damage. Since the internal hard disk can withstand extreme-G shock, there is very little risk of losing data from minor accidents. The outer shell gives Gauntlet 320 some level of protection from rough handling, dusty environments, and minor spills or splashes. Consumers receive a 2-year warranty supplied by Patriot Memory, with toll-free support (800-800-9600) and online assistance available. As of October 2012, the Patriot Gauntlet 320 Wireless HDD (model PCGTW320S) was available for $149.99 (Newegg). Considering the individual costs for the Patriot Node wireless enclosure and a 2.5" 320GB SATA hard disk drive, there's plenty of value to be found in Gauntlet 320. Not many alternatives exist as few portable wireless storage devices are available on the market. It is my opinion that the Patriot Gauntlet 320 offers something unique, and quite useful, to portable device owners of many platforms. With up to six hours of battery life, Gauntlet 320 could be perfect for extended periods of streaming media without access to power. The internal hard drive can be upgraded using any 2.5" SATA drive, but users wanting a different capacity drive should consider building with the Patriot Gauntlet Node enclosure and use any of the 1TB hard disk options that presently exist, although now 2TB drives are also available. Overall I'm impressed with Patriot's Gauntlet 320 wireless HDD, and recommend it to others who want the versatility of a SuperSpeed USB 3.0 or wireless connection to their data from almost any device via Gauntlet Connect application. Pros:
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Comments
320GB/platter tech is years old. 640GB 2-platter laptop drives first came out in late 2010, so nearly 2 years old.
Just food for thought since the article missed the difference between bits on network speed vs bytes on drive speed.
You made my job a lot easier!!
mazer