ADATA DashDrive HV620 External Hard Drive Review

By Greg Schepers

Manufacturer: ADATA Technology Co., Ltd.
Product Name: DashDrive HV620 2.5″ External Hard Drive SuperSpeed USB 3.0 2TB
Model Number: AHV620-2TU3-CBK
UPC: 4713435797990
Price As Tested: $119.99 (Amazon | Newegg)

Full Disclosure: The product sample used in this article has been provided by ADATA.

ADATA has been in the business of developing memory and storage solutions for a dozen years and, in the process, has earned a reputation for producing high-quality devices. Its latest addition to the DashDrive lineup is the ADATA HV620 External Hard Drive. The HV620 is currently available in 500GB, 1TB, and 2TB capacities. In this review, Benchmark Reviews will take a closer look at the 2TB version of the ADATA DashDrive HV620 External Hard Drive and share the results of our testing. We will also take a closer look at its features, which include a scratch-proof surface, its glossy finish, and the raised lip around the perimeter of the device, which is meant to provide an added level of protection to the top of the HV620.

ADATA DashDrive HV620 External Hard Drive is not only available in different capacities, it also comes in both black or white glossy finishes. Considering that it is part of the DashDrive lineup and has a USB 3.0 interface, the assumption is that it is capable of high data transfer rates. We will find out how it performs by pitting it against a Seagate FreeAgent GoFlex External Hard Drive with a USB 3.0 interface.

• SuperSpeed USB 3.0 interface, backwards compatible with USB 2.0
• Stylish design and mirror-like surface
• Bright cold-blue LED indicator
• Raised peripheral lip protects surface from scratching

Interface:	SuperSpeed USB 3.0
Transfer Speed:	USB 3.0: 5GB/s (max)
	USB 2.0: 480MB/s (max)
Operating Temp:	5°C(41°F) to 50°C(121°F)
Power Supply:	USB DC 5V
Dimensions:	115 x 78 x 21mm (L x W x H)
	4.5″ x 3.1″ x 0.8″ (L x W x H)
Weight:	230±5g/8.1±0.2oz.
Limited Warranty:	3 years

The DashDrive series is continues to expand and includes devices that come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and capacities. It even includes drives that are resistant to shock and water, like the ADATA DashDrive HD710. The HV620 may not have those qualities, but it certainly boasts features that make it a desirable external hard drive. These features are thoroughly outlined on the exterior of the retail box.

The contents of the box are pretty standard for an external hard drive. The ADATA HV620 is accompanied by the quick start guide and a USB 3.0 cable that is barely longer than the drive itself.

Once the ADATA DashDrive HV620 External Hard Drive is connected, the Blue LED status indicator lights up and you can check out the properties of the drive. As you can see, it has about 1.81TB of space available on it.

Scratch-proof? So far. Fingerprint-proof? No. The glossy finish covers approximately 70% of the ADATA HV620’s surface and, while attractive, is a magnet for finger prints. The sides of the drive are comprised of a textured surface, which motivates a person to grab it in a manner similar to the handling of a CD/DVD.

In terms of the scratch-proof design, ADATA is referring to the lip around the perimeter of the HV620’s top. It isn’t constructed of any type of material that is scratch resistant. However, if the ADATA HV620 External Hard Drive is dropped or if something falls on the top of it, the lip should preserve the integrity of the glossy finish.

The USB 3.0 port can be found on the front of the ADATA DashDrive HV620 External Hard Drive. The image below also provides another view of the lip that protects the surface of the device.

So far, the ADATA HV620 appears to be an attractive and durable device, which was designed to preserve the aforementioned qualities. There are a few other aspects/features of this hard drive that we will cover before moving on to the testing phase.

Typically, there is really nothing terribly exciting about an external hard drive. Our expectations are generally that it is fast and reliable. In addition to providing these benefits, the ADATA DashDrive HV620 is an attractive device that was designed to maintain its good looks while performing its primary task. As you can see, it is available in both black and white.

The Blue LED lights up when the ADATA DashDrive HV620 is connected and either reading or writing data. This light has an attractive look to it surrounded by the glossy finish.

The below image is a side-view of both the ADATA DashDrive HV620 and a Seagate FreeAgent GoFlex. As you can see, the HV620 is not quite as long as the GoFlex, but it is a bit more bulky. Then again the HV620 is a 2TB drive, while the GoFlex is 750GB.

The ADATA DashDrive HV620 is also not quite as wide as the Seagate FreeAgent GoFlex. Both of these drives are capable of delivering USB 3.0 speeds, and we see how each performed in our testing phase. Keep reading to see how it turned out.

The HDDtoGO ADATA software is worth mentioning, since it provides a number of benefits to ADATA external hard drive users. The features of this software includes browser synchronization, file synchronization, Outlook synchronization, data compression, password protection, and even a “lost and found” feature.

We covered how well the ADATA DashDrive HV620 was designed and how good it looks. Now, it’s time to see how well it performs. Since performance is what we are really considering when selecting and external hard drive, I encourage you to move on to the next page.

Obviously, there is a reason behind the acquisition of an external hard drive that is capable of delivering USB 3.0 speeds. So far the ADATA DashDrive HV620 has lived up to its billing of being an attractive, scratch-resistant device with 2TB of storage available at an affordable price. Can it provide us with the speeds that make it a well-rounded external hard drive? Let’s find out…

• Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-990FXA-UD3
• System Memory: 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3 1333 G.Skill Ripjaws X Series
• Processor: AMD FX-6100 Zambezi 3.3 GHz Six-Core Processor
• Audio: ASUS XONAR DG Headphone Amp & PCI 5.1 Audio Card
• Video: HIS Radeon HD 7950 IceQ Boost Clock 3GB GDDR5 PCI-E Graphics Card
• Optical Drive: Pioneer Black Internal BD/DVD/CD Writer BDR-207DBKS
• PSU: Corsair HX Series HX750 750W GOLD Certified Modular Active PFC Power Supply
• Monitor: AOC e2752Vh (27″) & Samsung SyncMaster PX2370 (24″)
• Operating System: Windows 7 Ultimate

For the purpose of comparing like devices, we tested the speeds of both the ADATA DashDrive HV620 and the Seagate FreeAgent GoFlex. Depending upon the computer it is married to, each of these devices are capable of USB 3.0 speeds.

The first test was conducted by utilizing CrystalDiskMark. The results on the left are that of the Seagate FreeAgent GoFlex and the ADATA DashDrive HV620’s results are on the right. Even though it did not blow the GoFlex out of the water in this test, the HV620 did produce faster overall speeds.

The results when running the ATTO Disk Benchmark are very similar. The external disk drive that produced the better speeds was the ADATA DashDrive HV620.

So, now we know that the ADATA DashDrive HV620 is not only an attractive external hard drive that offers plenty of storage, but it is also capable of delivering very good data transfer rates. Let us move on and summarize this experience.

The ADATA DashDrive HV620 External Hard Drive is a compelling offer for those in need of additional storage. It has attractive aesthetics and is capable of delivering more than adequate rates of transfer. In terms of size, the 2TB version is much smaller than many of the other devices on the market with similar capacities. This provides an owner of the HV620 with mobility in an external hard drive with significant storage space.

Still, it would be nice if ADATA HV620 was supplied with a long USB 3.0 cord. Having a small external hard drive with 2TB of capacity is great; yet, the small, stiff cord can make its placement when attached to different devices a bit of a challenge. However, we have come to expect external hard drive cords supplied with the device to be short and longer cords are easily attainable at a minimal cost.

During the testing phase, there was neither anything discouraging nor overly impressive regarding the performance of the ADATA DashDrive HV620 External Hard Drive. Its transfer rates met, if not slightly exceeded expectations and no lapses/errors were experienced.

In general, the appearance of an external hard drive is on the low-end of the priority list. However, the ADATA HV620 is an attractive device and one that would look good sitting on the top of a tower, on a desk, or wherever else you plan to employ its use. Of course, placement is limited due to the cord’s length, but we already covered that issue. The black, glossy surface looks sharp, but will attract fingerprints.

The ADATA HV620 feels as if it could withstand quite a beating, not that I would recommend throwing it up against a wall or anything. Its attractive exterior is also a defense against punishment. The lip around the top perimeter of the HV620 provides it with another level of protection, and not just scratch-resistance.

From the standpoint of functionality, there is nothing out of the ordinary to report regarding the ADATA DashDrive HV620; that is, when it is being utilized like just another external hard drive. However, the HDDtoGO software that can be downloaded from ADATA’s website provides the HV620 with some compelling features, such as password protection, file compression, and synchronization of bookmarks and files.

What ADATA has provided us in the HV620 is an external hard drive that is attractive, is capable of very good transfer rates, and, even in the 2TB model, maintains a small profile. Also, it is priced to sell. It is not a simple task to find a 2TB external hard drive for under $120.

As of November 15, 2013, the 2TB version of the ADATA DashDrive HV620 External Hard Drive is available online for $119.99 $119.99 (Amazon | Newegg). Considering all of the positive attributes offered by this external hard drive, the HV620 is sure to be a winner.

+ Scratch-resistant
+ Good transfer rates
+ HDDtoGO
+ Attractive design
+ Small profile for a 2TB drive

– Short USB 3.0 cord
– Will attract fingerprints

• Performance: 8.50
• Appearance: 8.75
• Construction: 9.00
• Functionality: 9.50
• Value: 9.50

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