Buffalo LS220D0802B
Score: 52/100Buffalo TeraStation TS3420R
Score: 74/100Rankings
A secure, rack-mountable 4-bay NAS with built-in drives, 2.5 GbE networking and strong encryption, aimed at small offices and home labs, but constrained by modest memory and lack of performance-enhancing features.
The LinkStation SoHo 220 is an entry-level 2-bay NAS offering 8 TB of pre-installed storage with basic RAID options. It excels in simplicity and low power draw but falls short on performance, security, and modern connectivity features.
| Attribute | | Buffalo TeraStation TS3420R |
|---|---|---|
8 TB | 32 TBbest | |
2 | 4best | |
1 Gbps | 2.5 Gbpsbest | |
0.256 GB | 1 GBbest | |
| ↓ lower better | 48 Wbest | 100 W |
3 yearsbest | 3 yearsbest | |
| ↓ lower better | 2.72 kgbest | 7.7 kg |
1 | 2best |
Click an attribute name to sort · Green = best, red = worst (relative to this comparison)
| Attribute | | Buffalo TeraStation TS3420R |
|---|---|---|
Security(2) | ||
Hardware Encryption | false | true |
OS Compatibility | Windows 11/10/8.1/8/7/Vista/Server 2003–2012 R2, macOS up to 10.12 (Sierra) and later | Windows, macOS, Linux |
Performance(4) | ||
CPU Model | ARMADA 370 (Dual‑Issue ARM) | Annapurna Labs Alpine AL214 |
System Memory (GB) | 0.256 GB | 1 GB |
Ethernet Speed (Gbps) | 1 Gbps | 2.5 Gbps |
Power Consumption (Active) (W) | 48 W | 100 W |
Build & Design(1) | ||
Weight (kg) | 2.72 kg | 7.7 kg |
Connectivity(2) | ||
Supported Network Protocols | TCP/IP, CIFS/SMB, AFP, FTP, FTPS | TCP/IP, SMB, AFP, NFS, FTP, SFTP, WebDAV |
USB Ports | 1 | 2 |
Storage & Capacity(4) | ||
Maximum Raw Capacity (TB) | 8 TB | 32 TB |
Drive Bays | 2 | 4 |
RAID Support | RAID 0, RAID 1, JBOD | RAID 0,1,5,6,10,JBOD |
Supported Drive Types | 3.5" SATA II HDD | 3.5" SATA III |
Products in the top-left offer the best value (high score, low price).
Professional reviewers view the LS220D0802B as a budget-oriented, plug-and-play NAS that sacrifices performance and security for simplicity and cost.
Everyday users appreciate the straightforward setup and reliable operation, but complain about slow transfer speeds and the lack of encryption.
Professional reviewers view the TeraStation Essentials as a solid, security-focused NAS that delivers enterprise-grade features at a modest price, highlighting its built-in drives, 2.5 GbE port and comprehensive warranty, while noting the omission of iSCSI, failover and SSD caching as trade-offs for its lower cost.
Everyday users praise the device for its straightforward, out-of-the-box setup, reliable support and robust security, but commonly express concerns about limited memory, the default RAID5 capacity reduction and the lack of performance-enhancing features such as SSD cache or 10 GbE.
“Buffalo has not kept firmware up to date... Time Machine is not working.”
“Simple setup and intuitive interface for non-technical users.”
“Low power consumption (max 48 W) makes it energy-efficient.”
