Buffalo TeraStation TS3420R
Score: 74/100Buffalo TS3230DN
Score: 68/100Rankings
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 TeraStation 3230DN is a compact 2-bay NAS with 2.5 GbE networking and strong security features, aimed at small-to-medium businesses. It offers solid performance for basic workloads but is limited by modest RAM and lack of SSD caching.
| Attribute | Buffalo TeraStation TS3420R | Buffalo TS3230DN |
|---|---|---|
32 TBbest | 16 TB | |
4best | 2 | |
2.5 Gbpsbest | 2.5 Gbpsbest | |
— | 4best | |
1 GB | 2 GBbest | |
| ↓ lower better | 100 Wbest | — |
3 yearsbest | 3 yearsbest | |
| ↓ lower better | 7.7 kg | 4.31 kgbest |
Click an attribute name to sort · Green = best, red = worst (relative to this comparison)
| Attribute | Buffalo TeraStation TS3420R | Buffalo TS3230DN |
|---|---|---|
Security(1) | ||
OS Compatibility | Windows, macOS, Linux | Windows 10/11/Server 2016/2019/2022, macOS 12+, Chrome OS |
Performance(2) | ||
CPU Model | Annapurna Labs Alpine AL214 | Annapurna Labs Alpine AL524 |
System Memory (GB) | 1 GB | 2 GB |
Build & Design(1) | ||
Weight (kg) | 7.7 kg | 4.31 kg |
Connectivity(1) | ||
Supported Network Protocols | TCP/IP, SMB, AFP, NFS, FTP, SFTP, WebDAV | CIFS/SMB, AFP, FTP, FTPS, SFTP, NFS, TCP/IP, iSCSI |
Storage & Capacity(3) | ||
Maximum Raw Capacity (TB) | 32 TB | 16 TB |
Drive Bays | 4 | 2 |
RAID Support | RAID 0,1,5,6,10,JBOD | RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 10, JBOD |
Products in the top-left offer the best value (high score, low price).
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.
Professional reviewers describe the TeraStation 3230DN as a reliable, secure and easy-to-deploy NAS for small businesses, emphasizing its 2.5 GbE networking, TAA compliance and closed-system security.
Everyday users are generally satisfied, praising the quick setup, fast 2.5 GbE transfers, robust ransomware protection and sturdy build, while noting limited memory and lack of SSD cache as drawbacks.
“Pre-configured RAID5 with four 2 TB drives for immediate plug-and-play deployment”
“Only 1 GB DDR3 RAM may limit performance under heavy concurrent access”
“Hybrid cloud integration with Amazon S3, Dropbox, Azure and OneDrive”
