Meet Our New External Storage Test Machine

You may have noticed that it's been a while since we reviewed any external hard drives. That's because we've been busy building a super-fast new test computer to put the latest-generation drives (USB 3, SSD etc.) through their paces more effectively.

And here is the computer in question:


The test machine is built using an Antec Skeleton tower case, specially designed for users who need quick and easy access to all their computer's components. On the inside, we've loaded it with an Intel motherboard with Z68 chipset, an Intel i5 2300 processor, 16 GB of Corsair Vengeance DDR3 memory, an Intel X25-M 80 GB SSD and a Corsair AX650 power supply. Of the 16 GB of DDR3, only 4 GB are used for RAM: the other 12 GB are used as a RAM drive to make sure we test the maximum speeds of SSDs.

Stay tuned for a new round of external drive tests coming soon.

> Buyer's Guides: Our Pick of The Best Products