Vantec NBV-320U3 USB 3.0 Dual Video Display Adapter Review

The latest DisplayLink device from Vantec, the NBV-320U3, is offering up dual displays and USB 3.0. Let's take a close look at it now.

Published
Updated
Manufacturer: Vantec
2 minutes & 19 seconds read time
TweakTown's Rating: 82%

The Bottom Line

Vantec's NBV-320U3 is a worthy bus powered dock for those needing dual display and USB 3.0 support.
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It seems over the past year the external display adapter has become quite popular. While most of these solutions that come through the lab have at least one display output along with a USB 3.0 port and at times gigabit Ethernet, the latest from Vantec doubles down on both display and USB 3.0.

The NBV-320U3 from Vantec is a bus powered USB 3.0 display solution sporting both DVI and HDMI while offering two USB 3.0 ports. Display capabilities for this solution include 2048 x 1152 over HDMI and 1920 x 1200 over DVI, each of these methods is secured via HDCP while offering the latest DisplayLink technology. On the USB side, we have a single USB 3.0 input while the two ports on the device are compatible with the SuperSpeed 5Gbps specification with added UASP support and USB Battery Charging Specification 1.2.

Operating system compatibility extends to Windows XP+ and OS X 10.6+. The MSRP of the Vantec NBV-320U3 is listed at $89.99 with a one-year warranty.

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Packaging for the Vantec 320U3 includes marketing information across the bottom with an image of the device centered.

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The scope of delivery includes a driver disk, HDMI to DVI adapter, and VGA to DVI adapter.

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Taking a look at the dock, the USB 3.0 cable is directly connected to the unit.

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On the opposite end, we have both the DVI and HDMI ports.

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On the side of the unit, we have both USB 3.0 ports and power input for additional power if needed.

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USB 3.0 performance for this solution was quite good. As seen above, we were able to reach 416 MB/s read and 292 MB/s write with our Intel 730 Series SSD.

There certainly is no shortage of DisplayLink solutions on the market and while a situation like this is normally good for the consumer, at the same time it does cause congestion in the market. With that said, I was pleased with the build quality of the Vantec NBV-320U3. With this being a bus powered solution, you don't have to worry about additional power to the device, which is a great feature and at the same time the unit feels durable.

The performance of this device was quite surprising considering the last Vantec docking station we tested was only hitting 200 MB/s over its USB 3.0 ports, and now this latest setup hit nearly 420 MB/s with the same drive. Like many of these docking solutions, I wasn't able to fire my Qnix 2710LED Evolution due to its resolution being 1440p, but I was able to power up my 1080p Samsung panel without any issue whatsoever.

Overall, the Vantec NBV-320U3 is a great device for those needing a bus-powered solution with multiple display and USB 3.0 support.

Tyler's Test System Specifications

Performance 87%
Quality including Design and Build 82%
General Features 80%
Bundle and Packaging 80%
Value for Money 81%
Overall 82%

The Bottom Line: Vantec's NBV-320U3 is a worthy bus powered dock for those needing dual display and USB 3.0 support.

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Tyler joined the TweakTown team in 2013 and has since reviewed 100s of new techy items. Growing up in a small farm town, tech wasn't around, unless it was in a tractor. At an early age, Tyler's parents brought home their first PC. Tyler was hooked and learned what it meant to format a HDD, spending many nights reinstalling Windows 95. Tyler's love and enthusiast nature always kept his PC nearby. Eager to get deeper into tech, he started reviewing.

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