Quick wins for a faster PC:
Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →iTechGuides is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Learn more
Nearly 2.5 TB of backup traffic can make a network feel slow, but the total volume alone doesn’t prove that it saturated the connection. What matters is how quickly the data moved, whether the backup was uploading or downloading, and whether other activity slowed at the same time. The useful first step is to locate the bottleneck, then limit backup traffic at the control point that can actually affect it.
What nearly 2.5 TB tells you—and what it doesn’t
The 2.5 TB figure describes how much data moved, not the rate at which it moved. Without a time period, transfer direction, connection capacity, or evidence that the slowdown coincided with backup activity, it cannot establish that the backup caused the network problem.
Offsite backups often send data over the internet, so a busy upload can compete with video calls, browsing, and other internet use. A backup running between devices on the local network may affect local transfers instead. The title alone does not establish the destination, network setup, transfer rate, router model, or symptoms, so it cannot identify the bottleneck in this particular case.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Find out what is actually slow
Before changing settings or buying hardware, compare what happens while the backup is active with what happens when it is paused. Note whether the issue affects all devices or only the computer running the backup, whether local device-to-device transfers also slow down, and whether the job is sending data offsite or moving it within your home.
#1 Best Overall
- Value NAS with RAID for centralized storage and backup for all your devices. Check out the LS 700 for enhanced features, cloud capabilities, macOS 26, and up to 7x faster performance than the LS 200.
- Connect the LinkStation to your router and enjoy shared network storage for your devices. The NAS is compatible with Windows and macOS*, and Buffalo's US-based support is on-hand 24/7 for installation walkthroughs. *Only for macOS 15 (Sequoia) and earlier. For macOS 26, check out our LS 700 series.
- Subscription-Free Personal Cloud – Store, back up, and manage all your videos, music, and photos and access them anytime without paying any monthly fees.
- Storage Purpose-Built for Data Security – A NAS designed to keep your data safe, the LS200 features a closed system to reduce vulnerabilities from 3rd party apps and SSL encryption for secure file transfers.
- Back Up Multiple Computers & Devices – NAS Navigator management utility and PC backup software included. NAS Navigator 2 for macOS 15 and earlier. You can set up automated backups of data on your computers.
- Only the backup computer struggles: The computer, backup software, storage, or the workload itself may be involved; that symptom alone does not prove an internet bottleneck.
- Other devices lose internet responsiveness during an offsite backup: Shared internet capacity may be a factor, particularly if the backup is using much of the available upload bandwidth.
- Local transfers slow too: Look beyond internet traffic. Local network links, Wi-Fi, storage, or the devices handling the backup may be limiting performance.
- The slowdown persists when the backup is paused: The backup may not be the cause. Check for other network activity or a separate connection or device issue.
Choose the right place to limit backup traffic
The best control depends on where the backup runs and which traffic it should affect. A backup client can limit its own job; an appliance can control multiple jobs or network segments; and a router can manage traffic across devices sharing the internet connection. These approaches are not interchangeable, and availability varies by product and model.
| Control point | What it can manage | Useful when | What to verify |
|---|---|---|---|
| Backup client | The client’s own transfers, if the product offers a limit or schedule | You want to reduce the backup’s share without changing other network traffic | Whether the setting controls uploads, downloads, or both, and whether it applies to one job or all jobs |
| Backup appliance | Appliance traffic; some products can set inbound or outbound limits and target network segments | Several jobs or systems use a dedicated backup appliance | How limits apply to concurrent jobs and whether they affect other appliance traffic |
| Router QoS or device bandwidth limits | Traffic priority or bandwidth allocated to devices sharing the connection | Other users’ internet activity suffers while the backup device is active | Model support, configuration options, and whether the setting applies to the relevant traffic |
Limit the backup at its source when possible
Check the backup product’s current documentation for an upload limit, download limit, bandwidth schedule, or traffic-throttling rule. A schedule can shift heavy transfers to quieter hours; a cap can preserve some capacity for everyday use. The trade-off is that a restricted job may take longer to finish.
Rank #2
- Entry-level NAS Personal Storage：UGREEN NAS DH2300 is your first and best NAS made easy. It is designed for beginners who want a simple, private way to store videos, photos and personal files, which is intuitive for users moving from cloud storage or external drives and move away from scattered date across devices. This entry-level NAS 2-bay perfect for personal entertainment, photo storage, and easy data backup (doesn't support Docker or virtual machines).
- Set Your Devices Free, Expand Your Digital World: This unified storage hub supports massive capacity up to 64TB.*Storage drives not included. Stop Deleting, Start Storing. You can store 22 million 3MB images, or 2 million 30MB songs, or 43K 1.5GB movies or 67 million 1MB documents! UGREEN NAS is a better way to free up storage across all your devices such as phones, computers, tablets and also does automatic backups across devices regardless of the operating system—Window, iOS, Android or macOS.
- The Smarter Long-term Way to Store: Unlike cloud storage with recurring monthly fees, a UGREEN NAS enclosure requires only a one-time purchase for long-term use. For example, you only need to pay $459.98 for a NAS, while for cloud storage, you need to pay $719.88 per year, $2,159.64 for 3 years, $3,599.40 for 5 years. You will save $6,738.82 over 10 years with UGREEN NAS! *NAS cost based on DH2300 + 12TB HDD; cloud cost based on 12TB plan (e.g. $59.99/month).
- Blazing Speed, Minimal Power: Equipped with a high-performance processor, 1GbE port, and 4GB RAM on Board, this NAS handles multiple tasks with ease. File transfers reach up to 125MB/s—a 1GB file takes only 8 seconds. Don't let slow clouds hold you back; they often need over 100 seconds for the same task. The difference is clear.
- Let AI Better Organize Your Memories: UGREEN NAS uses AI to tag faces, locations, texts, and objects—so you can effortlessly find any photo by searching for who or what's in it in seconds. It also automatically finds and deletes similar or duplicate photo, backs up live photos and allows you to share them with your friends or family with just one tap. Everything stays effortlessly organized, powered by intelligent tagging and recognition.
The controls differ across products. AWS Backup Gateway documentation describes upload rate-limit schedules and says its rate limiting balances throughput averaged over each second. Synology ActiveProtect Manager 1.0 documentation describes inbound and outbound limits for backup appliances, including rules aimed at network segments; configured bandwidth is shared evenly among concurrently processing jobs. Veeam Backup & Replication documentation describes traffic-throttling rules intended to reduce backup tasks’ effect on network performance, with implementation constraints tied to infrastructure servers and IP addresses. These are examples of product-specific controls, not instructions that apply to every backup setup.
Use router QoS only when shared internet traffic is the problem
Quality of Service (QoS) settings can prioritize some devices or allocate bandwidth when a connection is overloaded. They manage the capacity available; they do not increase the internet plan’s total capacity. A router feature aimed at internet traffic will not necessarily fix a local storage, Wi-Fi, or device bottleneck.
Rank #3
- Value NAS with RAID for centralized storage and backup for all your devices. Check out the LS 700 for enhanced features, cloud capabilities, macOS 26, and up to 7x faster performance than the LS 200.
- Connect the LinkStation to your router and enjoy shared network storage for your devices. The NAS is compatible with Windows and macOS*, and Buffalo's US-based support is on-hand 24/7 for installation walkthroughs. *Only for macOS 15 (Sequoia) and earlier. For macOS 26, check out our LS 700 series.
- Subscription-Free Personal Cloud – Store, back up, and manage all your videos, music, and photos and access them anytime without paying any monthly fees.
- Storage Purpose-Built for Data Security – A NAS designed to keep your data safe, the LS200 features a closed system to reduce vulnerabilities from 3rd party apps and SSL encryption for secure file transfers.
- Back Up Multiple Computers & Devices – NAS Navigator management utility and PC backup software included. NAS Navigator 2 for macOS 15 and earlier. You can set up automated backups of data on your computers.
TP-Link’s QoS setup guidance describes prioritizing specific devices and notes that setup varies by router feature set and model. ASUS’s Adaptive QoS documentation covers application prioritization and device bandwidth limits, and advises setting limits below the internet plan’s maximum for the limit to have its intended effect. Check the current compatibility and setup documentation for your exact router before changing settings. If a limit or priority rule is set poorly, it may slow the backup or other traffic rather than improve responsiveness.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Check whether a traffic rule is slowing the backup itself
Network controls can affect the job as well as other users. Synology’s Hyper Backup troubleshooting guidance lists traffic-control rules affecting Hyper Backup Vault or port 6281 as a possible reason a Hyper Backup task takes longer than expected. That is a product-specific troubleshooting lead, not evidence about the cause of the slowdown described in the title.
Rank #4
- Value NAS with RAID for centralized storage and backup for all your devices. Check out the LS 700 for enhanced features, cloud capabilities, macOS 26, and up to 7x faster performance than the LS 200.
- Connect the LinkStation to your router and enjoy shared network storage for your devices. The NAS is compatible with Windows and macOS*, and Buffalo's US-based support is on-hand 24/7 for installation walkthroughs. *Only for macOS 15 (Sequoia) and earlier. For macOS 26, check out our LS 700 series.
- Subscription-Free Personal Cloud – Store, back up, and manage all your videos, music, and photos and access them anytime without paying any monthly fees.
- Storage Purpose-Built for Data Security – A NAS designed to keep your data safe, the LS200 features a closed system to reduce vulnerabilities from 3rd party apps and SSL encryption for secure file transfers.
- Back Up Multiple Computers & Devices – NAS Navigator management utility and PC backup software included. NAS Navigator 2 for macOS 15 and earlier. You can set up automated backups of data on your computers.
If a backup becomes unexpectedly slow after you add a limit, schedule, or rule, review which traffic it covers, which devices or network segments it targets, and whether it applies to concurrent jobs. Change one relevant setting at a time so you can tell whether it improves everyday responsiveness without making the backup impractically slow.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- 【Advanced Home Data & Media Hub】For advanced home users who need phone backup, file storage, and centralized data management. Centralize family photos, 4K videos, movies, computer backups, and personal files in one place while running multiple apps for home entertainment and everyday data management. Suitable for households with growing digital libraries and multiple NAS use cases.
- 【Built for Creators, Media Servers & Advanced Apps】Powered by the Intel N100 Quad-Core CPU, 8GB DDR5 RAM, 2.5GbE networking, and dual M.2 NVMe slots, DXP2800 handles large files and heavier workloads with ease. Run Docker, virtual machines, and media server applications compatible with Plex—ideal for content creators, tech enthusiasts, and advanced home users managing 4K videos, RAW photos, personal media libraries, and multiple NAS apps.
- 【Up to 80TB for Growing Digital Libraries】 Supports up to 80TB of storage using two HDD bays and two M.2 NVMe SSD slots for family photos, movies, RAW photos, 4K videos, work files, and device backups. AI photo management supports recognition of people, objects, scenes, and locations, album organization, and duplicate photo detection. HDDs and SSDs are not included.
- 【AI-powered Home Surveillance】Turn DXP2800 into a centralized home surveillance hub by connecting compatible network cameras and storing recordings locally on your NAS. AI-powered features include Face Recognition, People Detection, and Pet Detection, helping advanced home users review important events more efficiently while managing home surveillance and personal data in one place.
- 【One data Center Across Your Devices】Keep files from desktops, laptops, phones, tablets, and other devices together instead of scattered across cloud accounts and external drives. Access, back up, organize, and share data across Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, web browsers, and compatible smart TVs—ideal for creators and advanced home users working across multiple devices.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
