When purchasing a new computer or external hard drive, one of the most important factors to consider is the storage capacity. The size of the hard drive determines how much data you can store, like photos, videos, documents, applications, games, and more. With the growing digitalization of data and advancements in technology, the average computer user’s storage needs continue to increase over time. But how do you determine what hard drive capacity is right for your needs? There are a few key factors to consider when deciding how big of a hard drive to get.
What is a Hard Drive?
A hard disk drive (HDD) is a data storage device used in computers and other devices. It contains one or more platters to store data, with an arm to read and write this data. The platters are made of a non-magnetic material and are coated with a magnetic data storage material. As the platters spin at high speeds, the arm floats over the surface, reading or writing the encoded data. The capacity of a hard drive is determined by the number of platters and each platter’s storage density – how much data can be stored in a given physical space. Higher density allows for greater storage capacity.
Hard drives come in different storage capacities, measured in gigabytes (GB) and terabytes (TB). 1 TB is equal to approximately 1,000 GB. When looking at hard drive storage size, it’s important to note the difference between raw, unformatted capacity and usable capacity. For example, a 1 TB hard drive does not provide exactly 1,000 GB of storage space. Some space is reserved for system files, formatting, and other overhead. The actual usable space is around 930 GB on a 1 TB HDD.
Common Hard Drive Capacities
Here are some of the most common hard drive capacities available for both internal hard drives and external portable hard drives:
- 250 GB
- 500 GB
- 1 TB
- 2 TB
- 4 TB
- 5 TB
- 8 TB
- 10 TB
- 12 TB
- 16 TB
For most general home and office use, drives in the range of 500 GB to 2 TB are typical. Power users who need considerable storage space may go for 4 TB and above. When you move into the higher multi-TB sizes, these are more suited for centralized storage servers rather than local hard drives in a desktop computer or laptop. Portable external hard drives tend to top out at around 5 TB currently.
Factors Determining Needed Hard Drive Capacity
Choosing the right hard drive size depends on your specific needs. Here are some of the main factors to consider:
How much data do you need to store?
Consider the amount of data you need to store now and estimate how much storage you’ll need in the future. For example, do you have a large photo or music library? Lots of videos from a DSLR camera? A big collection of documents and projects? If you have hundreds of gigabytes of data now or are building up a large digital library, you’ll want a larger hard drive capacity.
What applications and programs do you use?
Many software suites like video and photo editing programs take up a lot of storage space. Games also tend to take up several gigabytes each. If you use large programs like these frequently, opt for more storage space.
Do you need portable or desktop storage?
If you want a portable external drive to transport files or do backups, capacities up to 5 TB are available. Desktop hard drives can be found in much larger capacities over 10 TB to store archives.
How often do you upgrade your computer?
If you tend to use computers for 3-5 years before upgrading, get a larger hard drive than the bare minimum you need. This leaves room for your storage needs to grow over the years before your next computer purchase.
Do you need redundant backups?
Storing copies of your data as backups is smart. In addition to an external hard drive, you may want to backup your computer to a secondary internal hard drive or storage in the cloud. This redundancy takes extra capacity.
General Hard Drive Size Recommendations
Taking into account all these factors, here are some general guidelines for recommended hard drive sizes for different users:
Basic computer users
250 GB – 1 TB
This provides adequate storage for basic documents, web browsing, light media usage, and applications.
Mainstream home computer users
500 GB – 2 TB
The average home user that stores photos, music, videos, games, and uses various software will find this capacity sufficient.
Power home computer users
2 TB – 5 TB
Enthusiasts who have large multimedia libraries, games, edit video/photos, and use taxing programs benefit from 2+ TB of storage.
Businesses and servers
2 TB – 16+ TB
Businesses require file servers and shared network storage, making multi-TB drives essential. High-demand databases call for vast storage capabilities also.
Factors that Increase Needed Hard Drive Capacity
Certain use cases demand greater hard drive capacities. If any of these describe you, go for more storage:
- Videography and high-res photos
- Graphic design and CAD programs
- PC gaming collection
- Music and movie collections
- Software and virtual machine development
- Operating system drive for fast performance
- Network attached storage (NAS) devices
- Media servers like Plex
- Backup needs
- Future expansion needs
Factors that Decrease Needed Hard Drive Capacity
On the other hand, these use cases require less storage:
- Standard office use with documents
- Tablets and laptops for web, email, messaging
- Light downloading habits
- Using cloud storage for files
- Minimal multimedia usage
- Gaming consoles with game discs
- Secondary drives for occasional backups
The Cost Factor
One other key consideration is your budget. Higher capacity hard drives naturally have a higher price. While large drives 5 TB and up may seem appealing for future proofing, the ultra high capacities may not be cost-effective for your needs. On the other hand, purchasing multiple smaller drives adds up in costs over time. Determining the ideal capacity that meets your storage needs rather than going with extremities on either end can help find the right balance between price and utility.
How Much Storage is Currently Used?
Before deciding on an upgrade, analyze how your storage is currently used across all your devices and drives. Here are some ways to check:
- Your PC or Mac’s storage report will show a breakdown of disk usage by types of files
- Mac users can use the app DaisyDisk to visualize disk usage
- Windows users can use the app TreeSize to see disk usage
- Many other third party apps are also available for analyzing disk usage
This will give you insight on your biggest storage hogs – whether that’s photos, videos, system files, applications, etc. Understanding your actual usage is key to determine an optimal hard drive size.
Using Cloud Storage to Supplement Disk Space
One way to reduce local storage needs is leveraging cloud storage services. Solutions like Google Drive, Dropbox, iCloud Drive, OneDrive, and Box allow storing files remotely rather than on your hard drive. Sites like Flickr and YouTube also provide cloud photo and video storage. Consider what types of files could be moved to the cloud rather than store them all locally. This provides you more flexibility when determining hard drive capacity.
Choosing the Right Drive Interface
The interface by which your hard drive connects to your computer also impacts performance. Here are some options:
SATA
SATA is an interface commonly used by internal hard drives. SATA III offers speeds up to 600 MB/s. Solid performance for HD video editing and other demanding tasks.
USB
USB ports are ubiquitous for connecting external hard drives. Look for drives with USB 3.0 or newer for speeds over 600 MB/s. Avoid outdated USB 2.0 drives limited to 60 MB/s.
Thunderbolt
This interface provides extremely fast transfer rates, excellent for high data volume external drives. Thunderbolt 3 models reach up to 2,800 MB/s.
eSATA
External SATA allows connection of external drives at internal SATA speeds. But eSATA ports are less common than USB.
Choosing the Right Hard Drive Speed
In addition to interface, the rotational speed of a hard drive impacts performance. Here are the main options:
5400 rpm
Lower performance, but reduces noise, power draw, heat output, and price. Good for backup drives and basic storage needs.
7200 rpm
Faster than 5200 rpm drives while still relatively affordable. Good for mainstream PCs.
10,000-15,000 rpm
Highest performance hard drives, best for servers and high demand applications. Draw more power and run hotter. Significantly more expensive.
SSD – Solid State Drives
SSDs have no moving parts, extremely fast. Ideal for operating system and programs. Highest cost per gigabyte.
Hard Drive Size Recommendations by Device
Desktop PC
- Primary internal drive: 500 GB – 2 TB SSD
- Secondary internal or external drive: 2 TB – 8 TB HDD
Aim for 1-2 TB of SSD storage for the primary drive holding the operating system and programs. Supplement with a larger 4+ TB conventional hard drive for secondary data storage.
Gaming PC
- Primary internal drive: 500 GB – 2 TB SSD
- Secondary internal or external drive: 2 TB – 5 TB HDD
Get a 500 GB to 1 TB SSD for the OS and games needing faster loading. Add a 2+ TB HDD for storing a gaming library and recordings. Top gamers may want 4+ TB total storage.
Laptop
- Primary internal drive: 250 GB – 1 TB SSD
- External drive for backup: 500 GB – 2 TB portable HDD
Aim for 500+ GB of SSD storage on a laptop if affordable. Otherwise 250-500GB is sufficient for many. Back up internally or using an external portable drive.
MacBook
- Primary internal drive: 250 GB – 2 TB SSD
- External drive optional: 1 TB – 4 TB portable HDD
MacBooks come with 256-512 GB SSDs typically. Upgrade internal storage up to 2 TB if needed. Add external drive for Time Machine backup.
Home NAS (Network Attached Storage)
- 2 TB – 8 TB or more
NAS systems are designed for data availability, redundancy, and ample storage capacity. Aim for 6+ TB for media libraries and backups. Some support multiple hard drives.
Tips for Managing Limited Hard Drive Space
If you have a smaller hard drive, use these tips to free up disk space:
- Delete unused programs, apps, and files
- Clear caches and browser histories
- Run the disk cleanup utility to delete system files
- Uninstall games and programs not in use
- Store less demanding data on external drives
- Use cloud storage for files accessed infrequently
- Compress, zip, or archive data not needed regularly
- Transfer data to optical discs for long term archival
Managing your storage wisely can stretch limited space further. But upgrading to a larger drive may be wise once you have optimized what you have.
Conclusion
Choosing the right hard drive capacity involves carefully analyzing your current and future usage needs. Typical internal storage sizes range from 250 GB to 2 TB for modern systems. External portable drives often range from 500 GB to 5 TB. NAS devices are available from 2 TB to 16 TB or more. Consider how much data you need to store now, expected growth, and your budget to select a hard drive size that fits your needs. Leveraging cloud services can supplement local storage. And optimizing your data and removing what you don’t need regularly can help maximize smaller disk space.