With the growing size of media files and storage needs, many computer users find themselves needing expanded external storage options. A common question is whether a 1 TB external solid state drive (SSD) provides enough space, or if a larger drive is necessary.
What is an external SSD?
An external SSD is a type of external storage device that utilizes flash memory to store data. Unlike traditional external hard disk drives (HDDs) that use spinning platters, SSDs have no moving parts. This allows SSDs to be more compact and shock/vibration resistant.
External SSDs connect to computers and devices through USB, Thunderbolt, or other interfaces. They provide expanded storage space for files, programs, media, and more. Data can be accessed far more quickly on SSDs than on HDDs due to the faster read/write speeds.
Benefits of an external SSD
There are several advantages to using an external SSD over an external HDD:
- Faster file transfer speeds – SSDs can read and write data much faster than HDDs
- More durable/reliable – No moving parts makes SSDs better able to withstand bumps and vibration
- Smaller and lighter – SSD enclosures are typically much more compact and portable than HDDs
- Makes a good boot drive – Operating systems and programs load much quicker from SSDs
Downsides of an external SSD
The downsides of external SSDs include:
- More expensive per GB than HDDs – SSDs have a higher cost per gigabyte of storage
- Limited capacities – Although improving, SSD capacities still lag behind HDDs
- Prone to performance degradation – SSD performance slows as drive fills up
Typical uses cases for a 1 TB external SSD
A 1 TB external SSD provides ample storage space for many common uses. Here are some examples:
- Backing up laptop/PC files and media
- Expanding storage on gaming consoles
- Store a photography or video portfolio
- Quickly transferring large volumes of data between devices
- Saving projects while traveling/commuting
- Running operating system and programs from external drive
Is 1 TB enough for photos and video?
For most amateur photographers and videographers, 1 TB should provide sufficient space. Some rough estimates on capacity needs:
- RAW photos – 10-80 MB per photo
- JPEG photos – 0.5-8 MB per photo
- HD video – Approx. 1 GB per minute
- 4K video – Approx. 7.5 GB per minute
Based on those approximations, 1 TB can hold:
- 100,000 to 250,000 RAW photos
- 125,000 to 2,000,000 JPEG photos
- 1,000 hours of HD video
- 130 hours of 4K video
For casual shooters, 1 TB should easily accommodate their libraries for quite some time. Professional photographers and videographers working with clients may need larger capacities however.
Is 1 TB enough for gaming?
For most gamers, 1 TB is sufficient to store a sizable gaming library. Here are some estimated game install sizes:
| Game | Install Size |
|---|---|
| Call of Duty: Modern Warfare (2019) | 175 GB |
| Red Dead Redemption 2 | 150 GB |
| Forza Horizon 5 | 103 GB |
| Grand Theft Auto V | 72 GB |
Based on averages, 1 TB could hold somewhere between 10-20 AAA game installs. Gamers who play smaller indie games could fit many more. Hardcore gamers with large libraries may need higher capacity drives however.
Is 1 TB enough for video editing?
For light hobbyist video editing, 1 TB should be sufficient. However, those editing prolonged 4K/8K or 360°/VR projects may need more storage. Here are some estimates on how much video 1 TB can hold:
- 360 hours of HD footage
- 20 hours of 4K footage
- 8 hours of 6K footage
- 5 hours of 8K footage
Professional editors working with clients will most likely want at least 2-4 TB drives to provide plenty of scratch disk space and storage.
Is 1 TB enough for music storage?
1 TB can store a massive music library of approximately:
- 250,000 MP3 songs (4 MB per song)
- 40,000 lossless CD quality songs (25 MB per song)
- 10,000 Hi-Res 24-bit songs (100 MB per song)
For all but the most extreme audiophiles, 1 TB provides ample space for storing thousands of albums in lossy and lossless quality.
Is 1 TB enough for documents?
1 TB can store millions of documents. To illustrate:
- A Word doc averages 30 KB
- An Excel spreadsheet averages 40 KB
- A PowerPoint presentation averages 3 MB
- A PDF averages 300 KB
So 1 TB could hold over 30 million Word documents or 2.5 million PowerPoint presentations. For document storage, even heavy users would be unlikely to exceed 1 TB.
Is 1 TB enough for backups?
For complete system backups, 1 TB provides limited space. After accounting for the operating system and installed programs, room for personal files backups may total a few hundred GB. Incremental backups would help fit more versions.
For personal file backups however, 1 TB does offer substantial capacity. Documents, photos, video, music, and other files could be backed up many times over with room to spare.
How long does 1 TB last?
How long 1 TB will last depends on factors like:
- Type of files being stored – Size of photos, video quality, etc.
- Quantity of files generated – More files uses capacity faster
- Frequency of rewriting data – Rewriting files often consumes capacity
Under normal usage with a variety of files, 1 TB could potentially last:
- 2-3 years for a light user
- 1-2 years for a moderate user
- Less than 1 year for a heavy user
Heavy users storing lots of large files may exhaust 1 TB much quicker. Those with smaller lighter data may get more mileage however.
Should I consider larger than 1 TB?
If you need to store huge amounts of data now or anticipate significant growth in the future, a larger than 1 TB drive may be prudent. Scenarios where more than 1 TB could be beneficial:
- Professional/enthusiast photographers and videographers
- Extreme gamers with massive libraries
- Those working with high resolution media formats
- Users who frequently work with very large files
- Those wanting ample room for system and file backups
Larger multi-TB external SSDs provide substantial storage, albeit at greater cost. The redundancy of data backups may also necessitate a higher capacity drive.
Alternatives to getting a larger external SSD
Some alternatives to purchasing a higher capacity external SSD include:
- Delete unused and redundant files regularly to free space
- Store cold data in the cloud or on an external HDD
- Use a NAS (network attached storage) for expanded storage
- Add a second external SSD for additional capacity
- Build a RAID array using multiple external SSDs
- Upgrade computer internal storage alongside external SSD
Conclusion
For many general users, 1 TB offers ample storage space on an external SSD. It can readily accommodate libraries of documents, photos, videos, games, music, and other files.
However, users storing very large quantities of high resolution media, backups, or other substantial data may find 1 TB limiting. These use cases may benefit from larger multi-TB SSDs, RAID arrays, NAS devices, or other mass storage options.
In the end, assessing current storage needs, anticipating future growth, and budget will dictate if 1 TB external SSD is sufficient or if more substantial capacity is required.