Is hard disk size important?

Hard disk size is an important consideration when purchasing a new computer or external hard drive. The size of the hard disk determines how much data you can store on your device. With operating systems, programs, and media files taking up more and more space, having enough room for all your files is critical.

How is hard disk size measured?

Hard disk size is measured in gigabytes (GB) or terabytes (TB). 1 GB is equal to about 1,000 megabytes (MB), while 1 TB is equal to about 1,000 GB. An average MP3 song takes up about 3-5 MB, meaning you can store about 200 songs per GB. Videos take up a lot more space, usually hundreds of MBs for standard definition to a couple GBs for high definition. The operating system and programs can take up 10-40 GBs or more. The amount of hard disk space needed depends on the user’s storage needs.

Why is disk size important for computers?

For desktop and laptop computers, hard disk size is important because the disk holds the operating system, software applications, files, and media. A larger disk allows you to:

  • Install more programs and games
  • Store more documents, music, videos, and photos
  • Have room for file growth
  • Use storage-heavy programs like video editing software
  • Dual boot multiple operating systems
  • Create more backups of your data

A small disk limits the number of applications and files you can have. You may have to regularly delete items to free up space. Running out of room can slow down your computer too.

Minimum disk size recommendations

Here are some general recommendations for minimum hard disk sizes:

Usage Minimum Disk Size
Basic computing and internet browsing 250 GB
Mainstream home computing 500 GB to 1 TB
Power users and gamers 2 TB or more

OS and software disk space requirements

The operating system and pre-installed software that comes on a computer takes up a significant chunk of space right off the bat:

Operating System Install Size
Windows 10 32 GB
Windows 8 16 GB
macOS 20-25 GB
Chrome OS 15-19 GB
Linux distros 2-15 GB

Some creative and business programs also require minimum disk space. For example:

  • Adobe Photoshop: 2 GB
  • Autodesk Maya: 5 GB
  • Microsoft Office: 3-5 GB

Why is disk size important for game consoles?

For game consoles like PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, and Xbox, hard disk capacity determines the number of games you can download and store. Games average around 10-50 GB each, going up to 100+ GB for some titles. A 250 GB console may only hold 5-10 large games before needing to uninstall and redownload titles. A 2 TB expanded storage would allow 50+ games installed and ready to play.

Why is disk size important for external hard drives?

External hard drives are used for additional storage and backups for computers and game consoles. The disk size needed depends on your usage. Reasons for getting an external drive include:

  • Storing your photo, music, and video collections
  • Backing up your computer files and system images
  • Expanding your game library
  • Having space for projects like video editing

1-2 TB drives are common for basic backups and extra storage. 4-8 TB offers more room forgrowing media libraries. Professional videographers and photographers may use 10 TB+ drives.

Typical hard disk sizes

Here are some typical built-in and external consumer hard disk sizes:

Device Typical Disk Sizes
Laptops 128 GB – 2 TB
Desktops 500 GB – 4 TB
Game Consoles 500 GB – 2 TB internal; up to 8 TB expandable
External HDDs 1 – 5 TB portable; 10 TB+ desktop
External SSDs 250 GB – 2 TB

Choosing the right hard disk size

Consider these tips when deciding on hard disk size for a new computer, external drive, or game console:

  • Determine how much storage you currently use on your existing devices
  • Factor in future storage needs and growth
  • Bigger is generally better for long-term storage and usability
  • Choose a disk size fitting your budget – prices increase for larger sizes
  • You can supplement internal storage with external hard drives

It’s often easier to get more storage than to run out of space and have to delete or move files around. With digital media and software ballooning in size, erring on the side of a bigger hard disk helps minimize headaches down the road. But there are always budget considerations too. Getting the right balance of size and price requires an honest assessment of your storage requirements.

Factors that affect needed hard disk size

Here are some key factors that determine how much hard disk space you need:

Operating system and software

The OS, pre-installed programs, and major software suites require from 10-40 GB right off the bat. Keeping applications up to date also increases their storage footprint over time.

Media files

Personal media like photos, videos, music, and downloaded streaming content can quickly eat up gigabytes. Just a few hours of 4K video could fill up a 1 TB hard drive. The more media you want to store locally, the more disk space you need.

Games

PC and console games range from a few gigabytes up to over 100 GB per title for the latest AAA blockbusters. A large game library necessitates a large hard disk.

File backups

Backing up your computer’s file system and making system image backups takes up a lot of temporary storage during the process. Keeping multiple versions requires even more hard disk real estate.

Future growth

Application and file sizes tend to grow over time, taking up more GBs than they did originally. Having room to grow allows your storage to stay usable for longer before hitting capacity limits.

Number of users

On family computers and shared storage with multiple users, the needed capacity increases proportionally to the number of people adding files.

Hard disk interface speed

In addition to size, the speed of the hard disk interface is also important. Faster hard disks allow quicker saving and loading of files, programs, games, and operating systems. Common hard disk interface speeds include:

  • HDD: Up to 600 MB/s (SATA, SAS interfaces)
  • SSD: Up to 3,500 MB/s (SATA, PCIe, NVMe interfaces)
  • External HDD: 80-200 MB/s (USB 3.2/3.1 Gen1)
  • External SSD: 500-1,000 MB/s (USB 3.2/3.1 Gen2, Thunderbolt)

SSDs with PCIe or NVMe interfaces offer tremendous speed gains over traditional HDDs. When possible, use SSD over HDD for your operating system drive and programs to benefit from faster speeds.

Hard disk size recommendations

Here are some general hard disk size recommendations based on usage:

User Type Recommended Disk Size
Light computing use 128 – 256 GB
Mainstream home use 256 GB – 2 TB
Avid gamers 1 – 4 TB internal; up to 8 TB external
Creative professionals 2 TB or more internal; 8 TB+ external
Business use 500 GB – 2 TB internal; 10 TB+ network storage

Conclusion

Hard disk size matters because it limits the amount of programs, files, and media you can store. Bigger disks offer more freedom and flexibility down the road. Consider both your current and future storage needs when choosing hard drive capacity, as it’s difficult to add more later in many devices.Aim on the high side if the budget allows. Combine internal storage with external hard drives for essentially unlimited capacity.

With 4K media and 100 GB games becoming more commonplace, small disks can quickly reach their limits nowadays. Getting a hard drive with ample room to grow helps ensure your storage needs are met well into the future.