Data Storage Converter
Binary: Used by operating systems, RAM (1 KB = 1,024 bytes)
1,024
1 GB = 1,024 MB
Binary vs Decimal: Why Drives Seem Smaller
| Storage | Binary (OS shows) | Decimal (Marketed) | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 TB HDD (advertised) | 931.32 GiB | 1,000 GB | Marketing uses decimal |
| 256 GB SSD (advertised) | 238.42 GiB | 256 GB | ~7% less usable |
| 16 GB RAM | 16 GiB | 17.18 GB | RAM uses binary |
| 4.7 GB DVD | 4.38 GiB | 4.7 GB | Optical uses decimal |
Common File Sizes
| File Type | Typical Size |
|---|---|
| Text document (1 page) | ~10 KB |
| MP3 song (4 min) | ~4 MB |
| FLAC song (4 min) | ~30 MB |
| Photo (12 MP JPEG) | ~4 MB |
| Photo (RAW) | ~25 MB |
| HD Video (1 min, 1080p) | ~150 MB |
| 4K Video (1 min) | ~400 MB |
| Mobile app | ~50-200 MB |
| PC game | ~50-100 GB |
| Operating system | ~20-50 GB |
How Much Can You Store?
Approximate counts based on average file sizes
| Capacity | Songs | Photos | HD Video |
|---|---|---|---|
| 64 GB | ~16,000 | ~16,000 | ~7 hrs |
| 128 GB | ~32,000 | ~32,000 | ~14 hrs |
| 256 GB | ~64,000 | ~64,000 | ~28 hrs |
| 512 GB | ~128,000 | ~128,000 | ~57 hrs |
| 1 TB | ~250,000 | ~250,000 | ~111 hrs |
| 2 TB | ~500,000 | ~500,000 | ~222 hrs |
Quick Tips
Binary vs Decimal
1 GB (decimal) = 1,000 MB, but 1 GiB (binary) = 1,024 MiB. OS uses binary, manufacturers use decimal.
The ~7% Difference
A "1 TB" drive shows as ~931 GB because: 1,000⁴ ÷ 1,024⁴ ≈ 0.909
IEC Units (KiB, MiB, GiB)
These unambiguous units always mean binary (1024-based). Use them for precision.
Quick Mental Math
1 GB ≈ 1 billion bytes. 1 TB ≈ 1 trillion bytes. Each step is roughly 1000× (decimal) or 1024× (binary).