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When you run out of space on your computer hard drive, wish to transport data or need to back up some files, you will most probably need to purchase an external hard drive. This extra data storage frees up space on your computer’s hard drive. There are several options available:
- 2.5” Portable- These are more compact and lightweight than desktop versions, which make them perfect for computing on the move and for use with laptops.
- 3.5” Desktop- These are most suited to desktop PCs. Containing more storage space than the 2.5” portable, this is the best choice for anyone who requires extra storage space on a single machine in a fixed location.
- NAS Drive- This allows you to store all your personal data, such as photos and music, over a LAN or FTP server.
- Raid Drive- This consists of a combination of 2 or more hard drives in one unit for fast speeds, data transfer and better security.
…So what can I actually store on different storage capacity levels?
|
Capacity
|
Photo*
|
MP3s**
|
Video***
|
|
2GB
|
640
|
500
|
2
|
|
4GB
|
1280
|
1000
|
4
|
|
8GB
|
2560
|
2000
|
8
|
|
120GB
|
38400
|
30000
|
120
|
|
250GB
|
80000
|
62500
|
250
|
|
320GB
|
102400
|
80000
|
320
|
|
500GB
|
160000
|
125000
|
500
|
|
750GB
|
240000
|
187500
|
750
|
|
1TB
|
320000
|
250000
|
1000
|
*Based on 1.MB photo size
**Based on 4MB MP3 file
***Based on 650MB video file