Definition of storage capacity (computing)

Storage capacity refers to the amount of data that can be stored on a storage device.

This capacity can be measured in bytes, kilobytes, megabytes, gigabytes, terabytes, etc.

For more information read the article: Storage.

Storage capacities on storage devices

Below are the storage capacities for popular storage media on desktops and notebooks. For more information about these go to the corresponding links:

– 5-inch low-density diskette: 360 KB.
– 5-inch high-density diskette: 1.2 MB.
– Other capacities see: Floppy 5
– 3-inch low-density floppy: 800 KB
– 3-inch HD floppy disk: 1.44 MB
– Floppy disk 3 inches ED: 2.88 MB
– Other formats and capacities of floppy disks 3: see: Floppy 3

– The first hard drive: 3.75 MB (and weighed 910 kilos)
– Average current home hard drive: 512 GB to 4 TB.
– Current maximum capacity hard drive (2016): 10 TB (weighs 62 grams)
– Other formats: Hard disk.

– optical discs
– Standard CD-ROM: 650900 MB.
– Common DVD: 4.7 GB
– Double layer DVD: 8.5 GB and 9.4 GB.
– DVD double layer double side (rare): 17.08 GB
– Common Blu-Ray: 25 GB
– Blu-Ray double layer: 50 GB
-BDXL: 100/128GB

– Flash memory (pen drive)
– Current average flash memory (2016): 64 MB to 256 GB.

Average cost of storage

Cost of storing 1 gigabyte over the years:

– 1980: 438,000 dollars.
– 1985: 105,000 dollars.
– 1990: $11,000
– 2000: 11 dollars.
– 2005: 1 dollar.
– 2012: $0.1.
– 2014: $0.03.
– 2016: virtually free of charge.

storage units

For information on byte, kilobyte, megabyte, gigabyte… Read: Storage measurement units.

For information on floppy drives, hard drives… Read: Storage drives