| Media Type | Average file size* | 128 GB* | 256 GB* | 500 GB* | 1,000 GB (1 TB)* |
| Music | 4MB per 4minute song | Up to 31,000 songs | Up to 62,000 songs | Up to 125,000 songs | Up to 250,000 songs |
| Video (HD) | 8.3GB per hour | Up to 15 hours | Up to 30 hours | Up to 60 hours | Up to 120 hours |
| Photos | 3.5MB per 6MP image | Up to 35,500 images | Up to 71,000 images | Up to 142,000 images | Up to 285,000 images |
| DVD-quality movies | Number of 1.5hr Movies — DVD Quality | Up to 33 movies | Up to 66 movies | Up to 133 movies | Up to 260 movies |
How Much Storage Do I Need?
The storage drive is the only long-term storage on your PC, so it’s a good idea to consider how you are going to use your computer and ask yourself some of the following questions that will help you to define storage capacity, performance and security you need.
- Are you going to play video games, consume media, store a few photos and videos?
- Are you the type of user that is looking for high storage capacity and low cost for home media centers, large back-ups, video and photos?
- Do you regularly use programs such as AutoCAD, Adobe Suite or other programs for design or editing?
- Are you going to use your computer to browse the internet, check email, work on documents for School or work?
- Are you working with sensitive information?
What Hard Drive Do I Need
What is an SSD?
An SSD is a type of storage device that doesn’t have moving parts that provide user with longer battery life, improved shock resistance and faster data transfer than HDDs. The graph to the right outlines the difference in performance by the SSD classification.Benefits of a solid-state drive
- Better for mobile users
- Improved performance
- Durability
- Lightweight and cooler than standard hard drives
- Outperforms 10,000 rpm HDDs in read/write speeds
- More expensive than HDDs
Hard Disk Drive (HDD)
Hard Disk Drive Is a data storage device that uses magnetic storage to store and retrieve information on one or multiple platters. HDDs are more sensitive to shock and vibration because they use mechanical parts to transfer data onto disks.
Benefit of using this type of drive
• Cost per GB is lower compared to SSD
• Much higher number of write and rewrites compared to SSD
Downside of the drive
• Since there are mechanical parts within the HDD, it is more critical to external shock and vibrations compared to SSD
• Acoustic sounds are emitting during the seeks of the heads and spinning of the platter within the HDDs
eMMC (embedded Multi-Media Card)
It is a type of storage that is offered in an industry-standard BGA package consisting of both flash memory and a flash memory controller integrated on the same silicon die. Performance of eMMC storage is somewhere in between speed of HDDs and SSDs. eMMCs are often paired with cloud storage, i.e. files are stored on a remote server.
Benefits of using eMMC
• Better performance compared to HDD
• Completely quiet compared to HDD
• Low cost/performance solution compared to SSD
Downside of eMMC
• Not easily replaceable
• Limited capacity being the common capacity range 32GB to 128GB
• Slower performance when compared to SSD
• eMMCs are often paired with cloud storage, i.e. files are stored on a remote server.
Benefits of using eMMC
• Better performance compared to HDD
• Completely quiet compared to HDD
• Low cost/performance solution compared to SSD
Downside of eMMC
• Not easily replaceable
• Limited capacity being the common capacity range 32GB to 128GB
• Slower performance when compared to SSD
• eMMCs are often paired with cloud storage, i.e. files are stored on a remote server.
Dell Recommends
| For speed, performance and lower latency | Choose PCie SSDs followed by SATA SSDs | e.g., Gaming, AutoCAD, Designing, Data Science, AI algorithms |
| For storage capacity and advanced security | Choose FIPS encrypted drives | e.g., Storing sensitive large documents, videos and securing content in high-risk areas |
| For high storage capacity and low costs | Chose traditional HDD | e.g., home media centers, large back-ups, video storage |
| For low power consumption, low costs and smaller/thinner form factors | Choose eMMC drives | e.g., thin-clients, Chromebook, smartphones, cloud-OS based devices such as Windows S and Chromium |
Intel Optane Memory
Intel Optane Memory
Whether you are a content creator, gamer, professional, or everyday multitasker, you want a PC that can keep up with your digital life with the best components inside: Intel® Core™ processors for performance with Intel® Optane™ memory for responsiveness.From system startup to application launching, Intel Optane memory is smart technology that accelerates the computing experience by learning your customers most common tasks. It accesses the computer’s frequently used documents, pictures, videos, and applications quickly, and remembers them, even after powering off the PC—enabling you to create, game, and produce with less waiting.
Intel® Optane™ Memory H10 with Solid State Storage: By combining the best attributes of Intel® Optane™ technology and Intel® QLC 3D NAND Technology, the Intel® Optane™ memory H10 with solid state storage brings together two revolutionary memory and storage technologies on a single M.2 2280 form factor. Delivering innovation in storage through Intel platforms, the Intel Optane memory H10 offers a personalized computing experience with a new level of performance and large storage capacity options, now available for gamers, media, and content creators, everyday users, and professionals.
Intel® Optane™ Memory H Series with Solid State Storage
- Add acceleration and large capacity for a personalized SSD experience
Hard drives powered through Intel® Responsiveness Technologies
Wakes fast
With an optional solid-state drive and Intel® Rapid Start Technology, your system is ready to jump back into everything you were doing before you closed your PC. Plus, you’ll enjoy ultralow power consumption in standby mode.
Thinks fast
Get fast access to your favorite applications with an SSD and Intel® Smart Response Technology. It recognizes and caches your most frequently used files, allowing you to access them right away.
Renders fast
Dual hard drives are best if you work with large product files, such as high-resolution photography or video. Using an SSD as a boot drive and a standard HDD for capacity is another popular option. You'll appreciate the extra storage with either configuration.
Multitasks fast
Redundant array of independent disks (RAID) is a storage technology that divides and replicates data across multiple physical drives. The drives operate in tandem, so they work much faster than a single drive and prevent data bottlenecks.
Recalls fast
Caching stores data for faster recall. When a CPU or web browser attempts to access data, the cache client first checks the cache. If the cache contains the requested data, the client pulls the data from the cache (this is known as a cache hit). The greater the number of requests retrieved from the cache, the faster you’re able to access the data. Because the cache accumulates data over time, it’s best to periodically clear it to manage overall system performance.
