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    How do i find out the real hard drive space?

    Discussion in 'Hardware Components and Aftermarket Upgrades' started by Chelseafc65, Jul 13, 2008.

  1. Chelseafc65

    Chelseafc65 Notebook Enthusiast

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    I understand that you don't exactly get 320gb when you buy a 320gb drive. But is there a formula or chart that can tell me exactly what i should expect to get?
     
    Chelseafc65, Jul 13, 2008
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  2. Gregory

    Gregory disassemble?

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    white text....
     
    Gregory, Jul 13, 2008
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  3. JCMS

    JCMS Notebook Prophet

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    Hmm? You only loose 9.4 on a 400GB HDD?
     
    JCMS, Jul 13, 2008
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  4. Gregory

    Gregory disassemble?

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    Nope. Looks like the original poster of that made an error. It's 372.53GB according to the formula he provides. Thanks for pointing that out :).
     
    Gregory, Jul 13, 2008
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  5. JCMS

    JCMS Notebook Prophet

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    Okay. Yeah that makes more sense now
     
    JCMS, Jul 13, 2008
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  6. Jamaicanyouth

    Jamaicanyouth Notebook Evangelist

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    You will be missing about 7% of the space.
     
    Jamaicanyouth, Jul 13, 2008
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  7. redrubberpenguin

    redrubberpenguin Notebook Consultant

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    You don't really "lose" space, per se. You actually DO get 320 GB of space when you buy a 320 GB hard drive. A computer just defines "GB" differently, like Gregory said.
    Humans (including the manufacturers) calculate a gigabyte as 1,000,000,000 bytes, or 10^9 bytes. Computers, since they think in binary, calculate everything in powers of 2. So a computer's gigabyte is 1,073,741,824 bytes, or 2^30. Since a computer's definition is a bit higher (about 7% higher, as Jamaicanyouth said), it reports that you have less space, even though you technically have the same amount.
     
    redrubberpenguin, Jul 13, 2008
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  8. powerpack

    powerpack Notebook Prophet

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    Just take the listed size and "X" by .931322. If you want to drop some of the numbers OK but I recommend at least four to get the accurate integer. I think my way with one calculation is, well easier than the other. The other demonstrates what is going on to those who understand but since no attempt at explanation formula is just arduous.
     
    powerpack, Jul 13, 2008
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  9. Gregory

    Gregory disassemble?

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    Good point that number is much easier ;). Powerpack you should write the code for a usable space calculator in your sig :).
     
    Gregory, Jul 13, 2008
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  10. powerpack

    powerpack Notebook Prophet

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    XTML maybe can do but well the one I have (yes sad I have em) use java script. I can't run java at NBR. I have java calculators for say, if you input car weight and HP will give 1/4 mile time and final speed. Greg I gots way too much stuff.

    I should really get out in the real world more? Not. :D
     
    powerpack, Jul 13, 2008
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