1TB vs 2TB vs 4TB SSD: The Ugly Truth Nobody Wants to Admit

Summary

The video argues that 1TB is often a poor-value choice in 2026, especially for gaming or large media libraries. Its case rests on four issues: the difference between advertised and Windows-reported capacity, growing file sizes, performance compromises in some budget SSDs, and rising prices.

Why a “1TB” Drive Shows 931GB in Windows

Drive makers count a terabyte as 1 trillion bytes. Windows uses a binary measurement while labeling it with decimal-style units, so the same storage appears as about 931GB. The video says this is a unit-conversion difference, not missing or stolen capacity. It cites approximate Windows readings of 465GB for a 500GB drive, 1.81TB for a 2TB drive, and 3.63TB for a 4TB drive.

The amount available for personal files falls further after Windows, updates, recovery partitions, apps, and other system use. The video estimates that a new 1TB Windows computer may leave roughly 850GB for the user. It gives the PS5 as another example: of its advertised 825GB, around 667GB was reportedly available for games.

Storage Needs Are Growing

The video points to modern games that can take more than 100–150GB each, and to software such as Microsoft Flight Simulator that can grow substantially with add-ons. It also notes that 4K video can consume hundreds of megabytes per minute. Its conclusion is that a drive that once seemed ample can fill quickly with games, updates, video, and backups.

Why Some SSDs Slow Down as They Fill

The video explains several relevant technologies:

• TLC and QLC NAND: TLC stores three bits per flash cell; QLC stores four. QLC can make higher capacities cheaper, but writing to it is slower.
• SLC cache: Many QLC drives first write data to a faster area that behaves like single-bit memory, then move it to the slower QLC cells. The advertised peak write speed may reflect this cache rather than sustained performance.
• Cache exhaustion: The video cites a Tom’s Hardware test of the Crucial P3 in which write speed fell from about 3.2GB/s to roughly 100MB/s after the cache was exhausted. It also cites a Samsung 870 QVO test where performance fell to around 65MB/s after its roughly 42GB fast-write area was used.
• Free space and SSD housekeeping: A dynamic cache can shrink as a drive fills. SSD controllers also need free blocks for cleanup and reuse, so a nearly full drive may experience more interruptions during writes.
• Capacity can help: A larger drive has more space available to use for caching and housekeeping. The video cites a test of the 4TB QLC WD Blue SN5000 that sustained around 500MB/s after its cache, considerably faster than the cited P3 result.

DRAM-Less Drives

Some SSDs omit a dedicated DRAM chip to reduce cost. They store the drive’s file-location map in controller memory or use Host Memory Buffer (HMB) to borrow a small amount of system memory. The video says DRAM-less designs are not automatically bad, but performance can suffer in some small, nearly full drives. It contrasts a poor result for a small Toshiba RC100 with a PC World review of the Samsung 990 EVO Plus, which reportedly maintained much higher write speeds in a large-data test.

The video recommends checking specifications for NAND type (TLC or QLC), DRAM or HMB support, and endurance ratings rather than relying on the brand name alone. It also notes that manufacturers may change components within a model over time.

Pricing and Value

The video attributes rising SSD prices to strong demand from AI data centers, constrained flash-memory supply, and manufacturers prioritizing larger customers. It cites industry statements and price reports, including Kioxia’s prediction that supply constraints would persist and Micron’s decision to end its Crucial consumer brand.

At the video’s stated Amazon prices on October 23, 2026, it compares the Samsung 990 Pro at about $260 for 1TB, $410 for 2TB, and $800 for 4TB. By its calculation, the larger capacities cost less per terabyte, while also providing more working space. It gives other examples, including the WD Black SN850X, WD Blue SN5000, and Kingston NV3. These are presented as snapshot prices, not universal or permanent prices.

Recommendations in the Video

• Everyday use: A quality 1TB TLC SSD can still be enough. Keep around 20% free and archive older files to a separate drive.
• Office PCs: A good 1TB TLC drive is presented as a reasonable minimum for a computer expected to last several years.
• Gaming: The video recommends 2TB as a practical starting point, citing game sizes, updates, and the better cost per terabyte in its price examples.
• Large game libraries, flight simulators, or media work: Consider 4TB. QLC may suit storing and reading a large library, while TLC with DRAM is preferred for workloads that repeatedly write large amounts of data.
• Laptops: Check the exact storage configuration before buying; some laptops have non-upgradeable or difficult-to-replace storage.
• Avoid: The video’s most strongly criticized option is a cheap 1TB QLC drive without DRAM, allowed to become nearly full. It may combine limited capacity, declining write performance, and poor value.
• General rule: Estimate storage needs several years ahead, leave room for growth, and consider a larger SSD or a separate archive drive rather than filling a small drive completely.

Reviews, Tests, and Guides Cited

The video draws on these reviews, tests, and reports rather than presenting a single controlled comparison of all capacities:

• Tom’s Hardware: Crucial P3 cache and sustained-write behavior.
• Dong No’s Tech: Samsung 870 QVO write performance after its cache.
• techtest.org: Full-drive testing of the 4TB WD Blue SN5000.
• AnandTech: Toshiba RC100 performance with and without HMB.
• PC World: Samsung 990 EVO Plus large-write performance.
• GameSpot: PS5 usable storage measurement.
• PC Gamer: Game storage requirements and reporting on Valve’s Steam Hardware Survey.
• Nerds App: Estimates for Microsoft Flight Simulator and Ark: Survival Evolved storage.
• Seagate support information: Decimal-versus-binary capacity conversion.
• PLOS ONE: Research comparing DRAM-less SSDs and host-memory buffering.
• TrendForce, Hardware Busters, and Tom’s Hardware: Flash-memory supply and pricing reports.

Main Speaker and Sources

The video is delivered by a single narrator for the Circuit Rift channel. Its analysis cites manufacturers, benchmark publications, industry research firms, and academic researchers, including Seagate, Samsung, Phison, Kioxia, Micron, TrendForce, Tom’s Hardware, AnandTech, PC World, GameSpot, and researchers Kyusik Kim and Tae-Seok Kim.