How to work out how much space on SSD needed for programmes?

Major Eazy

Major Eazy

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I can do some very rough maths, and I can do some guess-work, but I was wondering if any of you know of some more effect ways of trying to find the information or make some maths on how much of a disk space I am likely to use, purely as a guideline, to help me figure which SSD size I would like to opt for my new computer.

I know that Windows 7 in 64 bit would take up approx. 20GB, but I'm finding it tricky to find details about some other software, say it seems tricky trying to find out how much disk space Adobe Photoshop would need, I could find out how much space Microsoft Office needs. Surely there must be some website that contents some rough rule of a thumb figures in one go, based on typical and popular software, that you could look up just to get some ideas?

Surely some people like to collect some details and post on their website or blogs, giving some examples of sizes of programmes or how much programmes could fix on n-GB of disk space.

So that I could just get some rough figures in one go, to consider options of buying be it 120GB or 250GB or 500GB SSD.

Many thanks.
 
Office 2010 64 bit uses around 1Gb in the program files folder (might be a smidge more if it scatters DLLs etc around into other system folders).

cant tell you what PS uses as its on my home PC but it wont be much more.

i run a 120Gb and I have Win7 Ultimate, LR5, CS4 suite, Prem Elem 12, Diablo3, Starcraft2, loads of other rubbish and its about half full?
 
neil_g said:
Office 2010 64 bit uses around 1Gb in the program files folder (might be a smidge more if it scatters DLLs etc around into other system folders).

cant tell you what PS uses as its on my home PC but it wont be much more.

i run a 120Gb and I have Win7 Ultimate, LR5, CS4 suite, Prem Elem 12, Diablo3, Starcraft2, loads of other rubbish and its about half full?
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Okay, so if your Microsoft Office is about 1GB, bearing in mind I don't know if yours includes Access, so would it be a good idea to assume most top of the range programmes, like Lightroom, Photoshop, iTunes, etc., etc., tend to vary around 1GB each, so as a quick workout, is it okay to consider the SSD space on the assumption that each programme is about 1GB?
 
Major Eazy said:
Okay, so if your Microsoft Office is about 1GB, bearing in mind I don't know if yours includes Access, so would it be a good idea to assume most top of the range programmes, like Lightroom, Photoshop, iTunes, etc., etc., tend to vary around 1GB each, so as a quick workout, is it okay to consider the SSD space on the assumption that each programme is about 1GB?
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mines a full office install.
 
Plus enough space for page files, say 1.5x RAM. And enough space for your OST if you run outlook, etc. I'd avoid under 120gb for an average install, especially as storage is so cheap...
 
I got a SSD about 3 years ago and its 60Gb, I have W7 64bit, CS6, LR5 some programming languages and loads of other programs. I usually run about 45-50Gb used space (all data store on internal HD). So like Neil said 120Gb will be plenty.
 
PaulF said:
For PS
http://helpx.adobe.com/x-productkb/policy-pricing/system-requirements-photoshop.html
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That is great, thanks, but this is only for Adobe's Photoshop. If I want to find out about how much disk space iTunes needs, how much space this and that need, it would mean going to each company's own website to find out.

What I meant is surely that some computer hobbyist may have put them in one place?

You know, it's like when any of us wants to buy a new HDD or something, we tend to see the shop or a website tend to display for illustration purpose only, as a rough guide, how many hours of movies, how many music tracks, how many photos can fit on this and that HDD. One of those chart that says something like "you can fit on a 500GB HDD the following, 250 HD movies, 200,000 tracks, 100,000 photos...."

Wouldn't it be useful if somewhere there's some kind of a chart that list something like...

Typical file size:
Operating System 20GB
Top of the range photo-editing software (ie: Adobe) 2GB
Mid-priced software typical 1GB

or something like that, or on the other hand something like this...

120GB SSD/HDD can hold: Operating system, 5 top of the range programmes (ie Adobe or MS Office), 10 typical gaming software, spare room for n-movies, n-tracks, n-photos.

So people can just take one look and get some ideas of what disk size to opt for rather than having to go to every websites which contents the programmes they are interested in buying to find out the specs.

If you know what I mean?
 
Neil, Landwomble, and Robbino, based on what you said, considering that I'm thinking of buying new photo-editing software, graphics design software, MS Office, in addition to iTunes, plus maybe a few others, so most likely 3 or 4 serious programmes plus a few light programmes, I can see your point that something like a 120GB would seem enough for my needs. Thanks guys.
 
Major Eazy said:
Wouldn't it be useful if somewhere there's some kind of a chart that list something like...

Typical file size:
Operating System 20GB
Top of the range photo-editing software (ie: Adobe) 2GB
Mid-priced software typical 1GB

or something like that, or on the other hand something like this...

120GB SSD/HDD can hold: Operating system, 5 top of the range programmes (ie Adobe or MS Office), 10 typical gaming software, spare room for n-movies, n-tracks, n-photos.

So people can just take one look and get some ideas of what disk size to opt for rather than having to go to every websites which contents the programmes they are interested in buying to find out the specs.

If you know what I mean?
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Think you've got yourself a little website project there, don't think that site exists yet :)
 
neil_g said:
im not aware of such site.

just look at the usage on your current drive?
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Can't do, I don't have them on my current computer, it's a 12 years old computer and still with Windows XP, I also got a 15 years old machine with Win 98. I'm planning on custom build my own new computer (already got Windows 7, CPU, and tower, so still got to get motherboard, PSU, RAM, etc., etc.,) just trying to figure out what size a SSD would be good enough based on my thinking of what new software I want to buy. I'm sort of figuring out ahead what size I'm most likely to use up.

Seems silly to think "I need a 50GB SSD" buy it, then after building the computer, start buying CS6, LR, etc., etc., only to find that I've filled up the disk, when it would be more effect to work out what I would like to buy and get some rough idea of how much space the software is likely to use, then I can figure out which SSD size to aim for.

Like I said, based on what some of you said about how many programmes you got and how much space size, I guess I can safety opt for 120GB.
 
PaulF said:
Think you've got yourself a little website project there, don't think that site exists yet :)
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Yeah, you got a point there, I suppose I could rush off to the Patents Office and register my idea. :-)
 
I have a 250 Samsung EVO 840 (very good SSD) and currently have 138GB free.

I run Win7 Pro 64, most of Adobe CC, MS Office, Steam and quite a few smaller programs. SSD's will lose performance if over half full so I suggest going for a larger one than you think you may need, especially as they are so cheap now (just did a quick Ebay search on my drive and it's available for about £100).

Edit- When I say lose performance when over half full it's a very gradual thing and it doesn't mean you need to keep half of a SSD empty. I would suggest keeping around 15% empty though.
 
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neil_g said:
120 should be okay, is it the only drive in the system?
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The SSD will only be for main operating system plus application software, ie: CorelDraw, Photoshop, MS Office, iTunes, blah, blah, blah, and I plan to buy a larger capability HDD mainly for data, like documents, photos, media, etc., etc.
 
yeah should be fine then.

i run 2x 120. one for OS and Apps. the other for LR cat and working files/caches/scratch (although plenty of space left on the main 120). all large storage is network attached.
 
Major Eazy said:
........I can see your point that something like a 120GB would seem enough for my needs.
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I'd agree with Wissel (post 15).

The problem with using a smallish SSD as C:drive is that you find yourself constantly keeping watch on how much you store on it, especially temporary stuff - e.g. dumping Photoshop files there until they're finished.

I had a 120GB SSD for Windows & programmes and when it started to get over 50% full I found myself having to keep an eye on it all the time. In the end I got fed up with doing that so I got a 240GB SSD to use as C:drive and I relegated the 120GB to Photoshop scratch.


PS. If you decide to go for a larger drive, the 240GB (an OCZ Vertex 460) is for sale at £90 inc. It was bought in February this year and I'd only been using it for four days when I 'inherited' a new 480GB at half price, so I switched C:drive to that instead.

The OCZ Vertex 460 spec page is here - http://ocz.com/consumer/vertex-460-sata-3-ssd - these drives come with a license for Acronis True Image HD.
 
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Now I'm at my machine..

120Gb, 40Gb remaining..

Installed (notable size apps)..

Adobe CS4 Suite
Adobe LR5.3
Adobe Premiere Elements 12
Apple apps (iTunes/Mobile Device Support/iCloud etc)
Aquasuite
Arcsoft TotalMedia Theatre 3
Diablo 3
Garmin Basecamp
Google Earth
MS .NET framework (always a bit chunky)
Nero Suite 10
StarCraft 2

And about 30 or so other small apps/codecs/utils etc
 
download this program and it indexes your drive and tells you exactly how much space is being used by what :) (providing you already have a similar setup somewhere :) )

https://windirstat.info

FYI, i have a 120gb in my laptop with Windows 7 x64, Photoshop, Lightroom, Office 2013, virtual XP machines etc with spare space. I've just run that program on mine and I have 10GB free, and lot of that is wasted space to be honest, 35GB in profiles etc which doesn't need to be there.


Best upgrade i ever did, the speed increase was immense. If you can go for a 240gb i would though :)
 
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Judging from what most of you said, it do seem considering that in addition to an operating system (I got Win 7 Pro and plan to install 64bit version), I think I'm likely to buy and install similar application software as most of you seems to have, I think I'll go for 120GB and consider 250GB, based on what most of you said, I can't image the need for over 250GB, so I'll put 120GB/250GB on my shopping list. Many thanks.
 
Major Eazy said:
..... I'll put 120GB/250GB on my shopping list.
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Major - let me know if you're interested in my 240GB Vertex 460 (advertised elsewhere - not sure if I'm allowed to post a link). It's mint, boxed and includes the adapter bracket plus Acronis. New on 19/2/14 and less than 90 hours use.

I'm looking for £90 delivered (they're around £140 at the moment - link)
 
Ozei said:
Major - let me know if you're interested in my 240GB Vertex 460 (advertised elsewhere - not sure if I'm allowed to post a link). It's mint, boxed and includes the adapter bracket plus Acronis. New on 19/2/14 and less than 90 hours use.

I'm looking for £90 delivered (they're around £140 at the moment - link)
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Thanks for the offer but I'm aiming for Samsung 840 series.
 
Major Eazy said:
Thanks for the offer but I'm aiming for Samsung 840 series.
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I thought about going for an 840 until I read somewhere that the 460 was slightly ahead on 128kb writes - mind you the difference was so tiny it's probably irrelevant and either drive will be perfect for your new machine (not to mention a massive improvement over HDD!). Both are mentioned in the 460 conclusion here btw - link.
 
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I've been building computer systems for 25 years now & I wouldn't now buy a 120gb SSD. Those days of minimal storage have gone.
Dont get me wrong - Yes you can build a system using this as your only drive - it will be enough for a couple of years.. But in 2-3 years time you will come back on here & say its too small.... & it is.
The price for a 250gb SSD is so cheap that its pointless buying anything else..

Btw - I have 5 x 120gb SSD drives as external drives - but my main laptop has 256gd SSD & my RAID system 15tb.
 
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Diving Pete said:
Dont get me wrong - Yes you can build a system using this as your only drive - it will be enough for a couple of years.. But in 2-3 years time you will come back on here & say its too small.... & it is.
The price for a 250gb SSD is so cheap that its pointless buying anything else..

.
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This only applies if it is my only drive, but it is not. My computer is going to have a SSD for Windows and any application software then a very larger HDD mainly for data, documents, media, photos, etc.
 
I think ive had my 120 for somewhere between 1 and 2 years (with additional data drives). Not found it restricting so far.

I thing it's hard to apply a blanket "you'll need X storage" statement to someone else tbh
 
I have a 120G system disk, 65.65G used and I have quite a few things installed. My main disk is a 256G SSD with 132G used. My user HDD (i.e. for stuff I don't look at often) is around the same - 135G used. We have laptops with 120G na d 256G SSDs in, depending on their use.

What is probably far more important is backups. PLan for your disks (HDD or SSD) to fail, and when they do, you can recover it :)
 
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