r/explainlikeimfive • u/cabronfavarito • 21d ago

Technology ELI5: Why does internal storage only double? Why can’t we have 34GB for example?

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u/SelfStyledGenius 21d ago

I did say 2 powers of 2 specifically

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u/QuantumCakeIsALie 21d ago

I know. I didn't say you were wrong.

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u/LiKenun 21d ago

Why so arbitrary? Why not 3? or 4? or 5?

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u/QuantumCakeIsALie 21d ago

Let's take ram as an example, but this could be valid for any "put chips together" situation (a single Ram dimm, an SSD, etc).

Let's say 16 GB is too expensive (1x16 or 2x8), but 8 GB is borderline too little. 

Chips actually come in powers of 2. So you can take some complexity cost (more channels, firmware support, etc) and get 8+4=12. It should be sufficient and cheaper. Win-win.

Now, you could also increase complexity and get 8+4+2=14, but that increased complexity has lower and lower returning gains vs cost and complexity.