Unknown System Requirements & Storage Space

This article explains what “unknown system requirements� and “unknown storage space� mean when you see them on a product page or in a system checker, and how to find the real numbers you need. You’ll learn where these placeholders come from, how to estimate the storage and hardware you’ll actually need, and how to avoid common mistakes when planning a purchase or upgrade.

Formula

The calculator above gives a rough estimate of two things: the storage space you should reserve (including a safety buffer) and the time it might take to download or transfer a file of a given size.

Estimated storage required = Data size (GB) × 1.5

Estimated install time = (Data size in MB ÷ Transfer speed in MB/s) ÷ 60 + Time needed for setup (hours) × 60

Variables:

• Data size (s) – the size of the download or installation files, in gigabytes (GB).
• Transfer speed (r) – your internet download speed or disk write speed, in megabytes per second (MB/s). Note that internet speeds are often advertised in megabits per second (Mbps); divide by 8 to get MB/s.
• Time needed (t) – the time you expect to spend on manual setup, configuration, or unzipping, in hours.

Worked Example

Using the default values: data size = 10 GB, transfer speed = 100 MB/s, time needed = 2 hours.

Storage required: 10 × 1.5 = 15 GB. This means you should have at least 15 GB free, not just 10 GB.

Install time: First convert 10 GB to MB: 10 × 1024 = 10,240 MB. Then divide by 100 MB/s = 102.4 seconds. Convert to minutes: 102.4 ÷ 60 = 1.71 minutes. Add the setup time: 2 hours × 60 = 120 minutes. Total = 1.71 + 120 = 121.71 minutes, which rounds to 122 minutes.

So for a 10 GB file at 100 MB/s, you’d need about 15 GB free and roughly 2 hours and 2 minutes total.

Why “Unknown� Appears

When a product page or a system requirements checker says “unknown� for system requirements or storage space, it usually means one of three things:

• The developer or manufacturer hasn’t finalized the requirements yet (common for early-access games, beta software, or pre-release hardware).
• The requirements depend on your specific configuration (e.g., a game’s install size varies by platform or language pack).
• The page is a placeholder that was never updated.

For physical hardware (like a graphics card or SSD), “unknown� might mean the component doesn’t have a fixed storage requirement—it depends on the rest of your system.

How to Find the Real Numbers

If you encounter “unknown� on a product page, here are reliable ways to get the actual figures:

1. Check the official website of the developer or manufacturer. Look for a “Specifications� or “System Requirements� page.
2. For software, read the store page on the platform you’re using (Steam, Epic, Microsoft Store, App Store). These usually list minimum and recommended specs.
3. For games, search for “game name + system requirements� on a search engine. Many reputable tech sites compile this information.
4. For hardware, look at the product’s manual or the manufacturer’s support page. For example, a camera’s manual will state the required memory card speed and capacity.
5. If the product is still in development, check the developer’s blog or community forums for recent updates.

Estimating Storage Needs

When the exact number is unknown, you can make a reasonable estimate. For software, a good rule of thumb is to reserve at least 1.5 to 2 times the size of the download. This accounts for temporary files, updates, and saved data. For example, a 50 GB game might need 75–100 GB free.

For media files, use these rough guides:

• 1 minute of 1080p video at 30 fps: about 130 MB (H.264 codec).
• 1 minute of 4K video at 60 fps: about 375 MB (H.265/HEVC).
• 1 hour of uncompressed CD-quality audio: about 600 MB.
• 1 RAW photo from a 24-megapixel camera: about 25–50 MB.

These are estimates; actual sizes vary with compression and settings.

Common Mistakes and Misconceptions

One common mistake is confusing bits and bytes. Internet speeds are usually in megabits per second (Mbps), while file sizes are in megabytes (MB) or gigabytes (GB). 1 byte = 8 bits, so a 100 Mbps connection downloads at about 12.5 MB/s. If you use the wrong unit, your time estimate will be off by a factor of 8.

Another mistake is ignoring the difference between the download size and the installed size. Many games and applications compress files for download, then expand them on your drive. The installed size can be significantly larger. Always check the “installed size� or “storage required� if available.

Also, don’t forget that your operating system and other programs need free space to function. It’s wise to keep at least 10–15% of your drive empty for performance and updates.

When to Trust “Unknown�

Sometimes “unknown� is legitimate. For example, a cloud-based service might not require any local storage beyond a small cache. Or a web app might run entirely in your browser, so the only requirement is a compatible browser and internet connection.

In those cases, “unknown� simply means “not applicable� or “varies.� You don’t need to worry about it. But if the product is a large game or a professional application, “unknown� is a red flag—proceed with caution and try to find the specs elsewhere.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Why does a game show “unknown� storage space on Steam?
A: This often happens for pre-load or early-access titles. The developer may not have finalized the install size. Check the game’s community hub or official site for a forum post with the estimated size.

Q: How much free space should I leave on my SSD?
A: For SSDs, leaving 10–20% free helps maintain performance and longevity. For a 500 GB drive, that means 50–100 GB free. SSDs slow down when nearly full because they need free blocks for garbage collection.

Q: Is “unknown� the same as “not required�?
A: No. “Unknown� means the publisher hasn’t provided a number. “Not required� would be explicitly stated. If you see “unknown,� treat it as missing information, not a zero.

Q: Can I use the calculator for any file type?
A: Yes, the storage estimate (size × 1.5) is a general safety buffer. The transfer time works for any file, but remember that the transfer speed should match the bottleneck: internet speed for downloads, USB speed for external drives, or SATA/NVMe speed for internal drives.

Q: What if my transfer speed is in Mbps?
A: Divide by 8 to get MB/s. For example, 200 Mbps ÷ 8 = 25 MB/s. Then use that number in the calculator.

Q: Why does the calculator add 2 hours of setup time by default?
A: That’s a placeholder for unzipping, installing, configuring, or waiting for updates. You can change it to 0 if you only want the pure transfer time.

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in t | Time needed (hours) | h | 2 | 0
in s | Data size (GB) | GB | 10 | 0
in r | Transfer speed (MB/s) | MB/s | 100 | 0
out space | Estimated storage required (GB) | GB | s * 1.5 | 1
out time_min | Estimated install time (min) | min | (s * 1024 / r) / 60 + t * 60 | 0