Why your "120 GB" might not fit: The GB vs. GiB guide for piqlFilm

Through piqlConnect, we provide ultra-secure, long-term data preservation on piqlFilm, a medium designed to last for centuries.

Each dedicated piqlFilm (one asset) has a storage capacity of approximately 120 GB. We are using on average 2 GB as system information for documenting how to decode and interpret the data in the future. This is what makes the piqlFilm completely self-contained.

The available capacity of data to be stored on one piqlFilm is thus set normally to 118 GB. You can always upload and transfer more data than this, but the data will then be spread across more piqlFilms.

Gigabyte (GB) paradox
However, many users encounter a frustrating hurdle if they are trying to match the data volume on their computer with the exact limit of one piqlFilm of 118 GB and here will we explain why:

When preparing a folder that Windows f.ex tells you is "115 GB," you will find out that in piqlConnect it will exceed the 118 GB mark on piqlFilm during the upload process.

This is NOT a software bug or a hardware error—it’s a "translation" issue between how humans count and how computers calculate.

The two ways of counting: Decimal vs. Binary

The confusion lies in the two different systems used to measure data.

The Decimal System (GB): Used by Piql, disk manufacturers, and the International System of Units (SI). It uses a "Base-10" system where 1 Gigabyte is exactly 1 billion bytes.
The Binary System (GiB): Used by Windows and other operating systems. It uses a "Base-2" system because computers operate on bits. In this world, a "Gibibyte" is 1,073,741,824 bytes.

A small, but very distinct difference.

The Windows "Label" Confusion

The real challenge for users is that Windows calculates in Binary but labels it as Decimal. When you look at your file properties in Windows and see "GB," the computer is actually showing you Gibibytes (GiB).

Because a Gibibyte is about 7.3% larger than a Gigabyte, the numbers will never match up perfectly.

So If Windows show the actual value in Bytes is 110 GB, this equals in Decimal Gibibytes to 118.1 GB which is just a pinch too large for the system to approve.

The piqlFilm Limit: Staying Under 118 GB

If you want to ensure your data fits perfectly onto a single piqlFilm, you must account for this 7% gap.

The Golden Rule: If you are using a Windows computer to prepare your data, your folder size should not exceed 109.8 "GB" in the Windows properties window.

How to verify your data size:

Right-click your folder and select Properties.
Look at the Size field (not "Size on disk").
Check the number in parentheses: this is the exact byte count.
Ensure this number is less than 118,000,000,000 bytes.

Why this matters for you

Precision is at the heart of what we do. piqlFilm is a physical medium with a fixed length; once the film is full, it is full. By understanding the difference between the normal Windows display and the actual physical capacity, you can streamline your workflow and ensure your most important data is preserved within the same piqlFilm, if this is importance to you.