disk vs bandwidth

cbtshare · 11-02-2013, 03:32 PM

Is the calculation on of disk space and bandwidth using the same table where 8 bits =1 byte so 1024kbits is 1kbyte??..I know this is true for networking, but for disk space I read somewhere that disk space uses a different table where 1000bits =1 kilobyte.

cospengle · 11-02-2013, 03:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cbtshare

so 1024bits is 1kbyte??..

Careful of your units: 1024bits =/= 1kbyte ... 1024 bytes = 1 Kbyte

This is an interesting topic really especially from a historical point of view.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kilobyte <- Wikipedia to the rescue!! (explains it better than I ever could)

For most situations it doesn't really matter much, but if it matters enough in a particular case, then you should check the definition for that particular system.

cbtshare · 11-02-2013, 04:11 PM

yes, I actually meant 8kbits = 1KByte , and 1024bytes = 1KByte

suicidaleggroll · 11-02-2013, 04:45 PM

kilo, mega, giga, tera = base 10 = 1000 bytes (B) to 1 kilobyte (kB)

kibi, mebi, gibi, tebi = base 2 = 1024 bytes (B) to 1 kibibyte (KiB)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gibibyte

cospengle · 11-02-2013, 09:55 PM

So basically, kilobyte is obsoleted by kibi byte, in much the same way as feet were obsoleted by meters.

I suppose I'd better start using the new terminology before anyone notices I'm old :S

salasi · 11-03-2013, 04:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cospengle

...kilobyte is obsoleted by kibi byte, in much the same way as feet were obsoleted by meters.

I'm not sure that 'obsoleted' is the right word. The new units are supposed to make things clearer, but while, for example, individual manufacturers of disk drives have an interest in using numbers that make their products seem more attractive, there are vested interests in things not getting all that much clearer.