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I'm writing this after reading Shaneo's post on RAM. Most people, when buying things that involve binary maths make this kind of mistake:
They think that 32MB of RAM is 32,000 Bytes of RAM.
Not true, it would actually be 32,864 KB.
In the same way that 1 KiloByte is not 1000 Bytes, it's 1024 Bytes.
This is because of how the bits/bytes mathematics works.
The most basic unit of storage is a bit. Next up is a Nibble, which is a collection of 4 bits, then a Byte which is 8 bits.
The memory then keeps doubling: 16 bits, 32, 64, 128, 256, 512, 1024 which is considered a Kilobit. It carries on doubling, the difference between the actual and the stated values increasing all the time.
For 1 Kb, the difference is 24 bits (1024-1000). However, this error keeps increasing. If you think you have 32 MB of memory, the way the maths works out, you actually have 33,652,736 bits, and a positive error (i.e. more than you think) of 1,652,736 bits.
I made sure to use the correct letters in that last paragraph. A KiloByte (KB) is 8 times larger than a Kilobit (Kb). Now, this is where you need to be careful. Modems normally have their transfer rates in Kb, because then the number is larger and people think it is faster.
EG:
ISDN connections operate at 128Kb. Now, some people would think that it is 128 KiloBytes. It's not, it's 128 Kilobits.
For starters its actually 131,456 bits. To get this to Bytes, divide by 8, which gives us 16,432 Bytes. Which is a transfer rate of 16 KB. Slightly slower than the 128KB some people may have thought it was!
All in all there are bonuses and negatives that result from this. For starters, you'll probably actuall have more RAM and HD space than you think you have. On the negative side of things, you have to be careful when buying modems and network equipment to make sure all the figures are correct.
They think that 32MB of RAM is 32,000 Bytes of RAM.
Not true, it would actually be 32,864 KB.
In the same way that 1 KiloByte is not 1000 Bytes, it's 1024 Bytes.
This is because of how the bits/bytes mathematics works.
The most basic unit of storage is a bit. Next up is a Nibble, which is a collection of 4 bits, then a Byte which is 8 bits.
The memory then keeps doubling: 16 bits, 32, 64, 128, 256, 512, 1024 which is considered a Kilobit. It carries on doubling, the difference between the actual and the stated values increasing all the time.
For 1 Kb, the difference is 24 bits (1024-1000). However, this error keeps increasing. If you think you have 32 MB of memory, the way the maths works out, you actually have 33,652,736 bits, and a positive error (i.e. more than you think) of 1,652,736 bits.
I made sure to use the correct letters in that last paragraph. A KiloByte (KB) is 8 times larger than a Kilobit (Kb). Now, this is where you need to be careful. Modems normally have their transfer rates in Kb, because then the number is larger and people think it is faster.
EG:
ISDN connections operate at 128Kb. Now, some people would think that it is 128 KiloBytes. It's not, it's 128 Kilobits.
For starters its actually 131,456 bits. To get this to Bytes, divide by 8, which gives us 16,432 Bytes. Which is a transfer rate of 16 KB. Slightly slower than the 128KB some people may have thought it was!
All in all there are bonuses and negatives that result from this. For starters, you'll probably actuall have more RAM and HD space than you think you have. On the negative side of things, you have to be careful when buying modems and network equipment to make sure all the figures are correct.
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What's a couple of bytes among friends, eh!
Your Honour wrote:
> SmokedKipper wrote:
Wrong again, it's 32,768KB
Sorry, you're
> right.
Give me a break i worked it out off the top of my
> head!
I'll let you off then - you were close so you deserve some credit.
> SmokedKipper wrote:
Wrong again, it's 32,768KB
Sorry, you're
> right.
Give me a break i worked it out off the top of my
> head!
I'll let you off then - you were close so you deserve some credit.
SmokedKipper wrote:
Wrong again, it's 32,768KB
Sorry, you're right.
Give me a break i worked it out off the top of my head!
:-)
Wrong again, it's 32,768KB
Sorry, you're right.
Give me a break i worked it out off the top of my head!
:-)
Come to think of it, the KB/Kb distinction is nonsense as well (unless it was used for the purpose of this topic, in which case I apologise). Kb is the adopted norm for kilobyte. Kilobit is only used in transfer rates and in such cases is in lowercase (kbps as opposed to Kbps for kilobytes). It is so rarely used in anything else that there is no set abbreviation for it - the full word is used.
Although there is nothing wrong with using KB, Kb is much preferred. It's the other way around for MB/Mb , GB/Gb and so on though.
Although there is nothing wrong with using KB, Kb is much preferred. It's the other way around for MB/Mb , GB/Gb and so on though.
I thought there would be 52 to the Hive and 164 to the Pedastool.
Of course, when I rule the world there will only be PBs. They'll have my picture on them and I will own the mints.
Bwahahahahahahaha...hah..hahaa...er....ahem.
Of course, when I rule the world there will only be PBs. They'll have my picture on them and I will own the mints.
Bwahahahahahahaha...hah..hahaa...er....ahem.
Your Honour wrote:
They think that 32MB of RAM is 32,000 Bytes of
> RAM.
> Not true, it would actually be 32,864 KB.
Wrong again, it's 32,768KB
They think that 32MB of RAM is 32,000 Bytes of
> RAM.
> Not true, it would actually be 32,864 KB.
Wrong again, it's 32,768KB
Yessiree, they'll be called Peters and they'll be 256 to the Pankmark.
And pennys.
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