File
size i.e. how big the file or how much space a file occupies in the hard disk
measured in terms of KiloBytes (KB upper case “K” and upper case “B”). In
computing terms the upper case “K” stands for 1024. 1024 is computed from 210.
(2 power 10). 2 denote the number of characters in the binary system which is
used to store data in the disc (ones and zeroes).
Other
abbreviations like mega, giga and terra also use the base as 1024,
1KB (KiloByte) = 1024 Bytes (approximately
1000 Bytes)
1MB (MegaByte) = 1024 KB (approximately
1000 KiloBytes or 1 million Bytes)
1GB (GigaByte) = 1024 MB (approximately
1000 MegaBytes or 1 billion Bytes)
1TB (TerraByte) = 1024 GB
(approximately 1000 GigaBytes or 1 trillion Bytes)
Measure
of data transfer speeds: kbps
Data
transfer speed over the networks (including the internet) is calculated in
terms of bits per second: kilobits (kb small case “k” and small case “b”). The
higher the kbps i.e. more the bits transferred per second, more the speed,
faster the network/connection. Here k stands for 1000 (103)
1
kbps (kilo bits per second) = 1000 bits per second
1
Mbps (mega bits per second) = 1000 kilo bits per second.
1
Gbps (giga bits per second) = 1,000 mega bits per second.
ISP
bandwidth and download speeds
The
most common confusion caused by the similarity of KBps and kbps is when it
comes to internet bandwidth and download speeds. People often complain that
their ISP promised 512kbps connectivity but they are seldom able to download
any file at 512 KBps. They fail to notice the difference in cases of the units
and hence think their ISP is cheating them or offering them poor quality
service. As mentioned earlier data transfer speeds are always calculated in
terms of kilo bits per second (kbps) so an ISP connectivity of 512 kbps
promises of transfer of at the max 512 kilo bits per second.
On
the other hand, file size measure is always in Kilo Bytes and thus download
speeds are always calculated based on how many Bytes per second are downloaded
and hence Kilo Bytes per second (KBps). KBps and kbps are not interchangeable.
So
an internet connectivity of say 512kbps can never achieve a download speed of
512 KBps. To calculate the maximum download speed of a “X kbps” connection, we
need to use a simple formula as below.
Download
KBPS speed = (Kbps value*1000) /8)) / 1024.
I.e.
For a connectivity of 512 kbps
kbps
value * 1000 = 512 * 1000 = 512000
512000
/ 8 = 64000
64000
/ 1024 = 62.5 KBps
Therefore
theoretically an internet connection of 512kbps bandwidth can download at a
speed of 62.5 KBps
If
you don’t want to go through all the hassles of the above formula, just
multiply the kbps value with 0.1220703125 to get the KBps value.
512
kbps * 0.1220703125 = 62.5 KBps. Simple!
|
Internet
connectivity
|
Download
speed (approx)
|
|
256
Kbps
|
31.3
KBps
|
|
384
Kbps
|
46.9
KBps
|
|
512
Kbps
|
62.5
KBps
|
|
768
Kbps
|
93.8
KBps
|
|
1
Mbps ~ 1000kbps
|
122.1
KBps
|
I
have mentioned download speed as approximate because they will vary (always
reduce) by 15 – 20% due to network signal loss, computer hardware overheads
etc. So for realistic, real world figures always reduce 15 – 20% from the
computed KBPS downloads speeds.
Now
I guess the confusion of kbps and KBps has cleared away. Just remember when you
talk in terms of network it’s always bites per second (bps) and when you talk
in terms of storage and files its always Bytes per second (Bps). And next time
you won’t complain when your 512 kbps connection does not give you download
speeds of 512KBps because now you know why.
Table: Bandwidth Throughput Units
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