Gigabytes (GB) to Gigabits (Gb) conversion

Note: Above conversion to Gb is base 10 decimal unit. If you want to use base 2 (binary unit) use Gigabytes to Gibibits (GB to Gib) (which results to 7.4505805969238 Gib). See the difference between decimal (Metric) and binary prefixes

Gigabytes to Gigabits conversion table

Gigabytes (GB)Gigabits (Gb)
00
18
216
324
432
540
648
756
864
972
1080
20160
30240
40320
50400
60480
70560
80640
90720
100800
10008000

How to convert gigabytes to gigabits?

Converting between Gigabytes (GB) and Gigabits (Gb) involves understanding the relationship between bits and bytes, and the difference between base-10 (decimal) and base-2 (binary) interpretations of these prefixes (Giga). Let's explore this conversion process and provide some real-world context.

Understanding the Conversion Factors

The key to converting between Gigabytes and Gigabits lies in the relationship between bits and bytes.

  • 1 byte = 8 bits

When dealing with the "Giga" prefix, we must consider whether we're using the base-10 (decimal) or base-2 (binary) definition. This is crucial for accurate conversions.

Base 10 (Decimal) Conversion

In the decimal system:

  • 1 Gigabyte (GB) = 10910^9 bytes
  • Therefore, 1 GB = 8×1098 \times 10^9 bits

To convert 1 GB to Gigabits (Gb) in base 10:

  1. Calculate the total number of bits: 1 GB=8×109 bits1 \text{ GB} = 8 \times 10^9 \text{ bits}
  2. Since 1 Gigabit (Gb) = 10910^9 bits, divide the total number of bits by 10910^9: 8×109 bits109 bits/Gb=8 Gb\frac{8 \times 10^9 \text{ bits}}{10^9 \text{ bits/Gb}} = 8 \text{ Gb}

Therefore, 1 GB (decimal) = 8 Gb.

To convert 1 Gb to Gigabytes (GB) in base 10:

  1. Convert Gigabits to bits: 1 Gb=109 bits1 \text{ Gb} = 10^9 \text{ bits}
  2. Convert bits to bytes: 109 bits8 bits/byte=1.25×108 bytes\frac{10^9 \text{ bits}}{8 \text{ bits/byte}} = 1.25 \times 10^8 \text{ bytes}
  3. Convert bytes to Gigabytes: 1.25×108 bytes109 bytes/GB=0.125 GB\frac{1.25 \times 10^8 \text{ bytes}}{10^9 \text{ bytes/GB}} = 0.125 \text{ GB}

Therefore, 1 Gb (decimal) = 0.125 GB.

Base 2 (Binary) Conversion

In the binary system, the prefixes are slightly different. The term "Gibibyte" (GiB) is used to represent binary Gigabytes:

  • 1 Gibibyte (GiB) = 2302^{30} bytes
  • Therefore, 1 GiB = 8×2308 \times 2^{30} bits

To convert 1 GiB to Gigabits (Gb) in base 2:

  1. Calculate the total number of bits: 1 GiB=8×230 bits1 \text{ GiB} = 8 \times 2^{30} \text{ bits}
  2. Since 1 Gigabit (Gb) = 10910^9 bits, divide the total number of bits by 10910^9: 8×230 bits109 bits/Gb8.5899 Gb\frac{8 \times 2^{30} \text{ bits}}{10^9 \text{ bits/Gb}} \approx 8.5899 \text{ Gb}

Therefore, 1 GiB (binary) ≈ 8.5899 Gb.

To convert 1 Gb to Gibibytes (GiB) in base 2:

  1. Convert Gigabits to bits: 1 Gb=109 bits1 \text{ Gb} = 10^9 \text{ bits}
  2. Convert bits to bytes: 109 bits8 bits/byte=1.25×108 bytes\frac{10^9 \text{ bits}}{8 \text{ bits/byte}} = 1.25 \times 10^8 \text{ bytes}
  3. Convert bytes to Gibibytes: 1.25×108 bytes230 bytes/GiB0.1164 GiB\frac{1.25 \times 10^8 \text{ bytes}}{2^{30} \text{ bytes/GiB}} \approx 0.1164 \text{ GiB}

Therefore, 1 Gb (decimal) ≈ 0.1164 GiB.

Real-World Examples

Here are some common examples of scenarios where you might encounter these conversions:

  1. Internet Speed vs. File Size: Internet speeds are often advertised in Megabits per second (Mbps), while file sizes are usually measured in Megabytes (MB) or Gigabytes (GB).

    • For instance, a download speed of 100 Mbps means you can download 12.5 MB of data per second (100/8 = 12.5). Therefore it can download file size of 1 GB (decimal) in 80 seconds
  2. Storage Devices: Hard drives and SSDs are often advertised in Gigabytes (GB) or Terabytes (TB) (base 10), while operating systems and software may report storage capacity in Gibibytes (GiB) or Tebibytes (TiB) (base 2).

    • A 1 TB (decimal) drive (1,000,000,000,000 bytes) will be reported as approximately 931 GiB by an operating system due to the different base.
  3. Networking: Network devices and protocols often deal with data transfer rates in bits per second.

    • A network interface card (NIC) might be rated for 1 Gigabit Ethernet, meaning it can theoretically transfer 1,000,000,000 bits per second.

Key Considerations

  • Always clarify whether you are working with base-10 (decimal) or base-2 (binary) values to avoid confusion and errors.
  • When purchasing storage devices, be aware that the advertised capacity is typically in decimal GB or TB, while your operating system may display the capacity in binary GiB or TiB, resulting in a slightly lower reported value.

Notable Standards Organization

The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) is an international standards organization that publishes standards related to electrical, electronic and related technologies. The IEC approved the names and symbols for binary prefixes like kibi, mebi, gibi, tebi, etc. in 1998 to address the ambiguity of using kilo, mega, giga, tera, etc. for both decimal and binary multiples. https://www.iec.ch/

See below section for step by step unit conversion with formulas and explanations. Please refer to the table below for a list of all the Gigabits to other unit conversions.

What is Gigabytes?

A gigabyte (GB) is a multiple of the unit byte for digital information. It is commonly used to quantify computer memory or storage capacity. Understanding gigabytes requires distinguishing between base-10 (decimal) and base-2 (binary) interpretations, as their values differ.

Base 10 (Decimal) Gigabyte

In the decimal or SI (International System of Units) system, a gigabyte is defined as:

1GB=109bytes=1,000,000,000bytes1 GB = 10^9 bytes = 1,000,000,000 bytes

This is the definition typically used by storage manufacturers when advertising the capacity of hard drives, SSDs, and other storage devices.

Base 2 (Binary) Gigabyte

In the binary system, which is fundamental to how computers operate, a gigabyte is closely related to the term gibibyte (GiB). A gibibyte is defined as:

1GiB=230bytes=1,073,741,824bytes1 GiB = 2^{30} bytes = 1,073,741,824 bytes

Operating systems like Windows often report storage capacity using the binary definition but label it as "GB," leading to confusion because the value is actually in gibibytes.

Why the Difference Matters

The difference between GB (decimal) and GiB (binary) can lead to discrepancies between the advertised storage capacity and what the operating system reports. For example, a 1 TB (terabyte) drive, advertised as 1,000,000,000,000 bytes (decimal), will be reported as approximately 931 GiB by an operating system using the binary definition, because 1 TiB (terabyte binary) is 1,099,511,627,776 bytes.

Real-World Examples of Gigabyte Usage

  • 8 GB of RAM: Common in smartphones and entry-level computers, allowing for moderate multitasking and running standard applications.
  • 16 GB of RAM: A sweet spot for many users, providing enough memory for gaming, video editing, and running multiple applications simultaneously.
  • 25 GB Blu-ray disc: Single-layer Blu-ray discs can store 25 GB of data, used for high-definition movies and large files.
  • 50 GB Blu-ray disc: Dual-layer Blu-ray discs can store 50 GB of data.
  • 100 GB Hard Drive/SSD: This is a small hard drive, or entry level SSD drive that could be used as a boot drive.
  • Operating System Size: Modern operating systems like Windows or macOS can take up between 20-50 GB of storage space.
  • Game Sizes: Modern video games can range from a few gigabytes to over 100 GB, especially those with high-resolution textures and detailed environments.

Interesting Facts

While there isn't a "law" specifically tied to gigabytes, the ongoing increase in storage capacity and data transfer rates is governed by Moore's Law, which predicted the exponential growth of transistors on integrated circuits. Although Moore's Law is slowing, the trend of increasing data storage and processing power continues, driving the need for larger and faster storage units like gigabytes, terabytes, and beyond.

Notable Individuals

While no single individual is directly associated with the "invention" of the gigabyte, Claude Shannon's work on information theory laid the foundation for digital information and its measurement. His work helped standardize how we represent and quantify information in the digital age.

What is Gigabits?

Gigabits (Gb or Gbit) are a unit of data measurement commonly used to describe data transfer rates and network speeds. It represents a significant amount of data, making it relevant in today's digital world where large files and high bandwidth are common. Let's dive deeper into what gigabits are and how they're used.

Definition of Gigabits

A gigabit is a multiple of the unit bit (binary digit) for digital information. The prefix "giga" means 10910^9 (one billion) in the International System of Units (SI). However, in computing, due to the binary nature of digital systems, the value of "giga" can be interpreted in two ways: base 10 (decimal) and base 2 (binary).

Gigabits in Base 10 (Decimal)

In the decimal context, 1 Gigabit is equal to 1,000,000,000 (one billion) bits. This is typically used in contexts where precision is less critical, such as describing storage capacity or theoretical maximum transfer rates.

1 Gb (decimal)=109 bits=1,000,000,000 bits1 \text{ Gb (decimal)} = 10^9 \text{ bits} = 1,000,000,000 \text{ bits}

Gigabits in Base 2 (Binary)

In the binary context, 1 Gigabit is equal to 2^30 (1,073,741,824) bits. This is the more accurate representation in computing since computers operate using binary code. To differentiate between the decimal and binary meanings, the term "Gibibit" (Gib) is used for the binary version.

1 Gib (binary)=230 bits=1,073,741,824 bits1 \text{ Gib (binary)} = 2^{30} \text{ bits} = 1,073,741,824 \text{ bits}

How Gigabits are Formed

Gigabits are formed by scaling up from the base unit, the "bit." A bit represents a single binary digit, which can be either 0 or 1. Bits are grouped into larger units to represent more complex information.

  • 8 bits = 1 Byte
  • 1,000 Bytes = 1 Kilobyte (KB) (Decimal)
  • 1,024 Bytes = 1 Kibibyte (KiB) (Binary)
  • 1,000 KB = 1 Megabyte (MB) (Decimal)
  • 1,024 KiB = 1 Mebibyte (MiB) (Binary)
  • 1,000 MB = 1 Gigabyte (GB) (Decimal)
  • 1,024 MiB = 1 Gibibyte (GiB) (Binary)
  • 1,000 GB = 1 Terabyte (TB) (Decimal)
  • 1,024 GiB = 1 Tebibyte (TiB) (Binary)

And so on. The prefixes kilo, mega, giga, tera, etc., denote increasing powers of 10 (decimal) or 2 (binary).

Real-World Examples

  • Internet Speed: Internet service providers (ISPs) often advertise internet speeds in megabits per second (Mbps) or gigabits per second (Gbps). For example, a 1 Gbps internet connection can theoretically download 1 gigabit of data in one second. However, overhead and other factors often result in real-world speeds being lower.
  • Network Infrastructure: High-speed network connections within data centers and enterprise networks often utilize gigabit Ethernet (GbE) or faster technologies like 10 GbE, 40 GbE, and 100 GbE to handle large volumes of data traffic.
  • Data Storage: While hard drive and SSD storage capacities are usually measured in Gigabytes (GB) or Terabytes (TB), internal transfer rates or interface speeds can be measured in Gigabits per second (Gbps). For instance, the SATA III interface has a maximum theoretical transfer rate of 6 Gbps.
  • Video Streaming: High-definition and ultra-high-definition video streaming require significant bandwidth. A 4K stream can require anywhere from 15 to 25 Mbps, so a gigabit connection can handle multiple 4K streams simultaneously.

Key Considerations

  • Bits vs. Bytes: It's important to differentiate between bits (b) and bytes (B). A byte is a group of 8 bits. Transfer rates are often specified in bits per second, while storage capacities are typically specified in bytes.
  • Decimal vs. Binary: Be aware of the difference between decimal (SI) and binary (IEC) prefixes. While the industry is slowly adopting the binary prefixes (kibi, mebi, gibi, etc.), decimal prefixes are still more common in marketing materials and everyday usage.

Further Reading

For a more in-depth understanding of data units and prefixes, refer to the following resources:

Complete Gigabytes conversion table

Enter # of Gigabytes
Convert 1 GB to other unitsResult
Gigabytes to Bits (GB to b)8000000000
Gigabytes to Kilobits (GB to Kb)8000000
Gigabytes to Kibibits (GB to Kib)7812500
Gigabytes to Megabits (GB to Mb)8000
Gigabytes to Mebibits (GB to Mib)7629.39453125
Gigabytes to Gigabits (GB to Gb)8
Gigabytes to Gibibits (GB to Gib)7.4505805969238
Gigabytes to Terabits (GB to Tb)0.008
Gigabytes to Tebibits (GB to Tib)0.007275957614183
Gigabytes to Bytes (GB to B)1000000000
Gigabytes to Kilobytes (GB to KB)1000000
Gigabytes to Kibibytes (GB to KiB)976562.5
Gigabytes to Megabytes (GB to MB)1000
Gigabytes to Mebibytes (GB to MiB)953.67431640625
Gigabytes to Gibibytes (GB to GiB)0.9313225746155
Gigabytes to Terabytes (GB to TB)0.001
Gigabytes to Tebibytes (GB to TiB)0.0009094947017729