Gibibyte to Megabit Conversion Calculator: Free Online Tool
Convert gibibytes to megabits with our free online data storage converter.
Gibibyte to Megabit Calculator
How to Use the Calculator:
- Enter the value you want to convert in the 'From' field (Gibibyte).
- The converted value in Megabit will appear automatically in the 'To' field.
- Use the dropdown menus to select different units within the Data Storage category.
- Click the swap button (⇌) to reverse the conversion direction.
How to Convert Gibibyte to Megabit
Converting Gibibyte to Megabit involves multiplying the value by a specific conversion factor, as shown in the formula below.
Formula:
1 Gibibyte = 8589.93 megabitsExample Calculation:
Convert 10 gibibytes: 10 × 8589.93 = 8.5899e+4 megabits
Disclaimer: For Reference Only
These conversion results are provided for informational purposes only. While we strive for accuracy, we make no guarantees regarding the precision of these results, especially for conversions involving extremely large or small numbers which may be subject to the inherent limitations of standard computer floating-point arithmetic.
Not for professional use. Results should be verified before use in any critical application. View our Terms of Service for more information.
What is a Gibibyte and a Megabit?
A gibibyte (GiB) is a unit of digital information storage equal to 230 bytes, which is exactly 1,073,741,824 bytes (or 10243 bytes). It uses the binary prefix 'gibi-' established by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC).
A megabit (Mb or Mbit) is a multiple of the bit unit for digital information or computer storage. The prefix mega- (symbol M) is defined in the International System of Units (SI) as a multiplier of 106 (1 million). Therefore, 1 megabit = 1,000,000 bits (or 1000 kilobits).
Note: The Gibibyte is part of the imperial/US customary system, primarily used in the US, UK, and Canada for everyday measurements. The Megabit belongs to the imperial/US customary system.
History of the Gibibyte and Megabit
The prefix 'gibi-' (representing 230) was defined by the IEC in 1998 alongside other binary prefixes (kibi-, mebi-, tebi-, etc.). This standardization aimed to eliminate the confusion caused by using SI prefixes (like giga-) to denote both powers of 1000 (decimal, e.g., gigabyte, GB) and powers of 1024 (binary) which were common in computing. The term 'gibibyte' specifically refers to the 230 multiple of bytes.
As data transfer speeds increased beyond the kilobit range, the megabit became a common unit, particularly in networking and telecommunications. Like the kilobit, it generally adheres to the SI standard (106 bits) rather than the binary interpretation sometimes used for bytes (which would be 220 bits, correctly termed a mebibit). The introduction of binary prefixes like 'mebi-' aimed to resolve this potential ambiguity.
Common Uses for gibibytes and megabits
Explore the typical applications for both Gibibyte (imperial/US) and Megabit (imperial/US) to understand their common contexts.
Common Uses for gibibytes
Gibibytes are frequently used in contexts where binary precision is important:
- Measuring Random Access Memory (RAM) capacity accurately.
- Reporting file sizes and disk space by operating systems like Windows and some Linux distributions.
- Allocating memory and storage resources in software development and virtualization.
- Technical specifications for hardware and software requiring precise binary measurements.
Common Uses for megabits
- Measuring data transfer rates (e.g., internet connection speeds in Mbps - megabits per second).
- Quantifying network bandwidth.
- Specifying the capacity of older storage media or certain types of memory chips.
- Video and audio bitrates (e.g., streaming quality often measured in Mbps).
Frequently Asked Questions
Questions About Gibibyte (GiB)
How many bytes are in a gibibyte?
There are exactly 230 bytes in 1 gibibyte (GiB). This equals 1,073,741,824 bytes.
How many mebibytes (MiB) are in a gibibyte (GiB)?
There are 1,024 mebibytes (MiB) in 1 gibibyte (GiB). This is because 1 GiB = 230 bytes and 1 MiB = 220 bytes, and 230 / 220 = 210 = 1,024.
What is the difference between a gibibyte (GiB) and a gigabyte (GB)?
A gibibyte (GiB) represents 230 bytes (1,073,741,824 bytes), using the IEC binary prefix 'gibi-'. A gigabyte (GB) typically represents 109 bytes (1,000,000,000 bytes), using the SI decimal prefix 'giga-'. A gibibyte is approximately 7.37% larger than a gigabyte (1 GiB ≈ 1.074 GB). Use GiB for precision in binary contexts (like RAM, OS reporting) and GB for decimal contexts (like hard drive marketing, network speeds) or when the specific definition is clarified.
About Megabit (Mb)
How many bits are in a megabit?
There are exactly 1,000,000 bits (or 106 bits) in 1 megabit (Mb), based on the standard SI definition of the prefix 'mega-'.
What is the difference between a megabit (Mb) and a megabyte (MB)?
- A megabit (Mb) measures bits and equals 1,000,000 bits. It's often used for data transfer rates.
- A megabyte (MB) measures bytes. According to SI standards, it equals 1,000,000 bytes. (Note: Historically, MB was sometimes used informally for 1,048,576 bytes, which is correctly termed a mebibyte (MiB)).
Since 1 byte = 8 bits, 1 megabyte (1,000,000 bytes) is equal to 8,000,000 bits. Therefore, a megabyte represents 8 times more data than a megabit.
What is the difference between a megabit (Mb) and a mebibit (Mib)?
- A megabit (Mb) uses the decimal SI prefix 'mega-' and equals 106 bits (1,000,000 bits).
- A mebibit (Mib) uses the binary IEC prefix 'mebi-' and equals 220 bits (1,048,576 bits).
A mebibit is approximately 4.86% larger than a megabit (1 Mib ≈ 1.0486 Mb). Using Mib provides clarity when specifically referring to 1,048,576 bits.
If my internet speed is 100 Mbps, how fast is that in MBps?
To convert Mbps (megabits per second) to MBps (megabytes per second), you divide by 8 (since 1 byte = 8 bits). So, 100 Mbps / 8 = 12.5 MBps. This means you can theoretically download 12.5 megabytes of data per second.
Conversion Table: Gibibyte to Megabit
| Gibibyte (GiB) | Megabit (Mb) |
|---|---|
| 1 | 8,589.935 |
| 5 | 42,949.673 |
| 10 | 85,899.346 |
| 25 | 214,748.365 |
| 50 | 429,496.73 |
| 100 | 858,993.459 |
| 500 | 4,294,967.296 |
| 1,000 | 8,589,934.592 |