GB to MB Converter
Convert gigabytes (GB) to megabytes (MB) easily and accurately.
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Table of Contents
Understanding Digital Storage Units
Digital storage is measured in binary units that follow a hierarchical structure. Understanding these units is essential for effectively managing files and storage devices.
The Fundamental Units
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•Bit (b): The smallest unit of digital data, representing either 0 or 1
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•Byte (B): A group of 8 bits, capable of representing a single character
The Decimal vs. Binary Confusion
There are two different systems for measuring digital storage:
Decimal System (SI Units)
- 1 Kilobyte (KB) = 1,000 bytes
- 1 Megabyte (MB) = 1,000 KB = 1,000,000 bytes
- 1 Gigabyte (GB) = 1,000 MB = 1,000,000,000 bytes
Used by storage device manufacturers
Binary System (IEC Units)
- 1 Kibibyte (KiB) = 1,024 bytes
- 1 Mebibyte (MiB) = 1,024 KiB = 1,048,576 bytes
- 1 Gibibyte (GiB) = 1,024 MiB = 1,073,741,824 bytes
How computers actually measure storage
This difference between decimal and binary measurement explains why a 1TB hard drive might show up as approximately 931GB in your operating system. The drive manufacturer uses the decimal definition (1,000GB), while your operating system uses the binary definition (1,024GB).
Complete Digital Storage Hierarchy
| Unit | Symbol | Decimal Value | Binary Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bit | b | 0 or 1 | 0 or 1 |
| Byte | B | 8 bits | 8 bits |
| Kilobyte/Kibibyte | KB/KiB | 1,000 bytes | 1,024 bytes |
| Megabyte/Mebibyte | MB/MiB | 1,000,000 bytes | 1,048,576 bytes |
| Gigabyte/Gibibyte | GB/GiB | 1,000,000,000 bytes | 1,073,741,824 bytes |
| Terabyte/Tebibyte | TB/TiB | 1,000,000,000,000 bytes | 1,099,511,627,776 bytes |
Practical Examples of File Sizes
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•Text document: 10-100 KB
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•MP3 song (3-4 minutes): 3-5 MB
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•High-resolution photo: 5-20 MB
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•Standard Definition movie: 1-2 GB
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•High Definition movie: 4-8 GB
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•4K Ultra HD movie: 15-30 GB
How to Convert GB to MB
To convert gigabytes (GB) to megabytes (MB), follow these steps:
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1Take the number of gigabytes (GB)
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2Multiply by 1024 (1 GB = 1024 MB)
1 GB = 1 * 1024 = 1024 MB
2 GB = 2 * 1024 = 2048 MB
0.5 GB = 0.5 * 1024 = 512 MB
Common Examples
Example 1 1 GB
1 GB = 1024 MB
Example 2 2 GB
2 GB = 2048 MB
Example 3 0.5 GB
0.5 GB = 512 MB
Example 4 1.5 GB
1.5 GB = 1536 MB