Binary Prefix - Current Practice

Current Practice

Most computer hardware uses SI prefixes to state capacity and define other performance parameters such as data rate. Main and cache memories are notable exceptions.

Main memory and cache memory universally use customary binary prefixes to state capacity. On the other hand, flash memory, like that found in solid state drives, uses SI prefixes to state capacity.

With a few exceptions, most operating systems and other software continue to use the customary binary prefixes in displays of memory, disk storage capacity, and file size, but SI prefixes in other areas such as network communication speeds and processor speeds.

In the following subsections, unless otherwise noted, examples are first given using the common prefixes used in each case, and then followed by interpretation using other notation where appropriate.

Read more about this topic:  Binary Prefix

Famous quotes containing the words current and/or practice:

    A reaction: a boat which is going against the current but which does not prevent the river from flowing on.
    Victor Hugo (1802–1885)

    It is not always possible to predict the response of a doting Jewish mother. Witness the occasion on which the late piano virtuoso Oscar Levant telephoned his mother with some important news. He had proposed to his beloved and been accepted. Replied Mother Levant: “Good, Oscar, I’m happy to hear it. But did you practice today?”
    Liz Smith (20th century)