What is RAM memory and why use binary units?

RAM (Random Access Memory) is your computer's short-term memory, storing data that applications need quick access to while running. Unlike storage drives that use decimal (SI) units, RAM is measured in binary units based on powers of 1024. This is because computer memory is organized in binary—each memory address doubles as you add bits, making 1024 (2¹⁰) a natural increment rather than 1000.

When you see "8 GB of RAM" in marketing, it often actually means 8 GiB (gibibytes). The distinction matters: 8 GB (decimal) equals 8,000,000,000 bytes, while 8 GiB (binary) equals 8,589,934,592 bytes—a difference of nearly 590 million bytes. Understanding binary units helps you accurately calculate memory requirements and avoid confusion when comparing specifications.

Tool description

This RAM memory converter translates values between binary memory units used for RAM specifications. It handles conversions from bytes up to tebibytes, using the proper IEC binary prefixes (KiB, MiB, GiB, TiB) that accurately represent how computer memory is addressed and allocated.

Examples

Input Output
16 GiB 16,384 MiB
4096 MiB 4 GiB
1 TiB 1,024 GiB
8 GiB 8,589,934,592 B
2,097,152 KiB 2 GiB

Features

  • Converts between all standard binary memory units (B, KiB, MiB, GiB, TiB)
  • Uses proper IEC binary prefixes for accurate RAM calculations
  • Instant real-time conversion as you type
  • Supports decimal input values for precise calculations
  • Bidirectional conversion between any two units

Use cases

  • System requirements planning: Calculate if your RAM meets software requirements when specs use different units
  • Virtual machine allocation: Convert memory allocations when configuring VMs that display memory in various units
  • Memory upgrade decisions: Compare RAM module sizes and determine total memory after upgrades

Supported units

Unit Symbol Value in Bytes
Byte B 1
Kibibyte KiB 1,024
Mebibyte MiB 1,048,576
Gibibyte GiB 1,073,741,824
Tebibyte TiB 1,099,511,627,776

Binary vs decimal units explained

Binary units (KiB, MiB, GiB) use 1024 as the multiplier because computer memory addressing is binary. Decimal units (KB, MB, GB) use 1000 and are typically used for storage marketing. This converter uses binary units exclusively since RAM is always measured in binary:

  • 1 KiB = 1,024 bytes (not 1,000)
  • 1 MiB = 1,024 KiB = 1,048,576 bytes
  • 1 GiB = 1,024 MiB = 1,073,741,824 bytes
  • 1 TiB = 1,024 GiB = 1,099,511,627,776 bytes

FAQ

Why doesn't this converter include KB, MB, and GB? RAM uses binary addressing, so binary units (KiB, MiB, GiB) are the technically correct measurements. While marketing often uses GB, the actual memory is measured in GiB.

How do I know how much RAM I need? Convert your software's minimum requirements to a common unit (usually GiB), then ensure your total RAM exceeds that value with headroom for the operating system.

What's the difference between 8 GB and 8 GiB? 8 GB (gigabytes, decimal) = 8,000,000,000 bytes. 8 GiB (gibibytes, binary) = 8,589,934,592 bytes. The difference is about 7.4%.