Megahertz

Megahertz abbreviated MHz, is a unit of frequency. One hertz (Hz) means one cycle per second and 1,000 hertz equals one kilohertz, and 1,000 kilohertz (or a million hertz equals one Mhz). Hz is named after the German physicist Heinrich Hertz who made considerable contributions to electromagnetism.

 

In computers, the CPU (central processing unit) and other components such as RAM are measured in Hz or MHz and now GHz (Gigahertz).

 

One MHz equals 1,000,0000 (one million) Hz, while 1,000,000,000 (one billion) Hz equals one GHz. Hopefully the table below will make it easier to understand.

Hertz	1 Hz	0.001 kHz	0.000001 MHz
Kilohertz	1,000 Hz	1 kHz	0.001 MHz
Megahertz	1,000,000 Hz	1,000 kHz	1 MHz
Gigahertz	1,000,000,000 Hz	1,000,000 kHz	1,000 MHz

 

For a CPU the MHz refers to the clock speed of the processor. This means that a number of bits (either 8, 16, 32, or 64) are manipulated at one million cycles per second. Sound fast?

 

Well that was a 1MHz CPU, (very, very slow). Now a days a 3GHz CPU is common and that means that a certain number of bits are being manipulated at 3 billion cycles per second. Now thats fast!

 

Common examples of MHz are: A Pentium III CPU (700 MHz), running at 700,000,000 Hz. Or a 512MB RAM stick running at 233,000,000 Hz.

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Related Terms

• Kilohertz
• Hertz
• Gigahertz
• MHz Myth

More Computer Terms

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