Bandwidth

 

  1. Bandwidth
    1. Our Definition
      1. Sources and Online Definitions
        1. Web-o-pedia
        2. Smart Computing

     

    Our Definition

     

    The data transfer capacity of a data connection or network. Bandwidth is measured for digital devices in bits per second (bps), for analog devices in cycles per second or Hertz (Hz). Input/output (I/O) devices are constrained not only by their own bandwidth, but by that of the bus that connects them to the computer.  This should not be confused with Throughput, which is the amount of data that actually travels along a network in a specified amount of time and is generally far less than the potential bandwidth.

     

    Sources and Online Definitions

     

    Web-o-pedia

    "The amount of data that can be transmitted in a fixed amount of time. For digital devices, the bandwidth is usually expressed in bits per second(bps) or bytes per second. For analog devices, the bandwidth is expressed in cycles per second, or Hertz (Hz).

     

    "The bandwidth is particularly important for I/O devices. For example, a fast disk drive can be hampered by a bus with a low bandwidth. This is the main reason that new buses, such as AGP, have been developed for the PC."

     

     

    Smart Computing

     

    "The capacity a network or data connection has for carrying data. For analog transmission, bandwidth is the difference between the upper and lower transmission frequencies in a given range. It is measured in cycles per second or Hz (hertz). For digital transmission, bandwidth is measured in (bps) bits per second, and the larger the bandwidth number, the faster the digital transmission. This speed is important for I/O (input/output) devices because a bus with a low bandwidth could restrain a faster I/O device from performing at full capacity."

     


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    • Recent comments:
      Jack:"Imagine if The Magic School Bus visited a bus inside a computer." Dude, they totally have. Unfortunately, I can't: a) Embed the link in a tag on the comment page b) Give you a tinyurl, because they're freakin' site is down c) Paste the url on this page, because the Amazon.com link is way too long. So you'll just have to trust me...
      Erik Rath:After some of the exercises in class, I think mentioning the idealism of the term would be needed. The potential versus reality of bandwidth is pretty ridiculous.
      cep6:I'm always using the term "bandwidth" to describe to people why I need to limit the extra tasks I'm asked to participate in (e.g. my daughter's school projects or requests from non-profit organizations. I just tell them, "Not right now ... after grad school."
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