Data transfer rate is similar to traffic flow. Theoretically, wider the highway and higher the speed limit, more traffic moves through. Just like traffic flow, which can be affected by obstacles, accidents and badly planned highways, data transfer rate is subject to problems also. Basic definitions, units, typical data transfer rates and comparisons will help define what factors make up a data transfer rate.

Definitions

1. Bandwidth is maximum rate at which data can be transmitted.

Binary number system is a system depending on number 2; it utilizes "0" and "1" as its basic numbers; every position is either "off" or "on." All PCs utilize binary numbers.

Bit is basic type of information; can be signified by existence or nonexistence of an electric current.

Byte: eight bits; signifies one character.

Data transfer rate is rate at which data is sent among couple of PC devices.

In PC terms, one kilobit is 1024 bits and not 1000 bits. This is because of binary number system.

Significance

2. Data transfer rates are vital in selecting right PC and peripherals. Peripherals contain printers, modems, USB devices, disk drives and their controllers, fax machines and external disk drives.



Data transfer rate is also significant factor in selecting a network or Internet service provider. It must be considered with other factors, like carrier's steadiness and tools restrictions.

As data can be sent over different equipment and links, data transfer rate is generally stated by weakest link. This can make a network "bottleneck." This occurs despite how fast the other equipment is.

Fun Facts

3. The system with highest data transfer rate as of 2006 is Nippon Telegraph and Telephone system in Japan. It had transfer rate of 14 terabits per second. That links to 1.75 terabytes; 1.75 trillion bytes. Put into view, that would be equal to transmitting about 200,000 usual MP3 files in one second, assuming that every file was 10 MB in size.

Of every transmission media, fiber optic cables offer better transfer rate.

The first PC network was called ARPANET. Its operation started in 1969, to link four university PCs.

Typical download times for a 10 MB file:

Dialup at 7KB/s: 24 minutes
DSL at 100 KB/s: 1 minute, 40 seconds
Cable at 300 KB/s: 34 seconds