How many Hz is 1 GHz?
1 GHz equals 1,000,000,000 Hz (1 billion cycles per second).
Frequency calculator
Frequency converter
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Frequency is the rate of repetition of a periodic event. The SI unit is the hertz (Hz), defined as one cycle per second. Common frequency units include the kilohertz (kHz = 10³ Hz), megahertz (MHz = 10⁶ Hz), gigahertz (GHz = 10⁹ Hz), and terahertz (THz = 10¹² Hz). FM radio runs 88-108 MHz; Wi-Fi uses 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz; modern CPU clocks are 3-6 GHz.
Example frequency conversions
1 Hz1 cycle/second
1 kHz1,000 Hz, 10³ Hz
1 MHz10⁶ Hz, 1,000 kHz
1 GHz10⁹ Hz, 1,000 MHz
Open the live frequency converter for any input value.
The hertz and its prefixed scales
1 Hz is one cycle per second. Heinrich Hertz first generated and detected electromagnetic waves in the 1880s, and the SI unit was named for him in 1930. Frequency uses pure decimal prefixes everywhere: 1 GHz is always 10⁹ Hz, never the binary 2³⁰ value. There's no kibi/mebi/gibi version of hertz.
The visible spectrum, audible spectrum, radio bands, and computing clock rates all live on the same hertz scale. The human ear hears 20 Hz to 20 kHz. AM radio is 540-1,700 kHz. FM radio is 88-108 MHz. 4G cellular spans 600 MHz to 2.6 GHz; 5G adds millimeter-wave bands up to 39 GHz. Visible light is around 400-790 THz.
Frequency in computing
CPU clock frequency is the most-cited consumer spec. A 3.2 GHz processor completes 3.2 billion clock cycles per second. Higher clock speed doesn't automatically mean faster overall performance; instructions-per-clock (IPC), core count, and memory subsystem all matter. A modern 3 GHz CPU usually outperforms an older 4 GHz one because of architectural improvements.
RAM speed (DDR4-3200, DDR5-5600) is quoted in MT/s (megatransfers per second), which equals MHz × 2 because DDR memory transfers data on both clock edges. So DDR5-5600 actually runs the I/O bus at 2,800 MHz with effective 5,600 MT/s. Memory marketing has used the larger number for so long that 'MHz' on a RAM spec now usually means 'MT/s'.
Wireless frequency bands
Wi-Fi has historically used three bands. The 2.4 GHz band has longer range but lots of crowding (it overlaps Bluetooth, microwave ovens, and many older home devices). The 5 GHz band has more spectrum and less crowding but doesn't pass through walls as well. Wi-Fi 6E and Wi-Fi 7 added the 6 GHz band for even more spectrum, though range degrades further as frequency rises.
Cellular bands have gotten more complex with 5G. Sub-6 GHz bands behave roughly like LTE: wide coverage with moderate speeds. Millimeter-wave 5G (24-39 GHz in many markets) offers very high speeds but only over short distances and with line-of-sight to a small cell. Phone marketing rarely distinguishes the two, which leads to inconsistent real-world experience under the same '5G' label.
Common frequency conversions
| From | Equivalent |
|---|---|
| 1 Hz | 1 cycle/second |
| 1 kHz | 1,000 Hz, 10³ Hz |
| 1 MHz | 10⁶ Hz, 1,000 kHz |
| 1 GHz | 10⁹ Hz, 1,000 MHz |
| 1 THz | 10¹² Hz, 1,000 GHz |
| 440 Hz | concert A (musical reference pitch) |
| 60 Hz | US/Americas grid frequency |
| 50 Hz | EU/most-of-world grid frequency |
| 2.4 GHz / 5 GHz | primary Wi-Fi bands |
Frequently asked questions
Is a 5 GHz CPU faster than a 5,000 MHz CPU?
They're the same. 5 GHz and 5,000 MHz are identical frequencies.
Why does RAM speed look like a frequency but isn't?
DDR memory transfers data on both clock edges. A DDR5-5600 module actually runs at 2,800 MHz but delivers 5,600 MT/s (megatransfers per second). Marketing usually labels the MT/s value as 'MHz', which is technically wrong but consistent across vendors.
What's the grid frequency in the US vs Europe?
60 Hz in the US and most of the Americas; 50 Hz in Europe, Africa, most of Asia, and Australia. Devices designed for one frequency may not work at the other, especially anything with a synchronous motor.
Are Wi-Fi 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz different bands?
Yes, they're separate frequency bands with different propagation. 2.4 GHz reaches farther and penetrates walls better but is more crowded. 5 GHz has more spectrum and less interference but shorter range. Modern routers broadcast both.
Popular frequency conversions
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