Converting bytes to gigabytes.

[trueboss926]

Hello I am making a program in VB that grabs the system information, I want to get the amount of RAM installed, I currently have this code :

  Dim CpuName As String
 Dim sysinfo As String
        CpuName = My.Computer.Registry.GetValue("HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\HARDWARE\DESCRIPTION\System\CentralProcessor\0", "ProcessorNameString", Nothing)
      

                sysinfo = vbNewLine + "OS Name: " + My.Computer.Info.OSFullName + vbNewLine + "OS Version: " + My.Computer.Info.OSVersion + vbNewLine + "Computer Name: " + My.Computer.Name + vbNewLine + "CPU: " + CpuName + vbNewLine + "RAM: " + ((My.Computer.Info.TotalPhysicalMemory) / 1024 / 1024 / 1024).ToString

RichTextBox1.Text = sysinfo

However when I run it , I still get a huge number . I know that you should divide by 1024 , but im not sure what is the correct way to use it.

[dbasnett]

This should do it

(My.Computer.Info.TotalPhysicalMemory / 1024 / 1024 / 1024).ToString("n2")

[trueboss926]

thanks very much!

[HanneSThEGreaT]

I was too late So I'll try to add something interesting as well

Anyways, if you have a look at the next list :

       '1 KB = 1024 - KiloByte
        '1 MB = 1024 ^ 2 - MegaByte
        '1 GB = 1024 ^ 3 - GigaByte
        '1 TB = 1024 ^ 4 - TeraByte
        '1 PB = 1024 ^ 5 - PetaByte
        '1 EB = 1024 ^ 6 - ExaByte
        '1 ZB = 1024 ^ 7 - ZettaByte
        '1 YB = 1024 ^ 8 - YottaByte
        '1 BB = 1024 ^ 9 - BrontoByte

You will see that a GB is 1024 raised to the power of 3 - that is why you had to divide it three times. MB is 1024 ^ 2 ( so divide it two times ) TB is 1024 raised to the power of 4 - you'd then need to divide it four times.

[.paul.]

another way to remember it:

Imports System.Numerics

Public Class Form1

    Private Sub Form1_Load(sender As Object, e As EventArgs) Handles MyBase.Load
        Dim kb As New BigInteger(2 ^ 10) 'kb
        Dim Mb As New BigInteger(2 ^ 20) 'Mb
        Dim Gb As New BigInteger(2 ^ 30) 'Gb
        Dim Tb As New BigInteger(2 ^ 40) 'Tb
        Dim Pb As New BigInteger(2 ^ 50) 'Petabyte
        Dim Eb As New BigInteger(2 ^ 60) 'Exabyte
        Dim Zb As New BigInteger(2 ^ 70) 'Zettabyte
        Dim Yb As New BigInteger(2 ^ 80) 'Yottabyte
        Stop
    End Sub
End Class

[dbasnett]

Yes there are more general approaches. See the links to determine whether to use 1024 or 1000. In this case 1024 is appropriate because it is memory.

    Public Enum Units 'Kfactor ^ units
        B = 0
        KB = 1 'kilo
        MB = 2 'mega
        GB = 3 'giga
        TB = 4 'tera
        PB = 5 'peta
        EB = 6 'exa
        ZB = 7 'zetta
        YB = 8 'yotta
        'add new values as needed
    End Enum

    'compute max value of enum
    Private ReadOnly maxU As Integer = [Enum].GetValues(GetType(Units)).Cast(Of Integer)().Max

    'kFactor should be set according to your use
    Private ReadOnly Kfactor As Integer = 1024 'or 1000
    'see
    'http://physics.nist.gov/cuu/Units/prefixes.html
    'and
    'http://physics.nist.gov/cuu/Units/binary.html

    Private Sub Button4_Click(sender As Object, e As EventArgs) Handles Button4.Click
        Dim foo As Decimal = Decimal.MaxValue 'a large test number
        For Each unit As Units In [Enum].GetValues(GetType(Units))
            Dim conversionval As Decimal = CDec(Kfactor ^ unit)
            Dim fooconverted As Decimal = foo / conversionval
            Debug.WriteLine(String.Format("{0:n0} {1}   ({2:n0})", fooconverted, unit, conversionval))
        Next
    End Sub