Choose a Measurement
Select a measurement and convert between different units
Single conversion
To convert from megahertz (MHz) to gigahertz (GHz), use the following formula:
Let's convert 5 megahertz (MHz) to gigahertz (GHz).
Using the formula:
Therefore, 5 megahertz (MHz) is equal to gigahertz (GHz).
Here are some quick reference conversions from megahertz (MHz) to gigahertz (GHz):
| megahertz | gigahertz |
|---|---|
| 0.000001 MHz | GHz |
| 0.001 MHz | GHz |
| 0.1 MHz | GHz |
| 1 MHz | GHz |
| 2 MHz | GHz |
| 3 MHz | GHz |
| 4 MHz | GHz |
| 5 MHz | GHz |
| 6 MHz | GHz |
| 7 MHz | GHz |
| 8 MHz | GHz |
| 9 MHz | GHz |
| 10 MHz | GHz |
| 20 MHz | GHz |
| 30 MHz | GHz |
| 40 MHz | GHz |
| 50 MHz | GHz |
| 100 MHz | GHz |
| 1000 MHz | GHz |
| 10000 MHz | GHz |
For all Frequency converters, choose units using the From/To dropdowns above.
A megahertz (MHz) is a unit used to measure frequency, and it's equal to one million hertz (Hz).
Think of it as a way of counting how many times something happens per second. You'll encounter this measurement in various parts of modern technology, from your car radio to the computer on your desk.
Megahertz is the standard unit for measuring radio frequency, especially for FM (Frequency Modulation) radio.
When you tune your radio to a station like "98.7 FM," you're actually selecting a specific broadcast frequency of 98.7 megahertz.
Each station in the FM broadcast band (which typically spans 88 to 108 MHz) is assigned its own unique frequency.
This prevents signals from overlapping and interfering with each other, allowing your radio to isolate and play the desired station clearly.
In the world of computer processors (CPUs), it's a common misconception that a higher megahertz (MHz) or gigahertz (GHz) rating automatically means better processor performance.
This concept is often referred to as the "megahertz myth."
While clock speed (the rate at which a processor executes instructions, measured in MHz or GHz) is a part of the puzzle, it isn't everything.
A modern processor's overall speed and efficiency depend more on other key factors, such as:
Because of this, a newer processor with a lower clock speed but a more advanced design can easily outperform an older one with a higher clock speed.
The unit "hertz," and by extension megahertz, is named in honor of the German physicist Heinrich Hertz.
In the late 1880s, Hertz was the first person to definitively prove the existence of electromagnetic waves—something that had only been a theory until then.
His foundational work paved the way for nearly all modern wireless technology, including radio, television, and Wi-Fi. Naming the unit of frequency after him is a tribute to his groundbreaking discoveries.
A gigahertz (GHz) is a unit of frequency in the International System of Units (SI), equal to one billion hertz (109 Hz). The plural form is gigahertz.
The gigahertz measurement is famously used to indicate a computer's CPU clock speed, which tells you how many processing cycles it can complete per second.
For example, a 3.2 GHz processor can handle 3.2 billion cycles every second.
While a higher GHz number often suggests a faster processor, overall performance also depends on other critical factors, such as the number of cores and the chip's architecture.
Your daily wireless connections, like Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, operate on specific gigahertz frequency bands.
The most common Wi-Fi bands are 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz.
Each has its own strengths:
Similarly, 5G mobile networks use various GHz frequencies to deliver the ultra-fast data transmission that powers modern mobile devices.
Focusing solely on gigahertz to judge a processor's performance is a common mistake known as the "gigahertz myth."
A processor with a lower clock speed but a more efficient design (e.g., more cores, a larger cache, or better instructions per cycle) can easily outperform a processor with a higher GHz rating.
This is why comparing processors requires looking at a combination of specifications, not just the clock speed.