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| Thread ID: 74020 | 2006-11-08 20:34:00 | why do manuals use hex? | newb. (10067) | Press F1 |
| Post ID | Timestamp | Content | User | ||
| 497588 | 2006-11-08 20:34:00 | was just looking at the packet/manual of a new disk drive and i can't figure out why they use hexadecimal in places? :S | newb. (10067) | ||
| 497589 | 2006-11-08 20:41:00 | Because its easier than binary. | pctek (84) | ||
| 497590 | 2006-11-08 22:35:00 | When you refer to the value of a byte hexadecimal notation is used because it's easier for a person to mentally translate between this and binary. Each digit corresponds to 4 bits: 0x32 = 00110010 binary 0x5F = 01011111 binary You can work out the binary value of each digit independently here very quickly. Base 10 has no such easy conversion to binary. It's quite easy to go from hexadecimal to decimal in your head though - the above numbers are 50 and 95 respectively. P.S. The other advantage is that when each byte represents a value or setting then you can list them in a 16 by 16 square table and get the hexadecimal from the row and column of a particular entry. |
TGoddard (7263) | ||
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