Which image loads faster?

Is it small backgroud or whole JPEG. Here are calculations I've done.

[damlag]

Hi guys,

I wonder now what images should I use on my site.
Ok lets say I have a

<table> (width=500px height=100px).

If I used a GIF background image in my table, lets say

(width=10px height=100px size=430 bytes)

then it would take me 21 Kb. because (50 * 430 bytes = 21,500 bytes for width=500px height=100px image).

But I counted that the same size, the same image if used as one whole JPEG

(width=500px height=100px takes only 4,23 Kb).

So are my calculations right or not? If right the isn't it better to use one image instead of smaller ones?

[benihana]

no. when you use the small image, it only has to be downloaded once - a total of 430 bytes in your example.

the browser can then tile that image as much as is required without having to redownload.

ta
ben

[damlag]

Wow. So that means that 5px * 5px image will load faster that 10px * 10px image. And 1px * 1px will load faster than 5px * 5px image. Right?

Thanx for reply benihana.

[stef25]

thats correct!

[damlag]

fantastic!