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Storage Flash Drive Fat32 or NTFS

Discussion in 'Hardware' started by Bugste81, 2 Mar 2012.

  1. Bugste81

    Bugste81 Stephen

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    Just ordered a Patriot Supersonic 32GB USB 3.0 flash drive.

    Should I format it as Fat32 or NTFS?
     
  2. longweight

    longweight Possibly Longbeard.

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  3. suragh

    suragh Derp

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    Fat32 disk can be moved to practically any pc or os without issue but it only supports 4 gig max (which sucks) because I think its faster. As your using a 32GB usb, go with NTFS
     
    Last edited: 2 Mar 2012
  4. murraynt

    murraynt Modder

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    Fat32. Otherwise you will run into problems with devices that don't run windows.
     
  5. noizdaemon666

    noizdaemon666 I'm Od, Therefore I Pwn

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    It depends where you're using it. If it's going to be used in a Windows environment exclusively, then NTFS is the best option as it doesn't have a 4GB file size limit like FAT32. If it's going to be used under Linux/Mac OS or anything else, go for FAT32, limited file size but it will work pretty much anywhere unlike NTFS.
     
  6. Jaybles

    Jaybles Minimodder

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    exFAT. No 4GB file limit and runs on Windows, OSX etc. Wont work on PS3 though.
     
  7. Mac_Trekkie

    Mac_Trekkie Source Engine's #1 fan!

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    exFAT, like Jaybles said. It works on almost every operating system with no size limit.
     
  8. j4mi3

    j4mi3 What's a Dremel?

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    that is the one i am ordering!! :)

    i have only heard good stuff about it
     
  9. DaveMon

    DaveMon The end is nigh! Repent!

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    +1 for exfat.

    Sent from Bittech Android app
     
  10. noizdaemon666

    noizdaemon666 I'm Od, Therefore I Pwn

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    exFAT causes performance loss though.
     
  11. Jaybles

    Jaybles Minimodder

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    I am curious about to what extent that is causes a performance loss. I have been using exFAT for my USB 2.0 drives and havent noticed a change. Would I with USB 3.0?
     
  12. leslie

    leslie Just me!

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    Fat32 doesn't have a 4gig limit, however due to clusters, it becomes less efficient above 4gigs. Above 8 it starts to really become bad, but if you are only storing large files you are fine. However that presents another issue, since fat32 can't store very large files.

    NTFS or EXfat is your best options, though not everything will read and write to it, most modern systems can.
     
  13. Farting Bob

    Farting Bob What's a Dremel?

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    Based on previous usage, i was under the impression Fat32 cant have SINGLE files over 4GB, max capacity of the drive is up to 2TB. exFat overcomes these issues though, and i believe is supported by Windows, OSX and Linux.

    If you are using windows only then NTFS will be best, if you use a mix of OS's then exFat.
     
  14. Cerberus90

    Cerberus90 Car Spannerer

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    Windows throws a hissy fit whenever you try and put a file >4GB onto a FAT32 partition.


    Do you mean the actual partition sizes rather than file sizes, as you say fat32 can't store large files, which would be contradictory to "fat32 doesn't have a 4GB limit"?
     
  15. j4mi3

    j4mi3 What's a Dremel?

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    as far as i know, the 4gb limit refers to single files. its slightly confusing. you can have a folder which might be 10gb, but it could just be made of loads of 100mb files.

    again, i think this is right. someone correct me if im wrong.
     
  16. Landy_Ed

    Landy_Ed Combat Novice

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    +1 for exFAT, though I believe j4 is correct, there is an issue with the reported size rather than actual size on fat32. this is, of course, it's own little PITA as some programs will honour reported size, some will not.

    I want one of these

    ....almost as fast as my intel X80-M!

    (yes I know the patriot is faster...kinda my point....)
     
  17. leslie

    leslie Just me!

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    I was referring to formatted partition size, not file sizes. Windows 7 (and a few others) will not even let you format in fat32 if the partition is over 32gigs, there are ways around it but it becomes extremely wasteful.
     

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