2tb external drive, ntfs or exfat?

simple question really, which format should i do? does exfat have any noticiable advantages over ntfs?

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ExFAT

http://www.tech-recipes.com/rx/2801/exfat_versus_fat32_versus_ntfs/

 

ofcourse i read both these links before posting this thread, because i was still not sure. i went ahead with ntfs anyways, it's still taking ages to format.

 

ntfs is generally the best format for any HDD.

FAT is mainly useful for thumb drives and legacy support.

 

You would experience better transfer rates in ntfs plus fat does not allows a single file of more than 4gb to be stored. whereas on an ntfs you can.
so i recommend ntfs

 

I am sure my Buffalo external 1TB was formatted to FAT32 when i got it, but how they did it i dont know?

It comes with a util to format it to NTFS , but not FAT32

 

I think at least two of my drives came with a FAT format...

I just checked, Vista can do exFAT - and I think formatting tools can format larger drives in FAT - but there aren't many reasons to do so.

 

I think i used the "HP USB Disk Storage Format Tool" to format it, but i cannot test it at the moment as my drives are full.

QUOTE from link: Allows creation of a FAT32 volume larger than 32 GB.

http://files.extremeoverclocking.com/file.php?f=197

 

i am not talking about fat32, i am talking about exfat.

 

One little add on - from personal observation only!!!

ON NTFS moving files on the drive is instantaneous (or close to that) as only the Master File Table (MFT) is changed - on FAT the physical location of the file is changed and it takes time...

Note: This is my observation, and includes my understanding of NTFS

Also, on NTFS you loose space to the MFT which you can't claim back save for a reformat, FAT does not have that "issue".

 

See here:
http://www.tech-recipes.com/rx/2801/exfat_versus_fat32_versus_ntfs/

Technet if you want...
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa914353.aspx

I'd still suggest NTFS for a HDD...

 

Until we can natively (inside Windows Setup) format and install to an exFat partition, with major performance or other benefits, exFat is to be considered 'experimental' in my opinion.

EricaL,

I think you chose to format the drive without checking the 'quick' format option - yes, this will take forever, especially on a USB connection.

If it's still going (I know, this may be too late), I would cancel the format, restart it and choose the Quick format option before you hit okay again.

BTW, you chose the best, current choice: NTFS.

The only reason I know to have a FAT32 file system on an external drive is to be able to connect it to a PS3 gaming console (also an X-Box, I think?) and/or use it with a MAC and Windows system concurrently. All of these are non-reasons for me, so NTFS is what all my external HD's are formatted to.

Good luck.

 

You can format a partition into exFAT in Vista - natively. (at least in SP2)

 

Oh yes. I have even done that actually.

What is not possible is to install to an exFat partition using (only) Windows Setup.

 

yeah, i didn't choose the quick format, and it took like ages, so i canceled and did a quick format using ntfs as the option.

thank you all of you.