The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.

    Cluster size?

    Discussion in 'Hardware Components and Aftermarket Upgrades' started by Kfactor, Feb 15, 2010.

  1. Kfactor

    Kfactor Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    70
    Messages:
    165
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Just got a 16GB flash drive and a 320gb 3.5 HD that's being re purposed as an external. What's the best middle ground cluster size for storage and performance?

    PS: Also looking for a nice <= $30 sata enclosure for the 320. eSata optional.
     
    Kfactor, Feb 15, 2010
    #1
  2. ourfinal

    ourfinal Notebook Geek

    Reputations:
    18
    Messages:
    88
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    From what I understand about cluster size it doesn't make much difference on flash drives because of the low seek times.
     
    ourfinal, Feb 15, 2010
    #2
  3. Kfactor

    Kfactor Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    70
    Messages:
    165
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    I heard that too but I heard something about it affecting storage in some way.
     
    Kfactor, Feb 15, 2010
    #3
  4. Lithus

    Lithus NBR Janitor

    Reputations:
    5,504
    Messages:
    9,788
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    205
    Doesn't really matter. Small cluster sizes waste less space, large cluster sizes lead to less fragmentation, but flash memory doesn't suffer from fragmentation like HDDs.
     
    Lithus, Feb 15, 2010
    #4
  5. tilleroftheearth

    tilleroftheearth Wisdom listens quietly...

    Reputations:
    5,398
    Messages:
    12,692
    Likes Received:
    2,717
    Trophy Points:
    631
    Of course they suffer fragmentation - just like HD do.

    The best cluster size is 4K - Windows and most programs expect/work best with that size.

    The only reason to change it is if you are storing only one type of file (large or small) on the drive - then, you may notice a small difference, but not one to worry over.

    4K (default) NTFS is the best overall.
     
    tilleroftheearth, Feb 15, 2010
    #5
  6. Lithus

    Lithus NBR Janitor

    Reputations:
    5,504
    Messages:
    9,788
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    205
    They fragment, but they don't suffer from it. Seek times on flash drives are negligible.
     
    Lithus, Feb 15, 2010
    #6