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    NTFS vs. FAT32 on a Flash Disk

    Discussion in 'Windows OS and Software' started by MaXimus, May 25, 2008.

  1. MaXimus

    MaXimus Notebook Deity

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    I recently bought a TwinMOS 4 GB USB Flash Disk. It was formatted using the FAT32 file system.

    I noticed that the file transfer speed is horribly slow (400 kb/s to 1 MB/S)

    I was surprised by the quality of this TwinMOS flash disk.

    Today I tried formatting it using the NTFS file system then tried copying a file ...guess what? started off at 40 MB/S!!! :eek: and averaged at 30 MB/S!! then towards the end reached 11 MB/S!!

    This sounds right!

    Can someone explain to me what is going on?

    and btw......Vista still thinks it is not ReadyBoost compatible! heh....what gives?
     
    MaXimus, May 25, 2008
    #1
  2. jisaac

    jisaac Notebook Deity

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    ntfs simply has features that make it faster than fat32, if you want to know what features it has specifically go to: http://cquirke.mvps.org/ntfs.htm

    readyboost devices must have the following features
    The device should have an access time of 1 ms or less
    The device must be capable of 2.5 MB/s read speeds for 4 KB random reads spread uniformly across the entire device and 1.75 MB/s write speeds for 512 KB random writes spread uniformly across the device

    if it does not it is not readyboost compatible. Readyboost is not just based on sequential reads.
     
    jisaac, May 25, 2008
    #2
  3. gengerald

    gengerald Technofile Extraordinaire

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    Try using a memory testing program like HDtune. I stay away from NTFS for my flash drives as I use them in a variety of computers.
     
    gengerald, May 25, 2008
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  4. Budding

    Budding Notebook Virtuoso

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    Have you upgraded to SP1? Slow USB transfer was a known issue in Vista prior to SP1. If you are not on SP1 then chances are that formatting your pen drive to NTFS somehow evaded this issue. If you are on SP1 then this is quite strange. Vista SP1 copies files very quickly onto my FAT32 external USB HDs.
     
    Budding, May 25, 2008
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  5. MaXimus

    MaXimus Notebook Deity

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    no dude SP1 is the first thing I do right after a format....strange heh?
     
    MaXimus, May 26, 2008
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  6. flipfire

    flipfire Moderately Boss

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    1mb/s is USB1.1 speeds
     
    flipfire, May 26, 2008
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  7. MaXimus

    MaXimus Notebook Deity

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    READ what I posted one more time it seems you don't get it.
     
    MaXimus, May 26, 2008
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  8. jisaac

    jisaac Notebook Deity

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    as I already said your device either does not have an access time of 1ms or less
    or
    it has a random read speed of 4kb files of less than 2.5mb/s
    or
    it has a random write speed of 512kb files of less than 1.75mb/s

    run the atto benchmark which will show the read/write speeds of different file sizes:
    http://www.techpowerup.com/downloads/123/mirrors.php
     
    jisaac, May 26, 2008
    #8