From time to time, colleagues at work ask me: “What file system choose when formatting a new flash drive?

Usually I answer that you need to choose NTFS, and everything will be fine. But sometimes meticulous users come across, and they want to know why NTFS, and not FAT32 or exFAT.

In this article, I will try to explain the difference between these file systems from the point of view of an ordinary user.

Today, the actual file systems for flash drives (and other external media) are as follows: NTFS, FAT32, exFAT.

These systems allow you to store files and additional information about them on the media in different ways. Each system has its own advantages and disadvantages, so you should choose the one that is most suitable for your tasks and files.

For example, FAT32 has a 4GB file size limit. Therefore, if you want to save a DVD image to a flash drive as a single 4.7 GB file (or 8.5 GB for a dual-layer DVD), then FAT32 will not work for this operation.

On the other hand, due to its simplicity, FAT32 can provide faster operation than NTFS or exFAT. But, again, this results in less reliability in case of accidental loss of communication or power outage of the external media.

If a flash drive is used to transfer various small files (for example, office documentation), then it is better to use NTFS;

If a flash drive is used to transfer large files (for example, photos or video files), then it is better to use exFAT.

In such variants, these systems provide a high speed of the flash drive.

This is clearly seen in the example of memory cards, which are mainly intended for photo and video equipment. AT modern devices the files are large, so manufacturers immediately format memory cards in the exFAT system.

An exception for using FAT32 can only be if you use a flash drive for household appliances - TV, DVD, car FM modulator. If, for example, your TV can only work with flash drives in FAT32 format, then there's nothing you can do about it - to view photos or videos from a flash drive on TV, you will have to format the flash drive in the FAT32 system.

Latest Models household appliances can already work with different systems, but earlier models “understand” only FAT32.

Testing.

I now have 2 USB 2.0 flash drives - 16 and 8 GB. The 16 GB flash drive is a Corsair Voyager. An 8 GB flash drive is Silicon power(aluminum case, code D33B29 on the flash drive itself).

I tested both flash drives in NTFS, FAT32, exFAT systems. First, I copied a folder with different files, and then an archive of the same folder. For example, I took the folder of the game "World of Tanks" - there are a lot of files in it, and they are different in size.

In its original (not compressed) form, the folder has the following parameters: 3002 files, 391 folders, 11.1 GB.

In compressed form, 3 files are obtained (to write to FAT32) - 2 x 3500 MB and 1 x 48 MB, total 6.88 GB.

I carried out the test as follows - I formatted the flash drive to the desired system, then wrote down the folder, measured the recording time, removed the flash drive, read the folder, measured the reading time, formatted it again, similarly wrote and read archives, measured the recording and reading times.

Then I moved on to the next file system. I recorded an uncompressed folder on a Silicon Power flash drive until the 8 GB flash drive was full.

As a result of the tests, I got the following average speed values:

Then I found a site on the Internet (http://usbflashspeed.com/), which collected the test results of different flash drives, and downloaded a utility for testing from there USB Flash Benchmark.

With this utility, I also tested three file systems on each flash drive. This utility tests the flash drive with data blocks of various sizes.

On data blocks from 16 MB to 64 KB, I saw about the same speed indicators. On smaller blocks, the speed drops noticeably, but files of 64KB or less are now rare.

And even if they meet, they still write to the flash drive quickly. The utility shows the results of the last 2 tests, possibly for comparison with each other.

Here is an example of a Silicon Power flash drive test:

thin dotted line showing results for the system NTFS, oily solid line- for FAT32.

These data are almost identical to those from my tests. You can use this utility to test your flash drives and understand their real speed without a long wait for writing / reading large amounts of data.

As can be seen from the tests - the file system FAT32 can sometimes have an advantage in write speed, but lag behind in reading. In general, I think that it is worth following the recommendations indicated above.

If you have any questions, ask them in the comments.

Each of us at least once in our lives formatted a flash drive, SD card, external or internal HDD and probably remembers that before formatting any of the above devices, the Windows operating system always asks the question - which file system do you want to format your device: FAT32, NTFS or exFAT?

Of course, most users do not know the difference between them, and usually choose the option that is set by default. And all because Windows, asking this question, does not explain the difference between them in any way. In this article, we will try to explain it to you in an understandable language and tell you how the FAT32 file system differs from NTFS and exFAT.

FAT32 is the oldest of the file systems under consideration and is most often used on portable flash drives - flash drives or SD cards.

NTFS is used by Windows as the primary file system for the drive on which this operating system is installed, and is also great for other built-in drives and partitions hard drive computer running Windows.

exFAT is a more modern analogue of the legacy FAT32 system and it supports more devices than NTFS, but still not as many as the "classic" FAT32.

Now let's take a closer look at each of these file systems.

FAT32 file system

FAT32 is the oldest file system considered in this article. It began to be actively used starting with Windows 95 and came to replace an even more outdated system - FAT16.

The great age of this file system has its advantages and disadvantages.

to the benefits in this case can be attributed to the fact that FAT32 has become a kind of standard and is still used in all removable media by default. If you buy a flash drive or SD card today, it will have the FAT32 file system installed "from the factory". This was done primarily so that your removable media could support not only modern computer and gadget, but also old devices and game consoles that have a USB port and can only work with the FAT32 file system.

However, due to the age of this system, it also has some disadvantages, the main of which is the limitation on the size of the file and the entire volume. Each individual file in this file system cannot be larger than 4 gigabytes, and the entire partition with the FAT32 file system cannot be larger than 8 terabytes.

And if you can still put up with the second minus (so far, few people use drives larger than 8TB), then the file size limit is a rather serious minus - most high-quality videos now no longer fit into 4GB, especially if they are in a modern format 4K.

However, while this file system is still quite suitable for portable devices (like flash drives and SD cards, which host many small files), it is no longer suitable for a computer hard drive. First of all, it lacks some of the security features that are found in the more modern NTFS file system, and partly because of this, you will no longer be able to install a modern version of Windows on a FAT32 drive, you will need to reformat it to NTFS.

FAT32 Compatibility

Devices with the FAT32 file system are the most versatile and are compatible with all versions of Windows, Mac OS, Linux operating systems, any game consoles and, in general, almost everything that has a USB port.

FAT32 restrictions

The main disadvantage of this file system is file and volume size limits - maximum size file size cannot exceed 4 GB, and the maximum partition size is limited to 8 TB.

Application of FAT32

The main area of ​​​​use of this file system is external storage drives, which are not expected to store large files and which require maximum compatibility with as many different devices as possible.

NTFS file system

NTFS- this is a more modern and technologically advanced file system, as evidenced even by the decoding of the abbreviation of its name -" new technology file system". Most of all, the Windows operating system loves it, which in general is not surprising - after all, both of them are developed by Microsoft.

Starting with Microsoft's version of the operating system called XP, in which NTFS first became standard, Windows installation the dialog box will definitely ask you to format the system partition to this particular file system. At the moment, it is believed that you, theoretically, will not have to worry about the limitations of the NTFS file system for many years to come.

In addition to the absence of serious restrictions on the size of the file and partition, NTFS has several additional advantages, such as: support for file permissions (to improve data security), journaling of changes (to restore the file structure in case of failure), encryption, disk quotas, hard links , and other modern features that make NTFS ideal for a system drive.

That is why the partition of your disk on which the Windows operating system is installed must be formatted in NTFS. If you are going to install programs on other partitions on the same disk or on other hard drives, they must also have an appropriate file system.

Unfortunately, NTFS is not compatible with most other operating systems, as it was designed to meet the requirements of the Windows operating system. All versions of the Microsoft operating system from XP to the latest Windows 10 work perfectly with it, but other operating systems have significant limitations when working with it.

For example, Mac OS can only read data from NTFS disks, but cannot write to them. Some rare Linux distributions may be able to write to NTFS drives, but most are still limited to reading information. None of the Playstation versions can work with NTFS, just like Microsoft's Xbox 360, and only the new Xbox One supports this file system.

NTFS Compatibility

This file system works great with everyone latest versions operating room Windows systems starting from XP, has write restrictions on Mac OS and Linux, and does not work with most other devices, except perhaps the Xbox One.

NTFS limitations

Limits on the size of files or partitions in NTFS should not rest against the limits for a long time, so we can say that at the moment there are none.

NTFS application

The use of this file system is reasonable only on hard drives and SSDs on which the Windows operating system is installed, since only with it this format reveals all its advantages.

exFAT file system

exFAT was first introduced in 2008 and is the most modern of the file systems discussed in this article, its support has been added to Windows since version XP through OS updates.

The exFAT file system was created and optimized for use on external drives - flash drives, SD cards and external hard drives, and is designed to replace the outdated FAT32 system. It is the lightest and simplest file system due to the absence of various specialized features inherent in NTFS, as well as the almost complete absence of file and partition size restrictions that FAT32 has.

Also, exFAT has better compatibility with various operating systems than NTFS, and devices with it are perfectly readable and rewritable both on Windows and Mac OS, and on Linux (provided that some software is installed).

Since exFAT is supported by Mac OS by default, it is likely to be supported by most other modern devices that Apple devices work with, such as digital cameras.

Modern versions of video game consoles, such as the Xbox One and Playstation 4, also support devices with the exFAT file system, unlike their previous versions (Xbox 360 and Playstation 3).

exFAT Compatibility

exFAT works great with all modern Windows versions(starting with XP) and Mac OS. To work with Linux, you will need to install additional software. This file system is supported by much more various devices than NTFS, however some of them (mostly older versions) can still only work with FAT32.

exFAT restrictions

Also, as in the case of NTFS, there are still no realistic limits on the size of a file or partition in an exFAT system.

exFAT application

This file system is great for use on various removable media, the file size of which can exceed 4 GB (external hard drives, large flash drives). If all the devices you work with are up-to-date, you might as well ditch FAT32 on removable drives in favor of exFAT.

To summarize, we can draw the following conclusions: NTFS is great for a Windows system hard drive, exFAT is best used on removable media, and FAT32 should only be used if you want maximum compatibility with all the variety of your devices.

The ExFAT file system became a follower of FAT32 and appeared along with the release of Windows Vista. ExFAT is suitable for working with large removable drives, up to 64 GB. At the moment, only advanced users use such a file system, most computer owners are not even aware of the existence of ExFAT.

What it is

ExFAT is the latest file system. It is able to work with all operating systems: Windows, MAC, Linux. But to work with ExFAT on Windows XP, you need a third-party software. The system is designed specifically to work with media that can be connected to computers. These are disks, flash drives, microcards, etc.

Advantages and disadvantages

The benefits of a file system include:

• Support for media with a large amount of memory;
• The number of sector overwrites on removable media is reduced, which allows you to extend the life of flash drives and disks;
• There are no restrictions on the number of stored files on the drive;
• Administrator rights are supported when accessing directories;
• Service information takes up less space on media;
• Efficient use of empty space, media fragmentation is reduced.

The disadvantages of ExFAT include the inability to work with drives smaller than 32 GB.

Differences from FAT32 and NTFS

ExFAT works in a similar way to FAT32, but allows you to work with much larger file sizes. The new system allows you to remove the limitations inherent in the previous version.

NTFS is extremely inconvenient to use on removable drives, while ExFAT gets along well with flash drives and disks. ExFAT does not slow down media when NTFS slows down USB performance.

Despite all the advantages of the system, ExFAT has not gained much popularity among users.

Where is the best place to apply

• It is better to format small flash drives in FAT32;
• On huge amounts of space, ExFAT works fastest;
• External hard drives work best on NTFS.

Any of the listed systems will work on a removable drive. The main differences are in the speed of execution of operations, overall performance.

How to format a flash drive to exFAT

Standard Windows services allow you to quickly and easily change the file system of flash cards to ExFAT.

Through Explorer

You need to go to "This PC" or "My Computer".

1. Find a removable disk (flash drive) in the list;
2. Right-click on it to call the context menu;
3. Select "Format";
4. In the window that opens, set the parameters and the ExFAT file system;
5. Confirm process.

Through Disk Management

In some cases, the computer cannot detect the connected flash drive. If the drive is not found in the computer menu, you need to:

1. Start the Program Execution Service with the Win + R key combination;
2. Enter in the line "diskmgmt.msc";
3. In the disk management window that opens, find the connected USB flash drive;
4. Right-click on the area where it is displayed;
5. Select "Format".

The further algorithm does not differ from the previous version. You must set the parameters, select the file system and confirm the action.

Through the command line

Using the command line, you can start formatting in cases where other methods do not help:

• Run command line- Win + R and write cmd;
• In the black window that opens, enter the command "G: / FS: exFAT / Q / V: flash";
• Confirm the action with the enter key;
• Wait for the operation to complete.

The file system on your device plays an important role. Thanks to it, the processing and storage of data on the media is performed. The file system limits the size of the file and the number of characters in its name, as well as the speed of data exchange.

There are many file systems in the world at the moment, but two of them are the most popular:

• exFAT,
• NTFS.

And when organizing a system on a computer, most users have the question “Ntfs or exfat?”. Let's consider each system separately, and then we will carry out a comparative analysis.

exFat

The exFat file system was developed by Microsoft and is an upgraded version of the FAT32 system. In the new reproduction, the following restrictions were removed:

• file size,
• Partition volume,
• The number of files in one section and folder.

It is most actively used by users on removable media. However, there is one drawback that may seem like a stumbling block, many consumer devices do not support it! As for the Windows system, the XP version does not support exFAT by default. But the user can download an update from the official site that will remove this limitation. Modern versions of operating systems support exFAT.

NTFS

This file system was also developed by Microsoft ( Windows developer) and is used to this day as a modern analogue of FAT32.
If you install it on removable media, then the data transfer rate will be quite low. This is due to the use of a cache when copying data. It works like this:

1. First, the information is stored in the cache, while the speed can reach 100 MB per second!
2. But since the cache is small on removable media, it quickly fills up and the speed drops sharply.

In a situation with computers and laptops, this feature works fine, because the cache is larger, and this allows you to smooth out the data transfer curve and increase speed.

Comparison of the exFAT file system with NTFS

exFAT does not have most of the nice features that are present in NTFS, such as file data transfer streams, which increases the speed of information exchange. But the advantages of exFAT include the use of a smaller amount of service memory, moreover, it is capable of storing files larger than 4 GB. Only NTFS was capable of this before.
Which system to use depends on the media, its size and the user's choice! If you do not want to tempt your fate and stumble upon the pitfalls of incompatibility, then the NTFS system is recommended.

Sometimes, reading information, playing music and movies from a flash drive or external hard drive on all devices, namely: a computer, home DVD player or TV, Xbox or PS3, or car stereo can cause some problems. Here we’ll talk about which file system is best to use so that the flash drive is always and everywhere read without problems.

Currently, there are two most common file systems (for Russia) - these are NTFS (Windows), FAT32 (the old Windows standard). Mac OS and Linux file systems can also be used.

It would be logical to assume that modern operating systems will work with each other's file systems by default, but in most cases this is not the case. Mac OS X cannot write data to an NTFS formatted drive. Windows 7 does not recognize HFS+ and EXT drives and either ignores them or reports that the drive is not formatted.

Many Linux distributions, such as Ubuntu, support most file systems by default. Copying from one system to another is a common Linux process. Most distributions support HFS+ and NTFS out of the box, or support is installed with one free component.

In addition, game consoles such as the Xbox 360 or Playstation 3 provide only limited access to certain file systems, and only allow you to read data from a USB drive. To see which file systems and which devices are supported, take a look at this table.

It should be noted that the tables reflect the OS's capabilities for working with file systems by default. For both Mac OS and Windows, you can download additional software that allows you to work with unsupported formats.

FAT32 is a long-standing format and, due to this, almost all devices and operating systems fully support it. Thus, if you format a flash drive in FAT32, it is almost guaranteed to be read anywhere. However, there is one important problem with this format: the size limit of a single file and a single volume. If you need to store, write and read huge files, FAT32 may not be the right choice. Now more about size limits.

File size limits on file systems

The FAT32 file system was developed a long time ago and is based on previous versions FAT, originally used in DOS. Disks with today's volumes did not exist at that time, and therefore there were no prerequisites for supporting files larger than 4GB by the file system. Today, many users have to face problems because of this. Below you can see a comparison of file systems by sizes of supported files and partitions.

Modern file systems have expanded file size limits to limits that are still hard to imagine (we'll see what happens in 20 years).

Each new system wins over FAT32 in terms of the size of individual files and a separate disk partition. Thus, the age of FAT32 affects the possibility of its use for various purposes. One solution is to use the exFAT file system, support for which appears in many operating systems. But, one way or another, for a regular USB flash drive, if it does not store files larger than 4 GB, FAT32 will be the most the best choice, and the flash drive will be read almost anywhere.