Summary: Windows-supported operating systems relied on one of the two file systems to manage all the data stored in the system. Let’s find out which is better for your system.
A file system is a solution to organize your system file so that storing and accessing the data becomes easy. The primary goal of the file system is to store the data on the storage device and attach some of the action to it.
A particular file system supports every operating system we see in the market. For instances, windows operating system currently follows their different file systems:
- FAT32.
- exFAT.
- NTFS.
While these three file systems are common for the Windows operating system, NTFS is considered the standard file system format. Today, most of the systems have NTFS file system format. This file system has become so popular that it has NTFS for Mac to access NTFS formatted data on Mac operating systems.
With that being said, let’s move on to our main topic of discussion. Today we intended to talk about the two different file systems, FAT and NTFS, and see which file system a better choice might be to have in your system.
What Is A File System?
Before we can start talking about the differences and the similarities, let’s first understand what a file system is.
A file system is a solution to organize your system file so that storing and accessing the data becomes easy. It offers users a secure network to store the data and access smoothly when the data is needed.
Without using a file system, all the data stored in the system will be in the form of one large cluster of data piled up together.
NTFS Vs. FAT: Which Is Better?
Windows supported operating systems relied on one of the two file systems to manage all the data stored in the system. While Microsoft has created both (NTFS and FAT) file systems, each caters to several benefits and flaws.
What Is FAT?
FAT is the first file system created by Microsoft to offer better data management to its users. It was created in 1977. At that time, it was one of the advanced file systems.
FAT uses the technology to allocate location to each data encrypted in the storage and create a link relationship with the other data in the system.
In addition to that, it acts as a table of contents and stores metadata of the original stored in the system, making it easy for the users to find the data effectively.
What Is NTFS?
NTFS is the modern-day file system and currently supports almost all the windows operating systems you see today. Over time, NTFS file systems have become the standard file system for the Windows operating system.
This file system allows the users with small-sized partitions and offers convenience to the users when it comes down to storing and accessing the data.
NTFS Vs. FAT: Comparison
When you have a new hard drive or reinstalling windows, the operating system asks you the file format you would like to have. Given a choice, you can either go for FAT or NTFS. Here we have broken down the differences to make it easier for you.
1. Compatibility
FAT is the oldest and most simple file system. It is compatible with the majority of the operating system we see today. While on the other hand, NTFS is an advanced version of the FAT, offering some of the premium file system features. However, NTFS mostly supports the latest window operating systems only.
2. File Size
FAT support file cluster size of 4GB and total size volume tops to 2TB. That means you are limited to a 2TB FAT partition. In the case of NTFS, it is designed to support 16EB (Exabytes). One exabyte is one billion Gigabytes.
3. Performance
While the performance of the transferring speed of the data depends on the SATA cable or WWAN, it has been tested to see that NTFS formatted files are faster than the FAT formatted files.
Conclusion
Most of the time, your operating system selects a file system on your behalf, but knowing these differences and similarities will help you make your own decisions and choose a file system that complements your needs.