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NTFS vs. FAT

Criteria NTFS5 NTFS FAT32 FAT16 FAT12
Windows DOS v7 and
DOS DOS
NT, higher
Operating Windows 2000, XP, All versions All versions
2000, XP, Windows
System Windows 2003 Server of of
2003 98, ME,
Windows Windows
Server 2000, XP
LIMITATIONS
32GB for all 2GB for all
OS. OS.
Max Volume Size 2TB 2TB 16MB
2TB for 4GB for
some OS some OS
Max Files on Nearly
Nearly Unlimited 4194304 65536
Volume Unlimited
Limit Only 2GB (Limit 16MB
Limit Only by by 4GB minus Only (Limit Only
Max File Size
Volume Size Volume 2 Bytes by Volume by Volume
Size Size) Size)
Max Clusters Nearly
Nearly Unlimited 4177918 65520 4080
Number Unlimited
Standard -
Max File Name 8.3
Up to 255 Up to 255 Up to 255 Up to 254
Length Extended -
up to 255
FILE SYSTEM FEATURES
Unicode System System System
Unicode File Unicode Character
Character Character Character Character
Names Set
Set Set Set Set
Second Second
System Records MFT Mirror Second Copy
MFT Mirror File Copy of Copy of
Mirror File of FAT
FAT FAT
First Sector
First and
Boot Sector and
First and Last Sectors Last First Sector First Sector
Location Copy in
Sectors
Sector #6
Standard
Standard Standard
File Attributes Standard and Custom and Standard Set
Set Set
Custom
Alternate
Yes Yes No No No
Streams
Compression Yes Yes No No No
Encryption Yes No No No No
Object
Yes Yes No No No
Permissions
Disk Quotas Yes No No No No
Sparse Files Yes No No No No
Reparse Points Yes No No No No
Volume Mount
Yes No No No No
Points
OVERALL PERFORMANCE
Built-In Security Yes Yes No No No
Recoverability Yes Yes No No No
Low on High on
Highest on
Low on small small small
small
Performance volumes volumes volumes High
volumes
High on Large High on Low on
Low on large
Large large
Minimal on
Disk Space
Max Max Average large Max
Economy
volumes
Fault Tolerance Max Max Minimal Average Average

Article source: http://www.ntfs.com/ntfs_vs_fat.htm

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