Upgraded to Win XP: FAT32 or NTFS, which system is better for studio aps?

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Stick Player
Member Since: Mar 07, 2005

I've mostly old stuff>
HP Pavillion
PII 930 Mhz
256 SDRAM
40Gig HD

Most of the programs I run are pre XP:
Cool Edit 2.0, older Pro Tools, Sonor XL 2.1, Older Cubase.

I'm getting Reason 2.5. Only that and my Line 6 Guitarport/XT Live applications are post XP.

Win manual suggests NTFS but I'd like to hear from someone who's actually done it w/ older apps.

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Administrator
Since: Apr 03, 2002


Mar 07, 2005 05:45 pm

NTFS is always better.

Prince CZAR-ming
Member
Since: Apr 08, 2004


Mar 08, 2005 01:58 pm

I read somewhere you should use NTFS with large block size on your audio partion / hard drive. This will let your HD write in bigger chunks at a time.

YMMV.

Lost for words with all to say.
Contributor
Since: Sep 12, 2003


Mar 08, 2005 02:00 pm

NTFS, newer and better and will work with your older applications.

Administrator
Since: Apr 03, 2002


Mar 08, 2005 02:21 pm

NTFS is more stable, more secure and generally better performing. There are some VERY old apps and games and such that may not like it, but, if not, it's worth upgrading your apps.

FAT file systems should be avoided if possible. But, be aware, upgrading your OS and changing to NTFS will wipe out your HD and you'll have to reinstall everything.

www.TheLondonProject.ca
Member
Since: Feb 07, 2005


Mar 08, 2005 02:31 pm

Hello all,

Hey! Finally a thread that I can confidently contribute to!

NTFS vs. FAT32

Here are some key comparisons

Maximum Volume Size on both is 2TB

Maximum File Size on FAT32 is 4GB (limited only by volume size on NTFS)

NTFS has builtin security

Overall performance on NTFS is low on small volumes and high on large volumes. FAT32 is the opposite with high performance on small volumes and low on large volumes

Anyways, IMO, use NTFS.

PS - great site. Been lurking about for awhile now and I have already utilized lots of the information obtained from this site.

Administrator
Since: Apr 03, 2002


Mar 08, 2005 02:37 pm

OK, now I could get along with a user named BeerHunter. Welcome to the conversation...even tho it appears you joined a while ago...and just been keepin' quiet.

www.TheLondonProject.ca
Member
Since: Feb 07, 2005


Mar 08, 2005 03:40 pm

Thanks for the welcome dB. Ya, just been keeping quiet. I'm really new to home recording and I have so much to learn so I've been digging through the forums to try and get myself up to speed.

Administrator
Since: Apr 03, 2002


Mar 08, 2005 03:42 pm

thats a good place to start...ya have any questions, we are all ears :)

Member
Since: Feb 23, 2005


Mar 08, 2005 06:07 pm

My .02....

I'm kinda locked in to using fat32 partitions because I record onto a Mackie MDR recorder, and take the drive dock out and edit on my PC. My boot drive and storage partitions are ntfs though. I did run the boot drive fat32 but if you do that when you format it a few things happen that can be of benefit and/or a hindrence (sp?) The larger the drive size the larger the "clusters" will be. The best analogy I can think of without giving in to ADD....ooh look at the bird!...anyways, when you partition and format a fat32 drive it will create "spaces" for data from 4096 bytes to hold a chunk of data and if you get larger drives it will format them with larger and larger spaces. As much as 32k in size. I believe you'll also run into ,depending on your BIOS, a maximum size drive you can format fat32. The data you save on the drive will be less efficient and take up more space. One of the "benefits" in my case, is that my 32 gig fat32 drive can read data as much as 50 megs a second, compared to my ntfs drive reading at 30 megs/sec. I can play 24 tracks of 24 bit wavs without even a hiccup. YMMV. But I can only have 32 gig drives max for audio. I have a third 120g drive just for storage. If you record audio onto a computer get a large 2nd drive and format it ntfs and it will be better all around. IMO

Your 40g boot drive should be ntfs too.

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