which is better file system? FAT or NTFS?

[oliverzimmerman]

HI...

I want to format my hard drive but I dont know which file system is better, FAT or NTFS....

as your observation, which make your system faster?
what is the main purpose of FAT and NTFS?


thanks....

[djr33]

FAT limits files to a max of 4gb. If that is a problem for you, don't use it.
I'm not sure which is faster, though, sorry.
FAT is compatible with macs, though, and NTFS isn't.
(Might be some ways around that, but I'm not really aware of them.)

[codeexploiter]

http://www.adrc.com/ckr/ntfs_fat.html

[andres]

If you have a Windows Machine
Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Vista:
With these distributions, you want to use NTFS. FAT gives you an advantage on a Small hard drive (under 5GB). On any larger drives, NTFS will outperform FAT.

Windows 3.1, Windows 9.x/Me, oldschool ect:
FAT

If you have a Linux, Unix, Mac, BeOS, Solaris, ect (Non Windows machine)
FAT

[Minos]

FAT also applies if you are contemplating dual-booting Win98 and up with any of the other options