NTFS cluster size?
Hi there.
While browsing this forum I've found some interesting opinions regarding NTFS vs. FAT32 etc. , and I know that it might be rather an esoteric issue for many ppl, (like we say, hehe) than the experience of a notable difference in speed, but I still want your opinions on that issue. Plus, i tend to forget infos about the best/usual cluster sizes.
I am using a dual-boot-setup with WIN98SE + Win2000, using PM's BootMagic, 'coz I am using my rig for video-editing, use it as Midi-sequencer and audio-workstation, and for gaming, but some of my software (video-stuff) keeps crashing on W2k. And yes i know it's a bad habit using 98SE, but i am not going to upgrade my video-software in the near future.
1) I know there's a compat. mode/feature on Win2K just like on XP, but I'd need a hint how to enable/use that mode.
2)Speed + Setup:
I have 1 HD with 1 NTFS-partition (win2k), 1 Win98SE-partition, the other partitions (4) are FAT32 in order to have access to some of the video-stuff within 98SE.
The pagefile of my 98SE-partition resides on the same drive, while WIN2K's pagefile resides on a FAT32 one.
Yer, i know, a habit formed while using 98SE.
Now, what would be faster, for working/gaming on Win2k, FAT32 or NTFS?
Should I convert 3 of the FAT32 drives to NTFS drives, leaving one FAT for my video-stuff, or should I use compat. mode exclusively (if I'd get it working) to get rid of that 98 crap completely and move the pagefile back to the system drive? I wanna ensure i get top-speed, but i got tired of the recent file-crashes on the FAT32-drives......I lost a couple of important files on those drives when Win2K crashed (duh) a few times, after playing 2 buggy games. 
3)Cluster size.
What's the best NTFS cluster size regarding speed? I wouldn't care about slack, I just don't wanna slow down file access since this rig is getting a bit out-dated (AMD 1700 Mhz).
I just figured the drive with my W2K-pagefile has a cluster size of 1k, while the NTFS drive has 4k, all Fat32-drives have 4k. I can't remember whether I set it to 1K or PartitionMagic just defaulted to that value coz of the partition's size (2 GB).
Oh another thing:
I've read that some guys on here suggested to move the Temp Internet files, Temp, and MyDocuments folders. Great idea, I never thought about that, but erm, how do I move the frickin' "MyDocument" and "temp" folder without W2K going nuts? Hehe, sorry never did that before on W2K:D.
Anyway, thanX in advance for yer input
While browsing this forum I've found some interesting opinions regarding NTFS vs. FAT32 etc. , and I know that it might be rather an esoteric issue for many ppl, (like we say, hehe) than the experience of a notable difference in speed, but I still want your opinions on that issue. Plus, i tend to forget infos about the best/usual cluster sizes.
I am using a dual-boot-setup with WIN98SE + Win2000, using PM's BootMagic, 'coz I am using my rig for video-editing, use it as Midi-sequencer and audio-workstation, and for gaming, but some of my software (video-stuff) keeps crashing on W2k. And yes i know it's a bad habit using 98SE
, but i am not going to upgrade my video-software in the near future.1) I know there's a compat. mode/feature on Win2K just like on XP, but I'd need a hint how to enable/use that mode.
2)Speed + Setup:
I have 1 HD with 1 NTFS-partition (win2k), 1 Win98SE-partition, the other partitions (4) are FAT32 in order to have access to some of the video-stuff within 98SE.
The pagefile of my 98SE-partition resides on the same drive, while WIN2K's pagefile resides on a FAT32 one.
Yer, i know, a habit formed while using 98SE.
Now, what would be faster, for working/gaming on Win2k, FAT32 or NTFS?
Should I convert 3 of the FAT32 drives to NTFS drives, leaving one FAT for my video-stuff, or should I use compat. mode exclusively (if I'd get it working) to get rid of that 98 crap completely and move the pagefile back to the system drive?
I wanna ensure i get top-speed, but i got tired of the recent file-crashes on the FAT32-drives......I lost a couple of important files on those drives when Win2K crashed (duh) a few times, after playing 2 buggy games. 3)Cluster size.
What's the best NTFS cluster size regarding speed? I wouldn't care about slack, I just don't wanna slow down file access since this rig is getting a bit out-dated (AMD 1700 Mhz).
I just figured the drive with my W2K-pagefile has a cluster size of 1k, while the NTFS drive has 4k, all Fat32-drives have 4k. I can't remember whether I set it to 1K or PartitionMagic just defaulted to that value coz of the partition's size (2 GB).
Oh another thing:
I've read that some guys on here suggested to move the Temp Internet files, Temp, and MyDocuments folders. Great idea, I never thought about that, but erm, how do I move the frickin' "MyDocument" and "temp" folder without W2K going nuts? Hehe, sorry never did that before on W2K:D.
Anyway, thanX in advance for yer input
0
Comments
As for cluster size, the smaller it is, the more there are, so the bigger is the "index". But the less wasted space there is. So if you have a large drive to store large files (video etc) then stick with big clusters, but if you have a large drive with many small files (ex: midi, pictures, or even mp3s) then stick with a smaller size.
I'm sure the others might have more options about this as well. It's always been a non issue for me, I just stick with whatever partition magic puts as default.