FAT32 and Ext4 are two common file systems used for storage devices and partitions. FAT32 (File Allocation Table 32) was introduced in Windows 95 to replace the older FAT16 file system. It has been the default file system for removable media on Windows machines for many years. Ext4 (Fourth Extended Filesystem) is the latest version of the ext file system used by Linux distributions. It aims to provide performance improvements over ext3 while maintaining compatibility.
This article provides an overview comparison of the FAT32 and Ext4 file systems in terms of speed, features, compatibility, reliability, and use cases. We examine the key differences that make each file system better suited for certain situations in order to help determine which file system to use for a particular storage device or partition.
History
The FAT32 file system was introduced in August 1996 with Windows 95 OSR2, as an upgrade to the original FAT16 file system. It was designed to improve support for larger disk sizes up to 2 terabytes. FAT32 was the standard file system for consumer versions of Windows 98 and Me [1].
Ext4 originated as an extension to ext3, which was itself an evolution of the ext2 file system. Ext4 was designed to be backwards-compatible with ext3 and ext2 while also providing significant improvements. It was initially released in 2008 with the Linux kernel version 2.6.28 [2].
Compatibility
Both FAT32 and ext4 have broad compatibility across devices and operating systems, but with some key differences.
FAT32 is supported natively by all major operating systems, including Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS. This makes it a convenient universal file system to ensure files can be accessed by different devices. However, Microsoft recommends NTFS over FAT32 for Windows systems due to NTFS’s more advanced features.
Ext4 is the default file system for major Linux distributions like Ubuntu, Debian, Fedora, and CentOS. It can be used across Linux environments and offers backward compatibility with ext3 and ext2. Ext4 support can also be enabled on Windows and macOS through third-party software, but it is not natively supported like FAT32.
In summary, FAT32 provides the most seamless cross-device and cross-OS compatibility out of the box. Ext4 requires additional configuration for non-Linux systems but provides advanced capabilities for Linux environments where it is commonly used as the default file system. (Quora)
Speed
In general, benchmarks show that ext4 offers better performance than FAT32, especially for tasks involving large files and volumes (Source). Ext4 uses extents to map files, allowing faster access compared to FAT32’s cluster/chain system. It also utilizes delayed allocation to optimize write speeds (Source).
Some key advantages of ext4’s performance:
- Faster read/write speeds for large files (1GB+)
- More efficient disk usage allows faster operations
- Fast fsck checks due to extents/delayed allocation
However, for small files (4KB or less), FAT32 can outperform ext4 in certain scenarios. But overall, benchmarks demonstrate ext4’s significant speed advantage, especially as drive size increases (Source).
Features
FAT32 and Ext4 have different features based on their designs and intended uses. According to The File System in Linux, some key differences in features are:
FAT32 has a maximum file size of 4GB and a maximum partition size of 8TB. It was designed for compatibility with older operating systems. FAT32 does not have journaling, which can lead to corruption issues if power loss occurs during writes. However, FAT32 may provide faster read/write speeds for very small files due to its simpler design.
Ext4 has much higher limits, with a maximum file size of 16TB and a maximum partition size of 1EiB. It includes journaling to prevent corruption, as well as extent-based block mapping for improved performance. However, Ext4 may be slower than FAT32 for very small files due to its extra features. Ext4 also supports additional Linux features like preallocation and delayed allocation.
In summary, FAT32 prioritizes compatibility and simplicity while Ext4 focuses more on features for modern systems. The choice depends on factors like partition size, file sizes, OS compatibility needs, and whether advanced Linux features are required.
Reliability
When it comes to reliability and data integrity, Ext4 generally outperforms FAT32. Ext4 is a journaling filesystem which means it keeps track of changes before committing them to the main filesystem. This prevents corruption and data loss in case of unexpected shutdowns or power failures 1. FAT32 does not have journaling so corruption can occur more easily.
Ext4 also utilizes checksums to detect corruption whereas FAT32 does not. Overall, Ext4 provides better reliability and protects against data loss and corruption much more effectively compared to FAT32 2. However, FAT32 can be reasonably reliable for simple file transfers if properly ejected/unmounted. But for more critical data, Ext4 is widely regarded as the more reliable choice.
File Size Limits
FAT32 has a maximum file size limit of 4GB per file, while ext4 allows for much larger file sizes up to 16TB. This is because FAT32 uses 32 bit file allocation table entries to index files, limiting each entry to 4GB, while ext4 uses extents with 48-bit addressing to point to data blocks, enabling much larger file sizes.
So for very large files, like big game installs, virtual machine disks, or video files, ext4 has a major advantage over FAT32. However, for smaller files under 4GB, which is suitable for most typical user files, music, photos, documents, etc., both FAT32 and ext4 can handle the maximum file sizes.
Overall, ext4’s higher per file size limit makes it preferable for cases where large individual files will be stored. FAT32 works for smaller general purpose files, but its 4GB file size cap can be restrictive for many modern use cases involving large files.
Partition Size Limits
FAT32 has a maximum partition size of 32GB on Windows and 16TB on Linux, though most Linux distros limit it to 2TB (Source). Ext4 has a much higher maximum partition size of 1EB (exabyte) (Source). This allows Ext4 to be used on extremely large storage devices.
Use Cases
When choosing between FAT32 and Ext4, the main factors to consider are compatibility, file size limits, and performance.
FAT32 is best suited for situations where broad compatibility across operating systems is needed. As one of the oldest file systems still in use, nearly all devices and operating systems support reading and writing to FAT32 volumes (Geekboots). So if you have an external hard drive or flash drive that will be connected to Windows, Mac, Linux, gaming consoles, cameras, etc., then FAT32 is typically the best choice.
However, FAT32 has a maximum file size limit of 4GB and a maximum partition size of 32GB (for Windows) or 2TB (for Linux and macOS) (Hyperskill). So it is not ideal for large media files, disk images, or partitions. Ext4 does not have these limitations, supporting file sizes up to 16TB and partition sizes up to 1EB.
In terms of performance, Ext4 generally outperforms FAT32, especially when working with high capacity drives and large files (Quora). Ext4 is optimized for flash storage and solid state drives. So for internal hard drives on Linux systems where performance is critical, Ext4 is typically the best choice.
In summary, FAT32 is best for portable drives where cross-platform compatibility is critical, while Ext4 excels as a high performance Linux file system for internal drives.
Conclusion
In summary, the key differences between FAT32 and ext4 are that FAT32 offers wider compatibility, while ext4 provides higher performance and more advanced features, especially for Linux environments. When it comes to speed, benchmarks generally show ext4 outperforming FAT32, particularly when working with large files and volumes. Ext4 is optimized for flash storage and solid state drives, giving it an edge in read/write speeds over FAT32 in most real-world usage. While FAT32 enjoys nearly universal compatibility across devices, its limitations like 4GB file size cap, 2TB volume size limit, and lack of journaling can make ext4 a better choice for many Linux and modern systems. For general file storage and exchange, FAT32 provides the flexibility to work across OSes, while ext4 excels at harnessing Linux performance.