Default Cluster size for NTFS

[dbdaw59]

What is the default Cluster size setting when formatting a Windows NTFS Partition on a hard disk drive greater than 2GB ?

 

[kimsland]

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/140365

4Kb

 

[dbdaw59]

Thanks Kimsland

thanks for replying so quickly and for the refrence link as well

Dave

 

[DelJo63]

You have the option to change that default, but most of us don't have sufficient
statistical information for a better guess

 

[tipstir]

NTFS default Block size = 512, I also change that 1024 for media recording..

 

[DelJo63]

actually, it varies upon the raw size of the HD

 

[kimsland]

@tipstir

The default install size for NTFS is 4Kb

But...

• If you convert a volume from FAT to NTFS, Windows always uses a 512 bytes
• In Microsoft WindowsNT 4.0 and earlier, when a partition is formatted under Windows Setup, the partition is first formatted as FAT and then converted to NTFS. Therefore the cluster size is always 512 bytes

Here is a very basic, (easy to read) Table: http://www.techgalaxy.net/Docs/WinXP/default_cluster_sizes.htm
Here is MS article, which says 4Kb http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;q314878

 

[tipstir]

I've change the default 1024kb, but only for large volumes use do record MP2. The max is 4096kb yes I know that. But the default can be changed in NTFS. I do this for newer drives. Again only on media servers that record video media when the file size is larger. Thus helps waste less space. Now if you have smaller files than 512kb would be enough. I have no problems using 1024kb on my HTPC box. Again now on the OS/Program HDD, just on secondary master this would be changed.

 

[kimsland]

Yes I agree with that 4Kb may not be the most optimized cluster size (ie too big)
But it is the default

What is the default Cluster size...