1Tb USB hard drive format for mac & pc?

[dbit]

So is there still not a common format for exchanging a hard drive between mac and pc systems while not over a network?

I'm hearing on some sites that NTFS is still my best bet using a third party mac application? Will this change my disc access speeds if I'm using files from the drive over my mac in active realtime audio/video applications?

Any and all advice for formatting an external usb hard drive to be used between mac and pc is much appreciated.

I don't plan on needing boot capabilities from this particular drive.

 

[Charlie Sheen]

I think FAT32 is the right one

 

[dbit]

My concern over FAT32 is that I hear they have a maximum file size limit of 4GB? I may be transferring single file archives that are 20-30GB each. Can anyone add some insight on this?

 

[JamesMB]

So is there still not a common format for exchanging a hard drive between mac and pc systems while not over a network?

I'm hearing on some sites that NTFS is still my best bet using a third party mac application? Will this change my disc access speeds if I'm using files from the drive over my mac in active realtime audio/video applications?

Any and all advice for formatting an external usb hard drive to be used between mac and pc is much appreciated.

I don't plan on needing boot capabilities from this particular drive.

"From GGJStudios"
FAT32 (File Allocation Table)
Read/Write FAT32 from both native Windows and native Mac OS X.
Maximum file size: 4GB.
Maximum volume size: 2TB
NTFS (Windows NT File System)
Read/Write NTFS from native Windows.
Read only NTFS from native Mac OS X
To Read/Write/Format NTFS from Mac OS X: Install NTFS-3G for Mac OS X (free)
Some have reported problems using Tuxera (approx 33USD).
Native NTFS support can be enabled in Snow Leopard, but is not advisable, due to instability.
AirPort Extreme (802.11n) and Time Capsule do not support NTFS
Maximum file size: 16 TB
Maximum volume size: 256TB
HFS+ (Hierarchical File System, a.k.a. Mac OS Extended)
Read/Write HFS+ from native Mac OS X
Required for Time Machine or Carbon Copy Cloner backups of Mac internal hard drive.
To Read/Write HFS+ from Windows, Install MacDrive
To Read HFS+ (but not Write) from Windows, Install HFSExplorer
Maximum file size: 8EiB
Maximum volume size: 8EiB
exFAT (FAT64)
Supported in Mac OS X only in 10.6.5 or later.
exFAT partitions created with OS X 10.6.5 are inaccessible from Windows 7
Not all Windows versions support exFAT. See disadvantages.
exFAT (Extended File Allocation Table)
AirPort Extreme (802.11n) and Time Capsule do not support exFAT
Maximum file size: 16 EiB
Maximum volume size: 64 ZiB

 

[dbit]

Thanks James! I'm wondering if using NTFS and macfuse, if there are any slower access speeds from the drive to my mac, for using audiovideo files in real time software?

 

[dbit]

Also, is it possible to partition the disc and make the partitions different file system formats and exchange files between them?

 

[waw74]

Also, is it possible to partition the disc and make the partitions different file system formats and exchange files between them?

yes, but to exchange you are still limited by your OSes ability to read or write to that partition.

it would basically be like you have 2 different drives.