MBR vs GPT

BIGSTUD · 04-21-2017, 12:42 AM

I've used the mbr table for years. I never tried gpt table because it seem too complex to use. But now, I have a much better understanding of it. My question is -- is there a performance boost over mbr? I mean can data be read faster and written faster by having a gpt table. Thanks

BIGSTUD · 04-21-2017, 02:53 AM

Can I have one HD be mbr and the other gpt?

syg00 · 04-21-2017, 03:19 AM

No
Yes

JJJCR · 04-21-2017, 04:06 AM

MBR < capacity 2TB = ok
MBR > capacity 2TB = might not recognize all space

GPT > capacity 2TB = ok
GPT < capacity 2TB = ok

Conclusion: It's your call. Make a choice.

hazel · 04-21-2017, 04:51 AM

Also gpt does away with the kludge of having "logical disks" inside an "extended partition" to get around the primary partition limit of 4. A gpt disk can have as many primary partitions as you like. Plus it has a built-in backup for the partition table if that gets corrupted. Plus it will boot under both uefi and mbr.

syg00 · 04-21-2017, 05:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hazel

Plus it will boot under both uefi and mbr.

As will an MBR formatted disk (UEFI and BIOS).

Shadow_7 · 04-21-2017, 05:12 AM

Some bios / cmos / uefi / ... do not support booting from GPT. If you have a disk > 2TB, then you have to use GPT or give up all the space > 2TB. Otherwise the "can you boot it" dilemma makes the choice for you.

BIGSTUD · 04-21-2017, 06:08 AM

My bios supports UEFI and Legacy modes and there is also an option to use both at the same time. My hd is 1 terabyte. The reason I want to go GPT is because MBR is dated and I hate the extended/logical partition scheme.

Since my bios supports UEFI, I think I can use GPT.

Much obliged to all members here

Habitual · 04-21-2017, 06:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BIGSTUD

My bios supports UEFI and Legacy modes and there is also an option to use both at the same time. My hd is 1 terabyte. The reason I want to go GPT is because MBR is dated and I hate the extended/logical partition scheme.

Since my bios supports UEFI, I think I can use GPT.

Much obliged to all members here

I have such a BIOS (CMOS gets no love)

Code:

Machine:   System: Gigabyte product: N/A
           Mobo: Gigabyte model: Z77-DS3H v: x.x Bios: American Megatrends v: F7 date: 07/12/2012

gpt here.

However, I have not installed using the UEFI selection.

Thanks a lot, now there's "a list". Grr!

"the list":

Code:

ST1000DM003-9YN1 sda    931.5G                                                   
                 ├─sda1   8.4G ext4         06e2fecb-69d9-46a2-a3b9-d525df6843ec /
                 ├─sda2     1K                                                   
                 ├─sda5   2.8G ext4         694ab374-b4b9-4197-ac12-ea641cb02f69 /var
                 ├─sda6  31.9G swap         5817fe96-3fdb-4795-992b-aba8b53caa76 [SWAP]
                 ├─sda7   380M ext4         accaced2-19b0-479c-b7a8-a0c532c862f1 /tmp
                 └─sda8   888G ext4         5c59b145-0add-4c41-b03d-beeadf3bd574 /home

and those aren't default, except to me.
I made "/" and "[swap]" and committed to disk. The installer did the rest.

aragorn2101 · 04-21-2017, 07:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BIGSTUD

My bios supports UEFI and Legacy modes and there is also an option to use both at the same time. My hd is 1 terabyte. The reason I want to go GPT is because MBR is dated and I hate the extended/logical partition scheme.

Since my bios supports UEFI, I think I can use GPT.

Much obliged to all members here

Hi,

GPT was invented so that your machine can cope with disks larger than 2TB. So, sooner or later, everything will have to move. Since your BIOS already supports UEFI, then it's alright to switch to GPT. After all, your system was made to use it.

My advise would be to stick to only one mode. If you use UEFI, you use only UEFI and GPT.

But, to answer one of your earlier questions: technically, if you have a BIOS running in "MBR" mode, you can have both an MBR disk and a GPT disk, but you cannot boot from the GPT disk, you can only use it for storage. I have a PC in that status right now.
And I noticed that if you have a BIOS running in "UEFI" mode, you still can have both type of disk formats but then you can only boot from the GPT disk.

BIGSTUD · 04-21-2017, 07:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Habitual

I have such a BIOS (CMOS gets no love)

Code:

Machine:   System: Gigabyte product: N/A
           Mobo: Gigabyte model: Z77-DS3H v: x.x Bios: American Megatrends v: F7 date: 07/12/2012

My setup:

Motherboard

Manufacturer: Gigabyte Technology Co., Ltd.
Product Name: B75M-D3H

Bios

Vendor: American Megatrends Inc.
Version: F12
Release Date: 10/26/2012

JeremyBoden · 04-21-2017, 07:48 AM

You can still boot from a USB that has a MBR but mount some GPT disks.

sundialsvcs · 04-21-2017, 12:42 PM

One way or the other, all of my systems seem to have GUID partition tables, and it seems most-natural today to use them.

I think that you're fairly unlikely to encounter a machine today that might not recognize them – except for the leftover machines in your hall closet.

The only difference between the two formats is expressiveness – and the size of the integers which describe the location of the partitions themselves. If your BIOS supports GPT – and it almost certainly does – I would simply use that. And, as others have already said, I would be consistent.