How does PS3 console storage work (FAT32)

[AstroBenny]

This just came into my head..

If the PS3 only supports FAT32 then how come you can put a 500GB Hard drive in a PS3 since the max FAT32 supports is 32GB..?

[QueenDemetria]

4 minutes ago, AstroBenny said:

This just came into my head..

If the PS3 only supports FAT32 then how come you can put a 500GB Hard drive in a PS3 since the max FAT32 supports is 32GB..?

Fairly certain that FAT32 supports up-to 2TB.

[Jade]

FAT32 has a max of 2TB/partition and 4GB/file.

[AstroBenny]

Just now, Jade said:

FAT32 has a max size of 2TB with a file limit at 4GB (or less) per file.

So what happens to games that are larger than 4GB?

[Jade]

Just now, AstroBenny said:

So what happens to games that are larger than 4GB?

They're split into multiple files and read from each one as it's needed.

[MrSuperb]

1 minute ago, AstroBenny said:

So what happens to games that are larger than 4GB?

a game consists of many files. those files are all smaller than 4GB.

[MrSuperb]

3 minutes ago, Jade said:

FAT32 has a max of 2TB/partition and 4GB/file.

2TB if 512 byte sectors are used
16TB if 4 KB sectors are used ...
 

[AstroBenny]

5 minutes ago, MrSuperb said:

2TB if 512 byte sectors are used
16TB if 4 KB sectors are used ...
 

 

7 minutes ago, Jade said:

They're split into multiple files and read from each one as it's needed.

 

Ahh..

How come my 128GB USB thumbdrive came formatted as FAT32 but when I go to reformat it, I can only select NTFS or exFAT in Windows?

[Jade]

4 minutes ago, AstroBenny said:

 

 

Ahh..

How come my 128GB USB thumbdrive came formatted as FAT32 but when I go to reformat it, I can only select NTFS or exFAT in Windows?

Was probably formatted with 512 byte sectors as MrSuperb mentioned. If you wanted to format it back to that you'd have to use something like gparted, cgdisk, etc. from Linux, or maybe diskpart in Windows. Really, the default formatting prompt in Windows just isn't all that great and Windows is less than flexible when it comes to format supports. (ext4 where)

[MrSuperb]

1 hour ago, AstroBenny said:

Ahh..

How come my 128GB USB thumbdrive came formatted as FAT32 but when I go to reformat it, I can only select NTFS or exFAT in Windows?

It is/was a design decision by Microsoft to support older Windows versions and/or to force users to use NTFS

 

you shouldn't use fat32 for anything nowadays other than system that require it (like the PS3)