Setting up partitions is one of the important steps you must do after buying a new laptop or hard disk / SSD. Regarding partition setup, you can not only split partitions, but also change the type of partition table used by the hard disk or SSD.
Currently, there are two types of partition tables you can use on a hard disk or SSD: GPT and MBR. But what exactly are GPT and MBR, and what are the fundamental differences between them?
It is important to know that the partition table setting on a hard disk or SSD is closely related to the firmware on the computer / laptop you are using. Modern computers today generally use one of two types of firmware: Legacy BIOS or * UEFI*. The connection with the partition table is: Legacy BIOS uses MBR partitions, while UEFI uses GPT partitions.
Before Windows 8 appeared, not many users knew about GPT partitions on hard disks, because the Windows 7 operating system at that time was generally installed on MBR partitions. However, since the development of Windows 8 and 10/11, where motherboards already use UEFI firmware, the use of GPT partitions has become a mandatory standard.
On the Windows operating system, you can easily check whether the hard disk partition type is GPT or MBR via Disk Management, and you can also convert from GPT to MBR and vice versa. Below is a complete explanation of both partition tables.
What is Master Boot Record (MBR)?
MBR stands for Master Boot Record, which is a classic partition table architecture where all information about the partition structure on the disk is controlled by the MBR. This system information includes the file system, logical partitions, extended partitions, and so on. The MBR partition table can be used to install almost all legacy or standard operating systems on a computer or laptop.
One of the main functions that works when using the MBR partition table is during the operating system’s boot process. During booting, the MBR will look for the initial sector location called the boot sector. This boot sector contains the files and instructions needed by the system to load the startup until it reaches the Desktop display.
So far, the MBR partition type is quite reliable to use, especially on older devices or motherboards. However, the MBR partition type has several limitations and drawbacks, namely:
- Maximum Capacity Limit of 2 TB: It only supports storage capacity up to 2 TB. If you use a new hard disk or SSD with a capacity above 2 TB, the remaining capacity above 2 TB cannot be read or used on an MBR partition.
- Limit of 4 Primary Partitions: It only supports creating a maximum of 4 primary partitions. If you want to create more than 4 partitions, you must convert one of the primary partitions into an extended partition to hold several logical partitions.
- Vulnerability to Data Corruption: Information about the file system location and partition structure is stored only in one location, namely the first sector of the disk. If this main sector is lost or corrupted, the operating system will suffer total damage and must be reinstalled.
With the rapid development of hardware capacity and modern storage technology, these limitations of MBR are overcome by the new generation of partition tables: GPT.
What is GUID Partition Table (GPT)?
GPT stands for GUID Partition Table, which is the latest generation for hard disk and SSD partition table systems. In this partition type, the layout structure of the partition table is defined using the Globally Unique Identifier (GUID) standard. The arrival of GPT covers all the weaknesses present in MBR.
Here are the main advantages of the GPT partition table compared to MBR:
- Supports Huge Capacity (Up to 9 ZB): GPT supports storage capacity up to 9 Zettabytes (ZB). As a reference, 1 Zettabyte is equivalent to 1 billion Terabytes (TB). This is an extremely large storage capacity, ready to support the future of storage technology.
- Supports Up to 128 Primary Partitions: You can create up to 128 primary partitions without needing to bother with logical partitions or extended partitions.
- Data Security and Automatic Backup: Information about the partition structure and operating system is stored in several sector locations on the disk at once (including duplicate headers at the beginning and end of the drive). If the main information becomes corrupted, the system automatically recovers itself from these backup copies.
Summary of GPT vs MBR Differences
In summary, here is a direct comparison between the GPT and MBR partition tables:
- Storage Capacity: MBR is limited to a maximum of 2 TB, while GPT supports up to 9 Zettabytes.
- Number of Primary Partitions: MBR only supports a maximum of 4 Primary Partitions, while GPT supports up to 128 Primary Partitions.
- Data Structure Security: MBR stores partition data only in one initial location, while GPT stores duplicate partition data at the beginning and end of the disk as a backup protection against corruption.
- System & Firmware Compatibility: MBR is designed for motherboards based on * Legacy BIOS*, while GPT is designed for modern motherboards based on * UEFI* (and is mandatory for Windows 11 installation).
Conclusion
Understanding the differences between GPT and MBR partition tables is very important so that you do not make mistakes when setting up partitions or when creating a Windows installer media.
If your computer or laptop already supports UEFI firmware and uses a large-capacity hard disk or SSD, it is highly recommended to use the GPT partition table so that performance, capacity, and data security are maximized. Conversely, if you are using an old computer that still uses Legacy BIOS, then use the MBR partition table.