Master Boot Record (MBR) is a record used by older operating systems to store information about disk partitions, including boot information. Globally Unique Identifier Partition Table (GPT) is a newer partitioning scheme associated with Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI), designed to overcome the limitations of MBR.
Sector Addressing
- MBR: Uses 32-bit sector addressing, limiting its ability to manage large disks.
- GPT: Utilizes 64-bit sector addressing, enabling management of much larger disks.
Disk Size Limitation
- MBR: Maximum disk size supported is 2 TB, limiting its utility for modern storage solutions.
- GPT: Supports disks up to 18 exabytes, accommodating large storage needs.
Partition Flexibility
- MBR: Allows up to four primary partitions or a combination of three primary and one extended partition.
- GPT: Supports up to 128 primary partitions, offering greater flexibility for users requiring multiple partitions.
Redundancy and Reliability
- MBR: Lacks redundancy, leading to potential issues with corruption and data loss.
- GPT: Includes redundant tables (primary and backup) ensuring data integrity and robustness against corruption.
Associations with Operating Systems
- MBR: Used by older operating systems like DOS and early Windows versions.
- GPT: Associated with UEFI, the newer boot standard, providing advanced features for modern systems.
While MBR was a foundational method for managing disk partitions, its limitations make it less suitable for modern computing needs. GPT’s advanced features make it the preferred choice for contemporary systems.