When setting up a new SSD, you need to decide whether to use MBR (Master Boot Record) or GPT (GUID Partition Table) partition style. The choice between MBR and GPT depends on the capacity of the SSD and the compatibility of the operating system. Here are some key points to consider:

• MBR is suitable for older operating systems like Windows XP, while GPT is suitable for higher operating systems like 32-bit Windows 8, 8.1, 10, and 64-bit Windows 7, 8, 8.1, 10, 11.

• If the computer supports UEFI boot and you want to set SSD as the OS disk, use GPT.

• If the computer supports both Legacy and UEFI, set SSD disk type based on the following tips:

  • If the operating system is Windows 7 or earlier, then MBR is the only option.
  • If the operating system is Windows 8 or later, either MBR or GPT can be used.

• GPT is more robust and allows for volumes bigger than 2 TB.

• MBR partition can only have up to four partitions, while GPT can have up to 128 partitions.

• To help extend the life of SSDs and get the most performance out of them, it’s important to format them using a standard that’s optimized for SSD storage. For Windows systems, that would be NTFS.

Ultimately, the choice between MBR and GPT depends on your specific needs and the compatibility of your system. If you have a modern computer, its recommended to use GPT for your SSD.