*********** ARCHIVE COMPARISON TEST (A.C.T.) - APRIL 1997 ***********
* Author: JEFF GILCHRIST *
* A.C.T. released since September 1992. *
***********************************************************************
* A.C.T. may be re-posted or distributed only if the contents are *
* not changed under any circumstances and the contents are posted *
* in their entirety. *
***********************************************************************
########################### PLEASE READ ###############################
A.C.T. is now on the World Wide Web (WWW)! It can be accessed at:
(CANADA) http://personal.nbnet.nb.ca/jeffg/act.html
(USA) http://www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/Park/4264/act.html
This is the best way to view A.C.T. since it is in a graphical format
and most authors have a link to their e-mail address. There are also
links to FTP sites to download most of the archivers. Finally, there
is a link to my e-mail address to send me any comments or suggestions.
#######################################################################
+------------------------------------------------------------------+
| CAN YOU HELP US CRACK THE DES CONTEST??? |
| If you can donate your IDLE cpu time to help crack the DES |
| encryption algorithm, please go to one of the following WEB site |
| for more information. |
| |
| If you live in: |
| Canada or USA: http://www.frii.com/~rcv/deschall.htm |
| Everywhere Else: http://www.des.sollentuna.se/ |
+------------------------------------------------------------------+
The following is a test I did on several archivers to compare their
performance against others.
CONFIG.SYS : BUFFERS=20,0 FILES=40
For the following tests with single file types, I used a 486DX4-75 with
20 megabytes of RAM. No disk CACHE was used at all! For the timing,
Ultra Precision Command Timer v1.6 by Erik de Neve was used. The
operating system used was DOS 6.22. I compressed the tested files from
my hard drive to a 2 megabyte RAM drive.
LEGEND OF SYMBOLS USED
----------------------
+ = Indicates a new version of the software tested since the last
posting of these tests.
- = Indicates the version of the software tested will be removed
from the listing next month.
* = Indicates the version of the software tested has changed either
in speed or compression size since the previous month.
8 = Indicates the archiver was tested using 8 megabytes of RAM.
B = Indicates the archiver with the best compression
O = Indicates the archiver with the best speed/compression ratio
F = Indicates the archiver with the fastest compression
Q = Indicates the archiver with the quickest extraction
Timing is displayed in the format: minutes:seconds.tenths_of_a_second
+------------------------------------+
| PART 1 - SINGLE FILE TESTS |
+------------------------------------+
TEXT File Test - Uncompressed Size 768,771 bytes
CREATION
ARCHIVER SWITCHES TIME COMPRESSED SIZE RATIO
-------- -------- -------- --------------- -----
B RKIVE 1.4 -mt 1:01.8 219,676 bytes 71.4%
X1 0.94m ->X xem4l2 0:34.0 219,691 bytes 71.4%
X1 0.94m ->X xem3 0:35.3 219,827 bytes 71.4%
RKIVE 1.4 -mtx 1:31.5 219,917 bytes 71.4%
ACB 1.29b (u)f 4:02.5 222,802 bytes 71.0%
ACB 1.29b (b)f 2:43.1 225,761 bytes 70.6%
8 ACB 1.14a (b)f 2:36.8 227,416 bytes 70.4%
BZIP 0.21 (none) 0:32.1 230,247 bytes 70.0%
ACB 1.29b (B)f 1:54.7 231,377 bytes 69.9%
HA 0.999b e2 0:34.8 235,767 bytes 69.3%
BZIP 0.21 -5 0:30.4 240,630 bytes 68.7%
ACB 1.23c (B)f 1:15.7 241,251 bytes 68.6%
8 BSArc 2.0.0 -++ 0:46.7 244,049 bytes 68.3%
X1 0.94m ->X xem7 0:17.7 250,124 bytes 67.5%
RKIVE 1.4 -mb 0:52.1 252,321 bytes 67.2%
CODEC 3.21 -c10 0:42.4 252,375 bytes 67.2%
JAR32 1.01d -m4 0:38.3 258,500 bytes 66.4%
JAR32 1.01d -m3 0:20.5 258,519 bytes 66.4%
JAR32 1.01d (none) 0:17.9 259,625 bytes 66.2%
O HAP 4.03 3 0:13.2 260,103 bytes 66.2%
HAP 3.05bp (none) 0:18.3 260,103 bytes 66.2%
RKIVE 1.4 -mf 0:37.5 260,710 bytes 66.1%
X1 0.94m ->X xem6l2 5:21.6 262,719 bytes 65.8%
QUANTUM 0.97 -c7 -t20 29:40.3 263,747 bytes 65.7%
JAR16 1.01d -m4 0:28.4 271,895 bytes 64.6%
JAR16 1.01d -m3 0:28.4 271,895 bytes 64.6%
QUANTUM 0.97 -c5 11:03.7 271,960 bytes 64.6%
JAR16 1.01d (none) 0:24.7 274,721 bytes 64.3%
+ UFA32 0.01 -m2 -md512 1:17.5 274,856 bytes 64.2%
+ ARI 2.18b6 -md4-c 2:02.2 275,528 bytes 64.2%
- ARI 2.18b1 -md4-c 3:02.0 275,556 bytes 64.2%
+ ARI 2.18b6 -md3-m3 1:35.0 276,883 bytes 64.0%
WinRAR 2.0 -m5 -md512 1:50.4 279,704 bytes 63.6%
- ARI 2.18b1 -md2-m3 2:04.9 281,275 bytes 63.4%
WinRAR 2.0 -m5 -md256 1:25.2 284,230 bytes 63.0%
QUANTUM 0.97 -c3 -t20 2:00.1 284,721 bytes 63.0%
+ UFA32 0.01 -m2 -md128 1:34.6 286,172 bytes 62.8%
QUANTUM 0.97 (none) 1:44.8 287,179 bytes 62.6%
WinRAR 2.0 -md512 0:27.7 293,003 bytes 61.9%
- UFA 0.00 -m2 1:14.8 297,619 bytes 61.3%
+ ARI 2.15 (none) 4:00.9 298,328 bytes 61.2%
- ARI 2.14 -1 3:49.9 298,333 bytes 61.2%
+ ARI 2.18b6 -m3 1:12.2 298,570 bytes 61.2%
HPACK 0.79a0 -df 0:49.7 299,072 bytes 61.1%
- ARI 2.18b1 -m2 1:26.2 300,545 bytes 60.9%
RAR 2.0 -m5 0:30.1 301,306 bytes 60.8%
ARJZ 0.15 -mp9 -jh 0:27.9 301,771 bytes 60.7%
UC2 v3.0 PRO (Max Compress) 0:36.6 302,022 bytes 60.7%
UC v2.37 beta (Max Compress) 0:35.5 302,026 bytes 60.7%
LHARK 0.4b -tob 0:31.7 302,820 bytes 60.6%
- ARI 2.14 -m3 -1 1:26.1 302,360 bytes 60.7%
+ ARI 2.15 -m3 1:21.7 302,560 bytes 60.6%
ARJZ 0.15 (none) 0:18.6 304,182 bytes 60.4%
RAR 2.0 (none) 0:16.6 305,914 bytes 60.2%
YAC 1.02 (none) 0:36.1 306,697 bytes 60.1%
LHARK 0.4b (none) 0:14.9 309,326 bytes 59.8%
+ ZET 0.10b -eh 0:20.2 309,699 bytes 59.7%
LIMIT 1.2 -mx 0:21.6 310,872 bytes 59.6%
LIMIT 1.2 (none) 0:20.1 311,187 bytes 59.5%
AMGC 2.3 (Max) 0:49.0 311,274 bytes 59.5%
SUPERPACK 2.0 (Max) 0:49.3 311,274 bytes 59.5%
PKZIP 2.5 Win95 (Extra) 0:11.5 311,317 bytes 59.5%
UC v2.37 beta (Default) 0:16.4 311,412 bytes 59.5%
UC2 v3.0 PRO (Default) 0:17.4 311,412 bytes 59.5%
HA 0.999b e1 0:27.1 312,016 bytes 59.4%
SQZ 1.08.3 -q(ALT236) 0:26.9 312,330 bytes 59.4%
INFO-ZIP 2.1NT -9 -j 0:17.6 312,371 bytes 59.4%
WINZIP'95 6.2 (Max Compress) 0:18.3 312,371 bytes 59.4%
INFO-ZIP 2.1DOS -9 -j 0:17.9 312,395 bytes 59.4%
PKZIP 2.04g -ex 0:15.1 312,604 bytes 59.3%
PKZIP 2.5 Win95 (Norm) 0:08.8 312,913 bytes 59.3%
GZIP 1.2.4 -9 0:23.5 312,915 bytes 59.3%
LHA 2.67(Win32) -wd:\ 0:21.4 313,166 bytes 59.3%
INFO-ZIP 2.1NT -j 0:14.3 313,466 bytes 59.2%
INFO-ZIP 2.1DOS -j 0:14.4 313,490 bytes 59.2%
CODEC 3.21 (none) 0:16.2 313,787 bytes 59.2%
8 BSArc 2.0.0 (none) 0:19.1 314,138 bytes 59.1%
ESP 1.8 /m0 0:11.5 314,270 bytes 59.1%
AIN 2.32 /m1 0:11.3 314,299 bytes 59.1%
GZIP 1.2.4 (none) 0:18.8 314,443 bytes 59.2%
SQZ 1.08.3 (none) 0:18.6 315,028 bytes 59.0%
PKZIP 2.04g (none) 0:10.4 316,113 bytes 58.9%
QUARK 1.0beta (none) 0:18.0 317,195 bytes 58.7%
ESP 1.8 /m2 0:09.5 317,629 bytes 58.7%
AIN 2.32 (none) 0:09.1 317,660 bytes 58.7%
WINZIP'95 6.2 (Normal Comp) 0:10.7 318,344 bytes 58.6%
ARJ 2.50a -jm -e 0:17.4 318,939 bytes 58.5%
ARJ 2.55b -jm -e 0:17.9 318,939 bytes 58.5%
ARJ 2.50a -e 0:16.2 319,163 bytes 58.5%
ARJ 2.55b -e 0:16.7 319,163 bytes 58.5%
ZIPSERVER 2.12 (none) 0:12.5 319,450 bytes 58.4%
+ ZET 0.10b (none) 0:09.4 321,667 bytes 58.2%
SUPERPACK 2.0 (Normal) 0:15.4 327,641 bytes 57.4%
AMGC 2.3 (Normal) 0:15.6 327,641 bytes 57.4%
NULIB 3.24 c5 0:05.9 334,187 bytes 56.5%
LHA 2.55b -we: 0:17.4 339,110 bytes 55.9%
AR 1.10 (none) 0:32.4 339,110 bytes 55.9%
SAR 1.0 (none) 0:32.3 339,118 bytes 55.9%
ZOO 2.10 h: 0:30.9 339,245 bytes 55.9%
CROSSEPAC 1.35 Format=Binary 0:29.9 339,419 bytes 55.8%
PUT 3.41 (none) 0:22.4 339,642 bytes 55.8%
ZipNAV 2.03 (Comp lvl 5) 0:19.7 340,046 bytes 55.8%
ZipNAV 2.03 (Comp lvl 9) 0:20.4 340,046 bytes 55.8%
HYPER 2.6 (none) 0:09.9 345,887 bytes 55.0%
PAK 2.51 (none) 0:10.8 347,608 bytes 54.8%
JAM - Aug1996 (none) 0:06.9 351,720 bytes 54.2%
CRUSHER 3.12 (none) 0:37.0 352,950 bytes 54.1%
DWC 5.10 z 0:07.7 362,629 bytes 52.8%
PKARC 3.5 (none) 0:04.4 364,069 bytes 52.6%
SQWEZ 2.2 /s 0:33.0 365,224 bytes 52.5%
ARX 1.0 (none) 0:14.4 369,545 bytes 51.9%
ZIP-ARCHIV 2.0 (none) 0:11.0 370,868 bytes 51.8%
PKPAK 3.61 (none) 0:07.7 370,543 bytes 51.8%
F PKZIP 2.04g -es 0:04.1 372,386 bytes 51.6%
DWC 5.10 (none) 0:08.1 380,299 bytes 50.5%
TSCOMP 1.3.21 -sh 0:13.3 391,252 bytes 49.1%
PGMPAK 0.13 (none) 0:08.6 391,510 bytes 49.1%
MDCD 1.0 (none) 0:05.8 391,703 bytes 49.0%
ZOO 2.10 : 0:13.2 391,750 bytes 49.0%
SPLINT 2.1 (none) 0:17.8 416,191 bytes 45.9%
JRCHIVE 1.10 -v 0:09.6 416,982 bytes 45.8%
ZIP-ARCHIV 2.0 -m 0:08.0 417,005 bytes 45.8%
TSCOMP 1.3.21 -sm 0:11.3 418,014 bytes 45.6%
ARC 6.02 (none) 0:05.4 418,511 bytes 45.6%
LARC 3.33 (none) 0:10.2 424,186 bytes 44.8%
GAS 2.0 (none) 2:00.7 438,688 bytes 42.9%
NULIB 3.24 (none) 0:07.0 454,304 bytes 40.9%
Winner for best compression : RKIVE 1.4
Winner for fastest compression: PKZIP 2.04g
Winner for best overall : HAP 4.03
EXE File Test - Uncompressed Size 425,488 bytes
CREATION
ARCHIVER SWITCHES TIME COMPRESSED SIZE RATIO
-------- -------- -------- --------------- -----
+B UFA32 0.01 -m2 -md128 1:35.5 84,768 bytes 80.1%
+ UFA32 0.01 -m2 -md512 1:14.3 84,785 bytes 80.1%
+ ARI 2.15 -1 2:31.3 90,841 bytes 78.6%
- ARI 2.14 -1 2:37.6 90,842 bytes 78.6%
+ ARI 2.18b6 -1 1:21.6 90,932 bytes 78.6%
+ ARI 2.18b6 -m4 -1 1:15.0 90,960 bytes 78.6%
- ARI 2.18b1 -1 1:31.4 91,326 bytes 78.5%
- ARI 2.18b1 -m4 -1 1:24.9 91,357 bytes 78.5%
+ ARI 2.18b6 -m3 -1 0:46.2 91,922 bytes 78.4%
- ARI 2.18b1 -m3 -1 0:44.3 92,078 bytes 78.4%
+O ARI 2.15 -m3 -1 0:29.7 92,147 bytes 78.3%
- ARI 2.14 -m3 -1 0:30.1 92,172 bytes 78.3%
RKIVE 1.4 -mb 0:30.2 92,203 bytes 78.3%
RKIVE 1.4 -mtx 0:43.9 93,603 bytes 78.0%
- UFA 0.00 -m2 1:12.1 94,052 bytes 77.9%
RKIVE 1.4 -mt 0:36.4 94,301 bytes 77.8%
ACB 1.29b (u)f 1:10.2 95,453 bytes 77.6%
ACB 1.29b (b)f 0:50.0 95,676 bytes 77.5%
ACB 1.29b (B)f 0:36.4 96,182 bytes 77.4%
RKIVE 1.4 -mf 0:22.3 96,886 bytes 77.2%
QUANTUM 0.97 -c7 -t20 11:00.2 97,105 bytes 77.2%
QUANTUM 0.97 -c5 3:46.5 97,315 bytes 77.1%
ACB 1.14a f 0:43.7 97,897 bytes 77.0%
RAR 2.0 -m5 0:14.7 98,576 bytes 76.8%
WinRAR 2.0 -m5 -md256 0:22.2 98,734 bytes 76.8%
JAR16 1.01d -m3 0:24.5 99,061 bytes 76.7%
JAR16 1.01d -m4 0:24.6 99,061 bytes 76.7%
JAR16 1.01d (none) 0:17.7 99,194 bytes 76.7%
JAR32 1.01d -m3 0:16.4 99,421 bytes 76.6%
JAR32 1.01d -m4 0:16.7 99,422 bytes 76.6%
WinRAR 2.0 -md256 0:06.6 99,760 bytes 76.6%
JAR32 1.01d (none) 0:11.1 99,869 bytes 76.6%
X1 0.94m ->X xem1 0:18.1 101,410 bytes 76.2%
8 YAC 1.02 (none) 0:17.2 101,419 bytes 76.2%
QUANTUM 0.97 (none) 0:25.2 101,443 bytes 76.2%
YAC 1.02 (none) 0:19.9 101,448 bytes 76.2%
QUANTUM 0.97 -c3 -t20 0:26.4 101,456 bytes 76.2%
HA 0.999b e1 0:14.2 101,496 bytes 76.1%
QUARK 1.0beta (none) 0:18.5 103,213 bytes 75.7%
UC2 v3.0 PRO (Max Compress) 0:27.2 103,488 bytes 75.7%
UC v2.37 beta (Max Compress) 0:26.6 103,508 bytes 75.7%
LIMIT 1.2 -mx 0:13.1 103,645 bytes 75.6%
CODEC 3.21 (none) 0:04.9 103,710 bytes 75.6%
PKZIP 2.5 Win95 (Extra) 0:05.0 103,793 bytes 75.6%
SUPER PACK 2.0 (Max) 0:21.6 103,806 bytes 75.6%
AMGC 2.3 (Max) 0:21.8 103,806 bytes 75.6%
LHARK 0.4b -tob 0:09.1 103,828 bytes 75.6%
GZIP 1.2.4 -9 0:18.2 103,832 bytes 75.6%
WINZIP'95 6.2 (Max Compress) 0:15.9 103,929 bytes 75.6%
INFO-ZIP 2.1NT -9 -j 0:15.8 103,929 bytes 75.6%
INFO-ZIP 2.1DOS -9 -j 0:15.6 103,953 bytes 75.6%
LIMIT 1.2 (none) 0:04.8 104,147 bytes 75.5%
PKZIP 2.04g -ex 0:06.7 104,249 bytes 75.5%
LHARK 0.4b (none) 0:03.9 104,500 bytes 75.4%
ESP 1.8 /m0 0:05.2 104,830 bytes 75.4%
AIN 2.32 /m1 0:04.7 104,858 bytes 75.4%
ARJ 2.50a -jm -e 0:14.7 104,976 bytes 75.3%
ARJ 2.55b -jm -e 0:15.3 104,976 bytes 75.3%
BSArc 2.0.0 -+1 0:17.7 105,024 bytes 75.3%
SQZ 1.08.3 -q(ALT236) 0:30.2 105,088 bytes 75.3%
ARJZ 0.15 -mp9 0:14.3 105,120 bytes 75.3%
GZIP 1.2.4 (none) 0:05.9 105,196 bytes 75.2%
LHA 2.67(Win32) -wd:\ 0:06.7 105,214 bytes 75.3%
INFO-ZIP 2.1NT -j 0:04.6 105,402 bytes 75.2%
+ ZET 0.10b -eh 0:13.0 105,428 bytes 75.2%
INFO-ZIP 2.1DOS -j 0:04.6 105,478 bytes 75.2%
ESP 1.8 /m2 0:04.3 105,488 bytes 75.2%
UC2 v3.0 PRO (Default) 0:06.8 105,514 bytes 75.2%
F PKZIP 2.5 Win95 (Norm) 0:02.2 105,515 bytes 75.2%
AIN 2.32 (none) 0:04.0 105,515 bytes 75.2%
UC v2.37 beta (Default) 0:06.4 105,544 bytes 75.2%
PKZIP 2.04g (none) 0:04.3 105,547 bytes 75.2%
ARJ 2.50a -e 0:05.5 105,646 bytes 75.2%
ARJ 2.55b -e 0:06.3 105,646 bytes 75.2%
8 BSArc 2.0.0 (none) 0:05.1 105,732 bytes 75.2%
PUT 3.41 (none) 0:09.7 105,863 bytes 75.1%
ZIPSERVER 2.12 (none) 0:03.7 105,900 bytes 75.1%
LHA 2.55b -we: 0:07.1 105,949 bytes 75.1%
AR 1.10 (none) 0:14.8 105,949 bytes 75.1%
SAR 1.0 (none) 0:13.9 105,957 bytes 75.1%
ARJZ 0.15 (none) 0:04.4 105,995 bytes 75.1%
SQZ 1.08.3 (none) 0:05.5 106,023 bytes 75.1%
ZOO 2.10 h: 0:13.2 106,084 bytes 75.1%
CROSSEPAC 1.35 Format=Binary 0:12.4 106,258 bytes 75.0%
CODEC 3.21 -c10 0:38.4 106,498 bytes 75.0%
WINZIP'95 6.2 (Normal Comp) 0:03.9 106,527 bytes 75.0%
BZIP 0.21 (none) 0:15.6 106,740 bytes 74.9%
CRUSHER 3.12 (none) 0:13.4 106,998 bytes 74.9%
HPACK 0.79a0 -df 2:38.2 107,956 bytes 74.6%
+ ZET 0.10b (none) 0:04.0 108,507 bytes 74.5%
AMGC 2.3 (Normal) 0:04.4 108,673 bytes 74.5%
SUPER PACK 2.0 (Normal) 0:05.3 108,673 bytes 74.5%
X1 0.94m ->X xem6l2 8:38.3 108,708 bytes 74.5%
HYPER 2.6 (none) 0:04.6 109,587 bytes 74.2%
X1 0.94m ->X xem6l2 0:10.3 111,433 bytes 73.8%
SQWEZ 2.2 /s 0:17.1 112,393 bytes 73.6%
ZipNAV 2.03 (Comp lvl 9) 0:11.6 112,436 bytes 73.6%
HA 0.999b e2 0:39.7 113,013 bytes 73.4%
ZipNAV 2.03 (Comp lvl 5) 0:09.8 113,439 bytes 73.3%
HAP 4.03 3 0:11.4 113,738 bytes 73.3%
HAP 3.05bp (none) 0:20.0 113,738 bytes 73.3%
ZIP-ARCHIV 2.0 (none) 0:10.2 114,456 bytes 73.1%
TSCOMP 1.3.21 -sh 0:11.4 114,474 bytes 73.1%
TSCOMP 1.3.21 -sm 0:08.5 115,379 bytes 72.9%
ZIP-ARCHIV 2.0 -m 0:05.5 117,841 bytes 72.3%
X1 0.94m ->X xem4 0:37.3 118,101 bytes 72.2%
PGMPAK 0.13 (none) 0:07.9 118,472 bytes 72.2%
ARX 1.0 (none) 0:11.0 118,701 bytes 72.1%
PKZIP 2.04g -es 0:02.5 122,592 bytes 71.2%
PAK 2.51 (none) 0:06.8 122,829 bytes 71.1%
LARC 3.33 (none) 0:06.6 145,522 bytes 65.8%
JAM - Aug1996 (none) 0:04.0 146,269 bytes 65.6%
DWC 5.10 (none) 0:03.9 157,188 bytes 63.1%
JRCHIVE 1.10 -v 0:05.3 157,909 bytes 63.1%
MDCD 1.0 (none) 0:03.5 158,402 bytes 62.8%
ZOO 2.10 : 0:07.5 158,449 bytes 62.8%
NULIB 3.24 (none) 0:03.5 158,955 bytes 62.6%
DWC 5.10 z 0:04.3 159,263 bytes 62.6%
PKARC 3.5 (none) 0:02.9 159,751 bytes 62.5%
PKPAK 3.61 (none) 0:03.8 159,815 bytes 62.4%
ARC 6.02 (none) 0:03.0 161,589 bytes 62.0%
NULIB 3.24 c5 0:03.5 163,706 bytes 61.5%
SPLINT 2.1 (none) 0:08.9 167,333 bytes 60.7%
GAS 2.0 (none) 1:04.8 219,528 bytes 48.4%
DPA 1.1a (none) 0:10.1 229,567 bytes 46.0%
Winner for best compression : UFA32 0.01
Winner for fastest compression: PKZIP 2.5 Win95
Winner for best overall : ARI 2.15
--- Terminate 4.0+
---------------
* Origin: ARJ : The best archiver (2:293/2009)
|