********** ARCHIVE COMPARISON TEST (A.C.T.) - FEBRUARY 1996 ********* * Author: JEFF GILCHRIST * *********************************************************************** * 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: http://www.mi.net/act/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. ####################################################################### The following is a test I did on several archivers to compare their performance against others. For the following tests with single file types, I used a 486DX4-75 with 8 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. *** PART 1 - SINGLE FILE TESTS *** TEXT File Test - Uncompressed Size 768,771 bytes ARCHIVER SWITCHES CREATION TIME COMPRESSED SIZE RATIO -------- -------- ------------- --------------- ----- B X1 0.94c ->X xem4l2 0 m 31.3 sec 219,652 bytes 71.4% X1 0.94c ->X xem4l1 0 m 32.2 sec 219,734 bytes 71.4% ACB 1.14a f 2 m 36.8 sec 227,416 bytes 70.4% HA 0.999b e2 0 m 34.1 sec 235,767 bytes 69.3% BSArc 2.0.0 -++ 0 m 46.7 sec 244,049 bytes 68.3% CODEC 3.21 -c10 0 m 41.5 sec 252,375 bytes 67.2% NO HAP 4.01 alpha 3 0 m 13.2 sec 260,103 bytes 66.2% HAP 3.14e11 3 0 m 14.1 sec 260,103 bytes 66.2% N QUANTUM 0.96 -c7 -t20 25 m 45.3 sec 263,747 bytes 65.7% QUANTUM 0.96 -c5 9 m 42.6 sec 271,960 bytes 64.6% QUANTUM 0.96 (none) 1 m 37.0 sec 287,179 bytes 62.6% HPACK 0.79a0 -df 0 m 48.5 sec 299,072 bytes 61.1% X1 0.94c ->X xe 0 m 49.9 sec 299,900 bytes 61.0% N RAR 2.0 beta1 -ep -m5 0 m 26.8 sec 301,277 bytes 60.8% N RAR 2.0 beta1 -ep -m5 -mm 0 m 28.0 sec 301,277 bytes 60.8% ARJZ 0.15 -mp9 -jh 0 m 27.2 sec 301,771 bytes 60.7% UC2 v3.0 PRO (Max Compress) 0 m 35.4 sec 302,022 bytes 60.7% ARI 1.12 -n 2 m 20.5 sec 302,200 bytes 60.7% LHARK 0.3e -tob 0 m 30.5 sec 302,820 bytes 60.6% N LHARK 0.3o -tob 0 m 30.6 sec 302,820 bytes 60.6% ARJZ 0.15 (none) 0 m 18.0 sec 304,182 bytes 60.4% N RAR 2.0 beta1 -ep 0 m 15.0 sec 305,349 bytes 60.3% YAC 1.02 (none) 0 m 32.1 sec 307,929 bytes 59.9% N LHARK 0.3o (none) 0 m 14.2 sec 309,326 bytes 59.8% LHARK 0.3e (none) 0 m 14.2 sec 309,326 bytes 59.8% LIMIT 1.2 -mx 0 m 21.2 sec 310,872 bytes 59.6% LIMIT 1.2 (none) 0 m 19.6 sec 311,187 bytes 59.5% AMGC 2.2 -mm 0 m 50.2 sec 311,279 bytes 59.5% UC2 v3.0 PRO (Default) 0 m 17.4 sec 311,412 bytes 59.5% HA 0.999b e1 0 m 26.4 sec 312,016 bytes 59.4% X1 0.93d ->HA xem1 0 m 32.0 sec 312,016 bytes 59.4% SQZ 1.08.3 -q(ALT236) 0 m 26.3 sec 312,330 bytes 59.4% INFO-ZIP 2.0 -9 -j 0 m 18.0 sec 312,371 bytes 59.4% WINZIP95 6.0 (Max Compress) 0 m 19.6 sec 312,371 bytes 59.4% PKZIP 2.04g -ex 0 m 14.8 sec 312,604 bytes 59.3% RAR 1.55 -ep -m5 0 m 29.6 sec 312,726 bytes 59.3% GZIP 1.2.4 -9 0 m 23.0 sec 312,915 bytes 59.3% GZIP 1.2.4 (none) 0 m 12.9 sec 313,379 bytes 59.2% INFO-ZIP 2.0 -j 0 m 14.6 sec 313,466 bytes 59.2% CODEC 3.21 (none) 0 m 15.9 sec 313,787 bytes 59.2% BSArc 2.0.0 (none) 0 m 19.1 sec 314,138 bytes 59.1% AIN 2.2 /m1 0 m 10.4 sec 314,299 bytes 59.1% SQZ 1.08.3 (none) 0 m 18.2 sec 315,028 bytes 59.0% RAR 1.55 -ep 0 m 16.4 sec 315,851 bytes 58.9% PKZIP 2.04g (none) 0 m 10.2 sec 316,113 bytes 58.9% QUARK 1.0beta (none) 0 m 17.7 sec 317,195 bytes 58.7% AIN 2.2 (none) 0 m 08.3 sec 317,659 bytes 58.7% WINZIP95 6.0 (Normal Comp) 0 m 10.5 sec 318,344 bytes 58.6% ARJ 2.50 -jm -e 0 m 16.7 sec 318,939 bytes 58.5% ARJ 2.50 -e 0 m 15.4 sec 319,172 bytes 58.5% AMGC 2.2 (none) 0 m 16.7 sec 327,646 bytes 57.4% NULIB 3.24 c5 0 m 06.0 sec 334,187 bytes 56.5% LHA 2.55b -we: 0 m 17.0 sec 339,110 bytes 55.9% AR 0.02 (none) 0 m 30.7 sec 339,118 bytes 55.9% SAR 1.0 (none) 0 m 31.8 sec 339,118 bytes 55.9% ZOO 2.10 h: 0 m 30.1 sec 339,245 bytes 55.9% PUT 3.41 (none) 0 m 21.5 sec 339,642 bytes 55.8% N HYPER 2.6 (none) 0 m 09.7 sec 345,887 bytes 55.0% HYPER 2.5 (none) 0 m 09.8 sec 345,887 bytes 55.0% PAK 2.51 (none) 0 m 10.9 sec 347,608 bytes 54.8% DWC 5.10 z 0 m 05.8 sec 362,629 bytes 52.8% SQWEZ 2.2 /s 0 m 31.0 sec 365,224 bytes 52.5% ARX 1.0 (none) 0 m 10.3 sec 369,545 bytes 51.9% DWC 5.10 (none) 0 m 05.6 sec 380,228 bytes 50.5% TSCOMP 1.3.21 -sh 0 m 13.1 sec 391,252 bytes 49.1% MDCD 1.0 (none) 0 m 05.8 sec 391,703 bytes 49.0% ZOO 2.10 : 0 m 13.0 sec 391,750 bytes 49.0% N SPLINT 2.1 (none) 0 m 17.7 sec 416,190 bytes 45.9% JRCHIVE 1.10 -v 0 m 09.6 sec 416,982 bytes 45.8% TSCOMP 1.3.21 -sm 0 m 11.3 sec 418,014 bytes 45.6% F ARC 6.02 (none) 0 m 05.3 sec 418,511 bytes 45.6% N GAS 2.0 (none) 1 m 56.8 sec 438,688 bytes 42.9% NULIB 3.24 (none) 0 m 07.1 sec 454,304 bytes 40.9% Winner for best compression : X1 0.94c B Winner for fastest compression: ARC 6.02 F Winner for best overall : HAP 4.01 alpha O N Indicates a new version of the software tested since the last posting of these tests. EXE File Test - Uncompressed Size 425,488 bytes ARCHIVER SWITCHES CREATION TIME COMPRESSED SIZE RATIO -------- -------- ------------- --------------- ----- NB QUANTUM 0.96 -c7 -t20 10 m 19.7 sec 97,105 bytes 77.2% QUANTUM 0.96 -c5 3 m 22.2 sec 97,315 bytes 77.1% ACB 1.14a f 0 m 45.4 sec 97,897 bytes 77.0% N RAR 2.0 beta1 -ep -m5 0 m 13.4 sec 98,572 bytes 76.8% N RAR 2.0 beta1 -ep -m5 -mm 0 m 14.0 sec 98,572 bytes 76.8% ARI 1.12 -n 2 m 41.1 sec 98,831 bytes 76.8% NO RAR 2.0 beta1 -ep 0 m 04.4 sec 99,508 bytes 76.6% RAR 1.55 -ep -m5 0 m 13.6 sec 100,295 bytes 76.4% X1 0.94c ->X xe 0 m 16.6 sec 101,410 bytes 76.2% YAC 1.02 (none) 0 m 17.2 sec 101,419 bytes 76.2% QUANTUM 0.96 (none) 0 m 21.4 sec 101,443 bytes 76.2% HA 0.999b e1 0 m 13.8 sec 101,496 bytes 76.1% RAR 1.55 -ep 0 m 04.8 sec 101,625 bytes 76.1% QUARK 1.0beta (none) 0 m 18.5 sec 103,213 bytes 75.7% UC2 v3.0 PRO (Max Compress) 0 m 27.2 sec 103,488 bytes 75.7% LIMIT 1.2 -mx 0 m 13.0 sec 103,645 bytes 75.6% CODEC 3.21 (none) 0 m 05.2 sec 103,710 bytes 75.6% AMGC 2.2 -mm 0 m 22.7 sec 103,811 bytes 75.6% N LHARK 0.3o -tob 0 m 08.6 sec 103,828 bytes 75.6% LHARK 0.3e -tob 0 m 08.6 sec 103,828 bytes 75.6% GZIP 1.2.4 -9 0 m 18.1 sec 103,832 bytes 75.6% WINZIP95 6.0 (Max Compress) 0 m 14.5 sec 103,929 bytes 75.6% INFO-ZIP 2.0 -9 -j 0 m 15.7 sec 103,929 bytes 75.6% LIMIT 1.2 (none) 0 m 04.8 sec 104,147 bytes 75.5% PKZIP 2.04g -ex 0 m 06.7 sec 104,249 bytes 75.5% N LHARK 0.3o (none) 0 m 03.5 sec 104,500 bytes 75.4% LHARK 0.3e (none) 0 m 03.5 sec 104,500 bytes 75.4% AIN 2.2 /m1 0 m 04.0 sec 104,857 bytes 75.4% ARJ 2.50 -jm -e 0 m 14.5 sec 104,976 bytes 75.3% SQZ 1.08.3 -q(ALT236) 0 m 30.0 sec 105,088 bytes 75.3% ARJZ 0.15 -mp9 0 m 14.4 sec 105,120 bytes 75.3% BSArc 2.0.0 -+1 0 m 17.7 sec 105,024 bytes 75.3% GZIP 1.2.4 (none) 0 m 05.5 sec 105,367 bytes 75.2% INFO-ZIP 2.0 -j 0 m 04.9 sec 105,454 bytes 75.2% UC2 v3.0 PRO (Default) 0 m 07.4 sec 105,514 bytes 75.2% AIN 2.2 (none) 0 m 03.4 sec 105,515 bytes 75.2% PKZIP 2.04g (none) 0 m 04.3 sec 105,547 bytes 75.2% UC2 v2.0 (Default) 0 m 06.7 sec 105,570 bytes 75.2% ARJ 2.50 -e 0 m 05.5 sec 105,657 bytes 75.2% BSArc 2.0.0 (none) 0 m 05.1 sec 105,732 bytes 75.2% PUT 3.41 (none) 0 m 09.3 sec 105,863 bytes 75.1% LHA 2.55b -we: 0 m 07.0 sec 105,949 bytes 75.1% AR 0.02 (none) 0 m 13.4 sec 105,957 bytes 75.1% SAR 1.0 (none) 0 m 13.9 sec 105,957 bytes 75.1% ARJZ 0.15 (none) 0 m 04.7 sec 105,995 bytes 75.1% SQZ 1.08.3 (none) 0 m 05.7 sec 106,023 bytes 75.1% ZOO 2.10 h: 0 m 13.1 sec 106,084 bytes 75.1% CODEC 3.21 -c10 0 m 38.1 sec 106,498 bytes 75.0% WINZIP95 6.0 (Normal Comp) 0 m 03.4 sec 106,527 bytes 75.0% HPACK 0.79a0 -df 2 m 37.8 sec 107,956 bytes 74.6% AMGC 2.2 (none) 0 m 05.8 sec 108,678 bytes 74.5% N HYPER 2.6 (none) 0 m 04.7 sec 109,587 bytes 74.2% HYPER 2.5 (none) 0 m 04.7 sec 109,587 bytes 74.2% SQWEZ 2.2 /s 0 m 17.3 sec 112,393 bytes 73.6% X1 0.94c ->X xem4l1 0 m 33.7 sec 112,857 bytes 73.5% X1 0.94c ->X xem4l2 0 m 34.6 sec 112,869 bytes 73.5% HA 0.999b e2 0 m 39.4 sec 113,013 bytes 73.4% N HAP 4.01 alpha 3 0 m 11.4 sec 113,738 bytes 73.3% HAP 3.14e11 3 0 m 12.4 sec 113,738 bytes 73.3% TSCOMP 1.3.21 -sh 0 m 11.6 sec 114,474 bytes 73.1% TSCOMP 1.3.21 -sm 0 m 08.7 sec 115,379 bytes 72.9% ARX 1.0 (none) 0 m 08.9 sec 118,701 bytes 72.1% PAK 2.51 (none) 0 m 07.2 sec 122,829 bytes 71.1% DWC 5.10 (none) 0 m 03.3 sec 157,188 bytes 63.1% JRCHIVE 1.10 -v 0 m 05.6 sec 157,909 bytes 63.1% MDCD 1.0 (none) 0 m 03.7 sec 158,402 bytes 62.8% ZOO 2.10 : 0 m 07.5 sec 158,449 bytes 62.8% NULIB 3.24 (none) 0 m 04.0 sec 158,955 bytes 62.6% DWC 5.10 z 0 m 03.7 sec 159,263 bytes 62.6% F ARC 6.02 (none) 0 m 03.0 sec 161,589 bytes 62.0% NULIB 3.24 c5 0 m 03.8 sec 163,706 bytes 61.5% N SPLINT 2.1 (none) 0 m 09.1 sec 167,333 bytes 60.7% N GAS 2.0 (none) 1 m 02.8 sec 219,528 bytes 48.4% Winner for best compression : QUANTUM 0.96 B Winner for fastest compression: ARC 6.02 F Winner for best overall : RAR 2.0 beta1 O N Indicates a new version of the software tested since the last posting of these tests. EXE Pack File Test - Uncompressed Size 341,444 bytes The EXE Pack test compares programs that compress .EXE files and still allows them to execute. The .EXE file used in this test is GWS.EXE found in The Graphic Workshop v7.0e by Alchemy Mindworks Inc. The UNCOMP. TIME data shows the amount of time it takes to uncompress and run the executable file. This time was calculated using a utility called BENCH 0.01beta written by Michal Weis (weis@elf.stuba.sk). The results for ACB, RAR and PKZIP are listed only to show how normal archivers compression ratios compare with EXE Packers. UNCOMP. ARCHIVER COMP. TIME TIME COMPRESSED SIZE RATIO OPTIONS -------- ---------- -------- --------------- ----- ------- ACB 1.13b 46.40 sec N/A 121,505 bytes 64.4% N/A RAR 1.55 08.60 sec N/A 125,374 bytes 63.3% N/A PKZIP 2.04g 06.50 sec N/A 129,222 bytes 62.2% N/A NB WWPACK 3.04 20.98 sec 0.1984 s 125,718 bytes 63.2% U E P WWPACK 3.03 21.51 sec 0.1975 s 125,752 bytes 63.2% U P O UCEXE 2.4 05.70 sec 0.1564 s 129,141 bytes 62.2% U P AINEXE 2.2 03.80 sec 0.3154 s 131,941 bytes 61.4% Q COMPACK 4.5 06.90 sec 0.0802 s 134,012 bytes 60.8% U AVPACK 1.22 05.00 sec 0.1161 s 136,672 bytes 60.0% U E P PKLITE 1.50 03.69 sec 0.1473 s 139,731 bytes 59.1% U E P N RJCRUSH 1.0 03.37 sec 0.1833 s 141,187 bytes 58.7% DIET 1.45f 02.74 sec 0.2095 s 142,771 bytes 58.2% U NF DIET 1.45f -g 02.73 sec 0.1687 s 142,874 bytes 58.2% U LZEXE 0.91 03.87 sec 0.1271 s 143,432 bytes 58.0% U P PACKWIN 1.0 09.37 sec 0.1273 s 143,489 bytes 58.0% TINYPROG 3.9 16.39 sec 0.1197 s 144,080 bytes 57.8% E P N XPACK 1.0m -2 ~05 sec 0.3663 s 170,605 bytes 50.0% N XPACK 1.0m -1 ~48 sec 0.2127 s 172,280 bytes 49.5% Winner for best compression : WWPACK 3.04 B Winner for fastest compression: DIET 1.45f F Winner for quickest extraction: COMPACK 4.5 Q Winner for best overall : UCEXE 2.4 O N Indicates a new version of the software tested since the last posting of these tests. OPTIONS: U - The EXE Packer has the ability to uncompress the .EXE file back into its original form. E - The EXE Packer has the ability to encrypt the .EXE file P - The EXE Packer has the ability to add error protection data so it can inform the user if the file has been changed in any way (ie: infected by a virus) 669 File Test - (8 bit, 8 Channel) Uncompressed Size 1,314,481 bytes ARCHIVER SWITCHES CREATION TIME COMPRESSED SIZE RATIO -------- -------- ------------- --------------- ----- NBO RAR 2.0 beta1 -ep -m5 -mm 0 m 22.5 sec 592,535 bytes 54.9% N HAP 4.01 alpha 3 0 m 27.7 sec 620,685 bytes 52.8% X1 0.94c ->X xem4l1 1 m 39.9 sec 626,722 bytes 52.3% X1 0.94c ->X xem4l2 1 m 42.5 sec 628,584 bytes 52.2% ACB 1.14a f 5 m 37.2 sec 636,132 bytes 51.6% HA 0.999b e2 2 m 04.4 sec 636,442 bytes 51.6% BSArc 2.0.0 -++ 2 m 28.9 sec 659,941 bytes 49.8% CODEC 3.21 -c10 2 m 23.9 sec 662,663 bytes 49.6% UC2 v3.0 PRO (Max Compress) 2 m 22.6 sec 684,650 bytes 47.9% HPACK 0.79a0 -df 2 m 30.8 sec 691,175 bytes 47.4% HAP 3.14e11 3 0 m 35.4 sec 704,531 bytes 46.4% N QUANTUM 0.96 -c7 -t20 85 m 35.6 sec 714,809 bytes 45.6% QUANTUM 0.96 -c5 46 m 51.3 sec 719,128 bytes 45.3% QUANTUM 0.96 (none) 2 m 20.5 sec 738,987 bytes 43.8% ARI 1.12 -n 3 m 44.2 sec 756,636 bytes 42.4% X1 0.94c ->X xe 1 m 06.7 sec 761,763 bytes 42.0% RAR 1.55 -ep -m5 0 m 39.6 sec 769,910 bytes 41.4% HA 0.999b e1 0 m 42.9 sec 769,923 bytes 41.4% N RAR 2.0 beta1 -ep -m5 0 m 36.9 sec 770,525 bytes 41.4% LIMIT 1.2 -mx 0 m 50.1 sec 770,759 bytes 41.4% LIMIT 1.2 (none) 0 m 45.4 sec 770,880 bytes 41.4% RAR 1.55 -ep 0 m 24.5 sec 771,679 bytes 41.3% UC2 v2.0 (Default) 0 m 27.5 sec 773,316 bytes 41.2% ARJZ 0.15 -mp9 0 m 35.9 sec 773,318 bytes 41.2% N RAR 2.0 beta1 -ep 0 m 22.6 sec 773,377 bytes 41.2% UC2 v3.0 PRO (Default) 0 m 26.9 sec 773,386 bytes 41.2% PKZIP 2.04g -ex 0 m 27.7 sec 774,780 bytes 41.1% ARJZ 0.15 (none) 0 m 23.5 sec 775,005 bytes 41.0% N LHARK 0.3o -tob 0 m 49.2 sec 775,226 bytes 41.0% LHARK 0.3e -tob 0 m 49.2 sec 775,226 bytes 41.0% AIN 2.2 /m1 0 m 20.0 sec 776,613 bytes 40.9% SQZ 1.08.3 -q(ALT236) 0 m 38.1 sec 778,244 bytes 40.8% N SPLINT 2.1 (none) 0 m 33.7 sec 778,534 bytes 40.8% GZIP 1.2.4 -9 0 m 33.5 sec 779,706 bytes 40.7% AIN 2.2 (none) 0 m 14.8 sec 779,886 bytes 40.7% ARJ 2.50 -e 0 m 21.1 sec 780,613 bytes 40.6% ARJ 2.50 -jm -e 0 m 24.9 sec 780,662 bytes 40.6% SQZ 1.08.3 (none) 0 m 25.8 sec 780,831 bytes 40.6% QUARK 1.0beta (none) 0 m 26.0 sec 780,863 bytes 40.6% N LHARK 0.3o (none) 0 m 22.5 sec 782,482 bytes 40.5% LHARK 0.3e (none) 0 m 22.6 sec 782,482 bytes 40.5% PKZIP 2.04g (none) 0 m 18.4 sec 782,772 bytes 40.5% PUT 3.41 (none) 0 m 34.5 sec 784,604 bytes 40.3% BSArc 2.0.0 (none) 0 m 33.7 sec 784,959 bytes 40.3% INFO-ZIP 2.0 -9 -j 0 m 26.4 sec 785,102 bytes 40.3% WINZIP95 6.0 (Max Compress) 0 m 27.4 sec 785,102 bytes 40.3% LHA 2.55b -we: 0 m 26.8 sec 786,069 bytes 40.2% AR 0.02 (none) 0 m 49.4 sec 786,077 bytes 40.2% SAR 1.0 (none) 0 m 51.5 sec 786,077 bytes 40.2% ZOO 2.10 h: 0 m 48.4 sec 786,204 bytes 40.2% CODEC 3.21 (none) 0 m 21.9 sec 786,352 bytes 40.2% GZIP 1.2.4 (none) 0 m 17.0 sec 786,673 bytes 40.2% INFO-ZIP 2.0 -j 0 m 20.6 sec 786,760 bytes 40.1% AMGC 2.2 -mm 2 m 26.2 sec 788,463 bytes 40.0% WINZIP95 6.0 (Normal Comp) 0 m 17.9 sec 789,647 bytes 39.9% YAC 1.02 (none) 0 m 45.3 sec 803,394 bytes 38.9% ARX 1.00 (none) 0 m 20.2 sec 815,339 bytes 38.0% PAK 2.51 (none) 0 m 17.9 sec 817,011 bytes 37.8% SQWEZ 2.2 /s 0 m 49.9 sec 817,479 bytes 37.8% N HYPER 2.6 (none) 0 m 18.4 sec 821,782 bytes 37.5% HYPER 2.5 (none) 0 m 18.5 sec 821,782 bytes 37.5% NULIB 3.24 c5 0 m 10.2 sec 830,101 bytes 36.8% AMGC 2.2 (none) 0 m 30.1 sec 833,738 bytes 36.6% DWC 5.10 (none) 0 m 10.5 sec 871,519 bytes 33.7% DWC 5.10 z 0 m 11.2 sec 871,940 bytes 33.7% TSCOMP 1.3.21 -sh 0 m 23.6 sec 877,727 bytes 33.2% MDCD 1.0 (none) 0 m 10.6 sec 880,229 bytes 33.0% ZOO 2.10 : 0 m 23.9 sec 880,276 bytes 33.0% JRCHIVE 1.10 -v 0 m 16.4 sec 899,525 bytes 31.6% TSCOMP 1.3.21 -sm 0 m 19.7 sec 903,178 bytes 31.3% NULIB 3.24 (none) 0 m 11.7 sec 937,188 bytes 28.7% N GAS 2.0 (none) 4 m 01.4 sec 983,262 bytes 25.2% F ARC 6.02 (none) 0 m 09.9 sec 1,067,359 bytes 18.8% Winner for best compression : RAR 2.0 beta1 B Winner for fastest compression: ARC 6.02 F Winner for best overall : RAR 2.0 beta1 O N Indicates a new version of the software tested since the last posting of these tests. BMP File Test - (24bit, 620x300x16M) Uncompressed Size 558,054 bytes ARCHIVER SWITCHES CREATION TIME COMPRESSED SIZE RATIO -------- -------- ------------- --------------- ----- NBO HAP 4.01 alpha 3 0 m 12.6 sec 203,223 bytes 63.6% UC2 v3.0 PRO (Max Compress) 1 m 00.2 sec 209,560 bytes 62.4% X1 0.94c ->X xem4l2 0 m 50.8 sec 215,033 bytes 61.5% X1 0.94c ->X xem4l1 0 m 50.7 sec 216,030 bytes 61.3% ACB 1.14a f 1 m 25.8 sec 223,341 bytes 60.0% HA 0.999b e2 1 m 01.4 sec 228,372 bytes 59.1% CODEC 3.21 -c10 1 m 14.0 sec 238,875 bytes 57.2% N QUANTUM 0.96 -c7 -t20 26 m 41.4 sec 246,934 bytes 55.8% QUANTUM 0.96 -c5 6 m 15.4 sec 249,954 bytes 55.2% QUANTUM 0.96 (none) 0 m 33.8 sec 257,768 bytes 53.8% HPACK 0.79a0 -df 1 m 29.9 sec 258,766 bytes 53.6% ARI 1.12 -n 0 m 09.3 sec 259,047 bytes 53.6% RAR 1.55 -ep -m5 0 m 11.6 sec 259,657 bytes 53.5% RAR 1.55 -ep 0 m 07.0 sec 261,549 bytes 53.1% UC2 v3.0 PRO (Default) 0 m 09.9 sec 261,852 bytes 53.1% YAC 1.02 (none) 0 m 20.9 sec 262,339 bytes 53.0% HAP 3.14e11 3 0 m 15.5 sec 262,589 bytes 52.9% N RAR 2.0 beta1 -ep -m5 0 m 11.5 sec 263,229 bytes 52.8% N RAR 2.0 beta1 -ep -m5 -mm 0 m 12.3 sec 263,229 bytes 52.8% AMGC 2.2 -mm 0 m 22.5 sec 264,513 bytes 52.6% N RAR 2.0 beta1 -ep 0 m 06.7 sec 265,212 bytes 52.8% QUARK 1.0beta (none) 0 m 16.8 sec 265,504 bytes 52.4% SQZ 1.08.3 -q(ALT236) 0 m 18.7 sec 266,007 bytes 52.3% AIN 2.2 /m1 0 m 06.5 sec 267,891 bytes 52.0% SQZ 1.08.3 (none) 0 m 08.1 sec 267,935 bytes 52.0% ARJZ 0.15 -mp9 0 m 10.9 sec 268,173 bytes 51.9% AMGC 2.2 (none) 0 m 09.0 sec 269,254 bytes 51.8% AIN 2.2 (none) 0 m 05.2 sec 269,691 bytes 51.7% X1 0.94c ->X xe 0 m 19.3 sec 269,960 bytes 51.6% PKZIP 2.04g -ex 0 m 10.0 sec 270,073 bytes 51.6% ARJZ 0.15 (none) 0 m 06.7 sec 270,404 bytes 51.5% PKZIP 2.04g (none) 0 m 06.4 sec 271,355 bytes 51.4% ARJ 2.50 -jm -e 0 m 11.2 sec 273,371 bytes 51.0% CODEC 3.21 (none) 0 m 07.1 sec 274,263 bytes 50.9% ARJ 2.50 -e 0 m 07.1 sec 274,510 bytes 50.8% LIMIT 1.2 -mx 0 m 15.4 sec 276,374 bytes 50.5% HA 0.999b e1 0 m 15.7 sec 276,919 bytes 50.4% LIMIT 1.2 (none) 0 m 10.6 sec 277,646 bytes 50.2% WINZIP95 6.0 (Max Compress) 0 m 11.2 sec 278,139 bytes 50.2% GZIP 1.2.4 -9 0 m 13.7 sec 278,511 bytes 50.1% INFO-ZIP 2.0 -9 -j 0 m 11.7 sec 278,139 bytes 50.2% LHARK 0.3e -tob 0 m 13.5 sec 279,644 bytes 49.9% N LHARK 0.3o -tob 0 m 13.7 sec 279,644 bytes 49.9% BSArc 2.0.0 -+1 0 m 11.6 sec 279,926 bytes 49.8% GZIP 1.2.4 (none) 0 m 07.6 sec 280,125 bytes 49.8% INFO-ZIP 2.0 -j 0 m 07.2 sec 280,212 bytes 49.8% WINZIP95 6.0 (Normal Comp) 0 m 05.1 sec 281,407 bytes 49.6% BSArc 2.0.0 (none) 0 m 07.4 sec 281,906 bytes 49.5% N LHARK 0.3o (none) 0 m 06.4 sec 283,718 bytes 49.2% LHARK 0.3e (none) 0 m 06.4 sec 283,718 bytes 49.2% LHA 2.55b -we: 0 m 11.2 sec 284,728 bytes 49.0% AR 0.02 (none) 0 m 19.6 sec 284,736 bytes 49.0% SAR 1.0 (none) 0 m 20.8 sec 284,736 bytes 49.0% ZOO 2.10 h: 0 m 19.4 sec 284,863 bytes 49.0% PUT 3.41 (none) 0 m 14.3 sec 285,321 bytes 48.9% SQWEZ 2.2 /s 0 m 19.1 sec 294,491 bytes 48.9% PAK 2.51 (none) 0 m 07.4 sec 299,270 bytes 46.4% N HYPER 2.6 (none) 0 m 07.5 sec 299,652 bytes 46.3% HYPER 2.5 (none) 0 m 07.9 sec 299,652 bytes 46.3% ARX 1.00 (none) 0 m 12.5 sec 305,944 bytes 45.2% TSCOMP 1.3.21 -sh 0 m 09.7 sec 309,999 bytes 44.4% NULIB 3.24 c5 0 m 05.7 sec 311,291 bytes 44.2% TSCOMP 1.3.21 -sm 0 m 08.1 sec 320,196 bytes 42.6% DWC 5.10 z 0 m 05.1 sec 332,533 bytes 40.4% DWC 5.10 (none) 0 m 04.9 sec 345,441 bytes 38.1% MDCD 1.0 (none) 0 m 04.8 sec 352,285 bytes 36.9% ZOO 2.10 : 0 m 10.2 sec 352,332 bytes 36.9% N SPLINT 2.1 (none) 0 m 16.0 sec 355,504 bytes 36.3% JRCHIVE 1.10 -v 0 m 07.5 sec 371,531 bytes 33.4% F ARC 6.02 (none) 0 m 04.4 sec 374,737 bytes 32.8% NULIB 3.24 (none) 0 m 05.5 sec 388,521 bytes 30.4% N GAS 2.0 (none) 1 m 46.8 sec 429,982 bytes 22.9% Winner for best compression : HAP 4.01 alpha B Winner for fastest compression: ARC 6.02 F Winner for best overall : HAP 4.01 alpha O N Indicates a new version of the software tested since the last posting of these tests. *** PART 2 - MULTIPLE FILE TESTS *** I compressed a directory containing 21 files totalling 3,255,838 bytes on my hard drive to a 2 megabyte RAM drive. This directory contained the original files from the Calgary Corpus archive (CALGARYCORPUS.ZIP) which contains text, binary and graphical files. I used a 486DX4-75 with 8 megabytes of RAM to do this test. 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. Here are my results: ARCHIVER SWITCHES EXTRACT TIME COMPRESS TIME COMPRESSED SIZE -------- -------- ------------ ------------- --------------- B ACB 1.14a f 9 m 50.6 sec 9 m 41.4 sec 831,676 bytes X1 0.94c ->X xem4l2 2 m 40.0 sec 2 m 40.4 sec 836,845 bytes X1 0.94c ->X xeum4l2 3 m 24.4 sec 2 m 52.6 sec 877,776 bytes HA 0.999b e12 2 m 39.8 sec 4 m 29.0 sec 883,651 bytes N QUANTUM 0.96 -c7 -t20 1 m 08.3 sec 122 m 46.1 sec 905,604 bytes CODEC 3.21 -c10 3 m 22.8 sec 3 m 07.9 sec 920,927 bytes QUANTUM 0.96 -c5 1 m 00.0 sec 34 m 29.5 sec 934,429 bytes NO HAP 4.01alpha 3 1 m 19.2 sec 0 m 58.0 sec 969,576 bytes HAP 3.14e11 3 1 m 17.5 sec 1 m 02.5 sec 969,576 bytes QUANTUM 0.96 (none) 1 m 01.5 sec 4 m 55.7 sec 981,470 bytes N RAR 2.0 beta1 -ep-m5-mm-s0 m 14.9 sec 1 m 34.9 sec 1,011,149 bytes N RAR 2.0 beta1 -ep -m5 -s 0 m 15.5 sec 1 m 36.8 sec 1,016,911 bytes N RAR 2.0 beta1 -ep -m5 -mm0 m 13.4 sec 1 m 24.6 sec 1,019,729 bytes UC2 v3.0 PRO o25 (Max) 0 m 16.0 sec 94 m 51.3 sec 1,022,160 bytes HPACK 0.79a0 -df 0 m 35.3 sec 11 m 38.4 sec 1,023,107 bytes ARI 1.12 -n 0 m 16.3 sec 9 m 23.7 sec 1,024,569 bytes YAC 1.02 (none) 0 m 36.0 sec 1 m 47.6 sec 1,025,172 bytes N RAR 2.0 beta1 -ep -m5 0 m 12.9 sec 1 m 25.5 sec 1,025,465 bytes UC2 v3.0 PRO (Max Comp) 0 m 16.0 sec 2 m 02.7 sec 1,026,612 bytes CRUSH 1.8+UC2 -n -u 0 m 27.9 sec 2 m 13.5 sec 1,032,742 bytes LHARK 0.3e -tob 0 m 15.8 sec 1 m 25.5 sec 1,035,887 bytes N LHARK 0.3o -tob 0 m 12.2 sec 1 m 26.2 sec 1,035,887 bytes Q ARJZ 0.15 -mp9 0 m 11.3 sec 1 m 23.7 sec 1,038,458 bytes N RAR 2.0 beta1 -ep 0 m 13.0 sec 0 m 44.5 sec 1,038,657 bytes RAR 1.55 -ep -m5 -s 0 m 14.4 sec 1 m 50.5 sec 1,046,073 bytes ARJZ 0.15 (none) 0 m 11.4 sec 0 m 52.3 sec 1,047,169 bytes RAR 1.55 -ep -m5 0 m 13.6 sec 1 m 38.1 sec 1,050,648 bytes UC2 v3.0 PRO (Default) 0 m 16.1 sec 0 m 51.6 sec 1,053,814 bytes LIMIT 1.2 -mx 0 m 13.6 sec 1 m 07.3 sec 1,054,168 bytes LHARK 0.3e (none) 0 m 14.5 sec 0 m 40.2 sec 1,054,477 bytes N LHARK 0.3o (none) 0 m 12.3 sec 0 m 41.2 sec 1,054,477 bytes HA 0.999b e 0 m 35.1 sec 1 m 31.8 sec 1,054,534 bytes LIMIT 1.2 (none) 0 m 13.6 sec 0 m 56.4 sec 1,056,022 bytes CRUSH 1.8+HA -n -h 0 m 49.5 sec 1 m 50.7 sec 1,057,050 bytes GZIP 1.2.4+TAR -9 0 m 38.6 sec 1 m 51.6 sec 1,060,958 bytes SQZ 1.08.3 -q(ALT236) 0 m 16.1 sec 1 m 48.2 sec 1,062,520 bytes WINZIP95 6.0 (Max Comp) 0 m 12.1 sec 1 m 09.2 sec 1,063,057 bytes INFO-ZIP 2.0 -9 -j 0 m 15.8 sec 1 m 05.3 sec 1,063,059 bytes AMGC 2.2 -mm 0 m 18.0 sec 2 m 21.4 sec 1,063,358 bytes CRUSH 1.8+ZIP -n 0 m 24.8 sec 1 m 18.6 sec 1,063,540 bytes TAR 3.20+GZIP cvf.9 0 m 41.0 sec 1 m 29.0 sec 1,063,558 bytes RAR 1.55 -ep 0 m 14.4 sec 0 m 48.6 sec 1,064,522 bytes CODEC 3.21 (none) 0 m 24.0 sec 0 m 49.4 sec 1,065,126 bytes PKZIP 2.04g -ex 0 m 13.9 sec 0 m 52.4 sec 1,065,291 bytes BSArc 2.0.0 -+1 0 m 15.4 sec 1 m 18.5 sec 1,065,316 bytes AIN 2.2 /m1 0 m 12.6 sec 0 m 39.7 sec 1,066,922 bytes QUARK 1.0beta (none) 0 m 22.7 sec 1 m 42.8 sec 1,069,991 bytes INFO-ZIP 2.0 -j 0 m 15.9 sec 0 m 45.1 sec 1,070,443 bytes BSArc 2.0.0 (none) 0 m 16.6 sec 0 m 54.9 sec 1,071,007 bytes SQZ 1.08.3 (none) 0 m 16.1 sec 0 m 56.7 sec 1,073,012 bytes AIN 2.2 (none) 0 m 12.6 sec 0 m 29.3 sec 1,075,730 bytes PKZIP 2.04g (none) 0 m 12.0 sec 0 m 33.0 sec 1,077,029 bytes CRUSH 1.8+ARJ -n -j 0 m 25.9 sec 1 m 28.5 sec 1,080,203 bytes SARJ 1.20 (none) 0 m 23.9 sec 1 m 31.0 sec 1,080,678 bytes ARJ 2.50 -jm -e 0 m 14.9 sec 1 m 07.3 sec 1,081,242 bytes WINZIP95 6.0 (Normal) 0 m 12.9 sec 0 m 37.9 sec 1,082,623 bytes ARJ 2.50 -e 0 m 15.6 sec 0 m 51.3 sec 1,083,663 bytes AMGC 2.2 (none) 0 m 13.4 sec 0 m 47.6 sec 1,114,898 bytes LHA 2.55b -we: 0 m 14.1 sec 1 m 03.0 sec 1,142,342 bytes SAR 1.0 (none) 0 m 29.2 sec 2 m 13.0 sec 1,142,363 bytes ZOO 2.10 h: 0 m 18.1 sec 1 m 54.8 sec 1,143,300 bytes PUT 3.41 (none) 0 m 18.3 sec 1 m 20.1 sec 1,144,112 bytes PAK 2.51 (none) 0 m 16.3 sec 0 m 38.4 sec 1,191,665 bytes N HYPER 2.6 (none) 0 m 26.2 sec 0 m 35.2 sec 1,192,686 bytes HYPER 2.5 (none) 0 m 25.2 sec 0 m 36.4 sec 1,192,686 bytes SQWEZ 2.2 /s 0 m 23.3 sec 1 m 51.8 sec 1,236,777 bytes ARX 1.00 (none) 0 m 20.7 sec 0 m 57.4 sec 1,251,447 bytes TSCOMP 1.3.21 -sh 0 m 18.1 sec 0 m 58.5 sec 1,300,547 bytes TSCOMP 1.3.21 -sm 0 m 18.7 sec 0 m 47.5 sec 1,396,823 bytes DWC 5.10 z 0 m 12.2 sec 0 m 20.8 sec 1,399,119 bytes DWC 5.10 (none) 0 m 12.0 sec 0 m 21.5 sec 1,457,422 bytes ZOO 2.10 : 0 m 28.2 sec 0 m 52.0 sec 1,494,933 bytes MDCD 1.0 (none) 0 m 22.2 sec 0 m 22.7 sec 1,495,906 bytes JRCHIVE 1.10 -c -v 1 m 28.8 sec 1 m 22.9 sec 1,577,652 bytes JRCHIVE 1.10 -v 0 m 56.7 sec 0 m 59.1 sec 1,578,924 bytes F ARC 6.02 (none) 0 m 15.3 sec 0 m 19.5 sec 1,590,185 bytes N SPLINT 2.1 (TARed) 1 m 04.7 sec 1 m 08.8 sec 1,602,266 bytes AR 0.02 (none) ** DOES NOT ACCEPT WILDCARDS ** Winner for best compression : ACB 1.14a B Winner for fastest compression: ARC 6.02 F Winner for quickest extraction: ARJZ 0.15 Q Winner for best overall : HAP 4.01 alpha O N Indicates a new version of the software tested since the last posting of these tests. * Please note that the switches listed above apply only during compression and not during extraction. In the second multiple-file test, I took 130 small TEXT files totalling 1,121,394 bytes and compressed them using the same method as before. ARCHIVER SWITCHES CREATION TIME COMPRESSED SIZE RATIO -------- -------- ------------- --------------- ----- B ACB 1.14a f 2 m 02.6 sec 198,095 bytes 82.3% N QUANTUM 0.96 -c7 -t20 30 m 24.8 sec 217,425 bytes 80.6% QUANTUM 0.96 -c5 10 m 58.4 sec 225,912 bytes 79.9% QUANTUM 0.96 (none) 1 m 30.2 sec 236,638 bytes 78.9% X1 0.94c ->X xeum4l2 0 m 49.9 sec 243,428 bytes 78.3% N RAR 2.0 beta1 -ep -m5 -s 0 m 29.7 sec 249,146 bytes 77.8% N RAR 2.0 beta1 -ep -m5 -mm -s 0 m 31.6 sec 249,146 bytes 77.8% YAC 1.02 (none) 0 m 37.3 sec 250,665 bytes 77.6% UC2 v3.0 PRO o25 (Max Comp) 86 m 44.6 sec 254,368 bytes 77.3% RAR 1.55 -ep -m5 -s 0 m 30.6 sec 255,212 bytes 77.2% CRUSH 1.8+UC2 -n -u 0 m 42.7 sec 255,452 bytes 77.2% UC2 v3.0 PRO (Max Compress) 0 m 50.8 sec 255,704 bytes 77.2% O AIN 2.2 /m1 0 m 13.5 sec 257,550 bytes 77.0% AIN 2.2 (none) 0 m 12.3 sec 259,127 bytes 76.9% UC2 v3.0 PRO (Default) 0 m 21.1 sec 261,820 bytes 76.7% CRUSH 1.8+HA -n -h 0 m 30.0 sec 267,491 bytes 76.1% CRUSH 1.8+ZIP -n 0 m 20.0 sec 271,807 bytes 75.8% N SARJ 1.20 (none) 0 m 47.9 sec 274,685 bytes 75.5% HPACK 0.79a0 -df -u 1 m 04.3 sec 277,775 bytes 75.2% CRUSH 1.8+ARJ -n -j 0 m 25.8 sec 285,597 bytes 74.5% GZIP 1.2.4+TAR -9 0 m 33.4 sec 288,465 bytes 74.3% TAR 3.20 + GZIP cvf.9 0 m 37.0 sec 289,556 bytes 74.2% CODEC 3.21 -c10 1 m 21.3 sec 307,360 bytes 72.6% X1 0.94c ->X xem4l2 1 m 36.8 sec 308,891 bytes 72.5% BSArc 2.0.0 -++ 1 m 03.6 sec 309,872 bytes 72.4% HA 0.999b e2 2 m 46.9 sec 310,135 bytes 69.8% N HAP 4.01 alpha 3 0 m 22.7 sec 324,165 bytes 71.1% HAP 3.14e11 3 0 m 24.2 sec 324,165 bytes 71.1% HA 0.999b e1 0 m 53.9 sec 339,170 bytes 69.8% HPACK 0.79a0 -df 0 m 42.0 sec 340,280 bytes 69.7% ARI 1.12 -n 6 m 13.0 sec 341,905 bytes 69.5% LIMIT 1.2 -mx 0 m 19.3 sec 343,962 bytes 69.3% LIMIT 1.2 (none) 0 m 15.2 sec 344,415 bytes 69.3% SQZ 1.08.3 -q(ALT236) 0 m 34.8 sec 345,713 bytes 69.2% QUARK 1.0beta (none) 0 m 26.9 sec 346,032 bytes 69.1% LHARK 0.3e -tob 0 m 12.8 sec 346,140 bytes 69.1% N LHARK 0.3o -tob 0 m 12.9 sec 346,140 bytes 69.1% BSArc 2.0.0 (none) 0 m 15.4 sec 346,563 bytes 69.1% SQZ 1.08.3 (none) 0 m 18.4 sec 347,404 bytes 69.0% LHARK 0.3e (none) 0 m 10.9 sec 347,474 bytes 69.0% N LHARK 0.3o (none) 0 m 11.0 sec 347,474 bytes 69.0% N RAR 2.0 beta1 -ep -m5 0 m 18.5 sec 347,806 bytes 69.0% N RAR 2.0 beta1 -ep -m5 -mm 0 m 20.0 sec 347,806 bytes 69.0% N RAR 2.0 beta1 -ep 0 m 14.1 sec 349,412 bytes 68.8% CODEC 3.21 (none) 0 m 17.7 sec 349,943 bytes 68.8% N ARJ 2.50 -jm -e 0 m 27.1 sec 351,140 bytes 68.7% ARJZ 0.15 -mp9 -jh 0 m 21.9 sec 351,268 bytes 68.7% N ARJ 2.50 -e 0 m 22.3 sec 351,607 bytes 68.6% RAR 1.55 -ep -m5 0 m 18.1 sec 352,698 bytes 68.5% ARJZ 0.15 (none) 0 m 15.9 sec 353,468 bytes 68.5% PKZIP 2.04g -ex 0 m 12.8 sec 353,978 bytes 68.4% INFO-ZIP 2.0 -9 -j 0 m 25.0 sec 354,111 bytes 68.4% WINZIP95 6.0 (Max Compress) 0 m 23.6 sec 354,366 bytes 68.4% LHA 2.55b -we: 0 m 22.9 sec 355,538 bytes 68.3% SAR 1.0 (none) 0 m 49.9 sec 355,538 bytes 68.3% PUT 3.41 (none) 0 m 31.1 sec 355,668 bytes 68.3% INFO-ZIP 2.0 -j 0 m 18.2 sec 356,613 bytes 68.2% PKZIP 2.04g (none) 0 m 11.5 sec 357,484 bytes 68.1% AMGC 2.2 -mm 0 m 16.5 sec 359,127 bytes 68.0% WINZIP95 6.0 (Normal Comp) 0 m 16.0 sec 359,766 bytes 67.9% ZOO 2.10 h: 0 m 36.4 sec 360,133 bytes 67.9% HYPER 2.5 (none) 0 m 17.8 sec 375,928 bytes 66.5% N HYPER 2.6 (none) 0 m 17.8 sec 376,223 bytes 66.5% ARX 1.0 (none) 0 m 28.7 sec 385,634 bytes 65.6% SQWEZ 2.2 /s 0 m 43.9 sec 389,746 bytes 65.2% PAK 2.51 (none) 0 m 18.2 sec 395,061 bytes 64.8% TSCOMP 1.3.21 -sh 0 m 20.7 sec 402,277 bytes 64.1% TSCOMP 1.3.21 -sm 0 m 19.2 sec 435,359 bytes 61.2% DWC 5.10 z 0 m 14.1 sec 486,424 bytes 56.6% DWC 5.10 (none) 0 m 17.0 sec 488,757 bytes 56.4% ZOO 2.10 : 0 m 20.4 sec 497,189 bytes 55.7% JRCHIVE 1.10 -c -v 0 m 40.3 sec 503,041 bytes 55.1% MDCD 1.0 (none) 0 m 13.0 sec 504,056 bytes 55.1% JRCHIVE 1.10 -v 0 m 57.0 sec 505,098 bytes 55.0% F ARC 6.02 (none) 0 m 10.9 sec 508,530 bytes 54.7% N SPLINT 2.1 (TARed) 0 m 27.1 sec 515,213 bytes 54.1% Winner for best compression : ACB 1.14a B Winner for fastest compression: ARC 6.02 F Winner for best overall : AIN 2.2 O N Indicates a new version of the software tested since the last posting of these tests. ### LOCATING ARCHIVERS FOR DOWNLOAD ### The easiest way to download the archivers listed in A.C.T. is to use the WWW version of A.C.T. If you cannot access the WWW then most of the archivers can be found on the following four FTP sites. Try them in this order: ftp.elf.stuba.sk /pub/pc/pack (6 Anonymous Users 13:00-06:00 GMT) ftp.kiae.su /msdos/arcers (20 Anonymous Users Allowed) ftp.coast.net /SimTel/msdos/archiver (400 Anonymous Users Allowed) garbo.uwasa.fi /pc/arcers (100 Anonymous Users Allowed) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ As you may or may not have noticed, I have been releasing these test results about once a month. I have decided to release the results on the first day of each month and name these tests A.C.T. * Please note that the best overall selection is based entirely on the archiver's compression/speed ratio. It is NOT based on the reliability, price, technical support or the options available in the archiver. I have decided to add an Options List which shows what archivers support certain major options. If you think I should add another category to the list or you see an error, please let me know. If there is an error, please tell me what switch will activate the command that I missed. ---------------------------- OPTIONS LIST ------------------------------ MULTI MANAGE DISK AUTH. 'SOLID' DATA OTHER ARCHIVER SPAN VERI. ENCRYPT ARCHIVES SFX PROTECT. GUI ARCERS -------- ----- ----- ------- -------- --- -------- --- ------ ACB 1.14a X X-??? X AIN 2.2 X X-??? AMGC 2.2 X X-??? AR 0.02 ARC 6.02 X-??? ARI 1.12 X X-??? X X ARJ 2.50 X X X-XOR X X ARX 1.00 BSARC 2.0.0 X X CODEC 3.21 X-??? X CRUSH 1.8 X X DWC 5.10 X-??? X GAS 2.0 GZIP 1.2.4 HA 0.999b HAP 4.01 alpha X HPACK 0.79a0 X X X-PGP X X HYPER 2.6 INFO-ZIP 2.0 * X-??? X JRCHIVE 1.10 X X LHA 2.55b X LHARK 0.3o X-??? X LIMIT 1.2 MDCD 1.0 NULIB 3.24 PAK 2.51 X X-??? X X X PKZIP 2.04g X X X-??? X PUT 3.41 X QUANTUM 0.96 X QUARK 1.0beta X X-??? X RAR 1.55 X X X-??? X X X X RAR 2.0 beta1 X X X-??? X X X X X SAR 1.0 SARJ 1.20 X X X-XOR X X X SPLINT 2.1 X-??? SQWEZ 2.2 X X SQZ 1.08.3 X TAR 3.20+ X TSCOMP 1.3.21 UC2 3.0 PRO * X X-3DES % X X X X WINZIP95 6.0 X X X X1 0.94c X X X YAC 1.02 X X ZOO 2.10 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ MULTI-DISK SPAN = Ability to span an archive over two or more disks AUTH. VERI. = Authentication Verification (Security Envelope) DATA PROTECT. = Data Protection Encoding (Stores Error Recovery Info) ENCRYPT = Ability to encrypt files in archive with password (Garble) SFX = Ability to create Self-Extracting Archives (.EXE) GUI = Graphical or Text Shell to manage archiver functions and select files for compression/decompression MANAGE OTHER ARCERS = Ability to manipulate, use and convert archives in formats other than its own * - UC2 comes with a utility (SAS.EXE) to SPLIT archives into chunks and then rebuild them after. This is not nearly as nice as multi-disk spanning. - INFO-ZIP comes with a utility called ZIPSPLIT which does the same thing as UC2's SAS utility. % - UC2 uses shared dictionaries between file collections to utilize similarities between files. -------------------------------- INDEX ---------------------------------- ARCHIVER RELEASE AUTHOR & (INTERNET E-MAIL) -------- ------- ------------------------------------------------------ TYPE PLATFORMS SUPPORTED FREE UNCOMPRESS ---------- --------------------------------- --------------- ACB Sep '95 George Buyanovsky (george@acb.alma-ata.su) v1.14a Shareware DOS No AIN Jul '94 Transas Marine (UK) Ltd. (100125.3526@compuserve.com) v2.2 Shareware DOS No AINEXE Jul '94 Transas Marine (UK) Ltd. (100125.3526@compuserve.com) v2.2 Shareware DOS N/A AMGC Nov '93 Milen Georgiev v2.2 Shareware DOS No AR Oct '90 Haruhiko Okumura (74050.1022@compuserve.com) v0.02 Freeware DOS Yes ARC Jan '89 S.E.A. Inc. v6.02 Shareware DOS,Amiga No ARI Jan '93 RAO Inc. v1.12 Shareware DOS No ARJ Oct '95 Robert Jung (robjung@world.std.com) v2.50 Shareware DOS,Windows,Amiga,MAC,OS/2(soon) Yes,with source ARJZ Apr '95 (Bulat.Ziganshin@f10.n5049.z2.fidonet.org) v0.15 Shareware DOS,Windows NT,OS/2 Yes ARX Jan '95 Michael A. Kosior (mkosior@acad.bryant.edu) v1.00 Shareware DOS No AVPACK Apr '93 Andrei Volkov v1.22 Freeware DOS N/A BSARC May '95 Serg Babitchew v2.0.0 Shareware DOS,Win,Win NT,OS/2,QNX,Unix No CODEC Apr '95 Telvox Teleinform. (telvox.teleinf@bologna.nettuno.it) v3.21 Shareware DOS,Win,OS/2,Unix,VMS,PowerPC,more No COMPACK Nov '91 Prominence Computer Services Ltd. v4.5 Shareware DOS N/A CRUSH Feb '95 J. Rollason (100031.3537@compuserve.com) v1.8 Shareware DOS No DIET Jun '92 Teddy Matsumoto v1.45f Freeware DOS Yes DWC Mar '90 Dean W. Cooper (dwcooper@ix.netcom.com) v5.10 Freeware DOS Yes GAS May '93 Ricky Bhatti v2.0 Shareware DOS No GZIP Aug '93 Jean-loup Gailly (gzip@prep.ai.mit.edu) v1.2.4 Freeware DOS,WinNT,Unix,VMS,OS/2,Atari,Amiga Yes HA Jan '95 Harri Hirvola (harri.hirvola@vaisala.infonet.com) v0.999b Freeware DOS,OS/2 Yes,with source HAP Dec '94 Harald Feldmann (feldmann@xs4all.nl) v3.14e11 Commercial (v3.03 Shareware) DOS No HAP Jan '96 Harald Feldmann (feldmann@xs4all.nl) v4.01 alph Commercial (v3.03 Shareware) DOS No HPACK May '93 Peter Gutmann (pgut@cs.aukuni.ac.nz) v0.79a0 Shareware DOS,OS/2,Unix,MAC,Amiga,Atari,Archimedes No HYPER May '92 P. Sawatzki & K. Nischkle (in307@dhafeu11.bitnet) v2.6 Shareware DOS No INFOZIP Sep '93 Info-ZIP (zip-bugs@wkuvx1.wku.edu) v2.0 Freeware DOS,Unix,OS/2,Amiga Yes,with source JRCHIVE May '95 JAYAR Systems (jrsys@io.org) v1.10 Shareware DOS No LHA Jul '91 Haruyasu Yoshizaki (coo236@sinet.ad.jp) v2.55b Freeware DOS,Amiga,Mac Yes LHARK Dec '95 Kerwin F. Medina (kerwin@digi.co.jp) v0.3o Freeware DOS Yes LIMIT Feb '94 J Y Lim (jlim@cs.stanford.edu) v1.2 Shareware DOS No LZEXE Jan '90 Fabrice Bellard v0.91 Freeware DOS Yes MDCD Oct '88 Mike Davenport (76676.1362@compuserve.com) v1.0 Freeware DOS Yes,with source NULIB Jan '93 Andy McFadden (fadden@uts.amdahl.com) v3.24 Freeware DOS Yes PACKWIN Jun '94 Yellow Rose Workgroup v1.0alpha Shareware DOS N/A PAK Oct '90 NoGate Consulting v2.51 Shareware DOS No PKLITE Apr '95 PKWARE Inc. (support@pkware.com) v1.50 Shareware DOS No PKZIP Feb '93 PKWARE Inc. (support@pkware.com) v2.04g Shareware DOS,Windows,OS/2 No PUT Jan '95 Jim Hass (73057.3113@compuserve.com) v3.41 Shareware DOS No QUANTUM Dec '94 Cinematronics (davids@cruzio.com) v0.96 Freeware DOS,Windows No QUARK May '93 Kunz Robert v1.0beta Shareware DOS No RAR Jan '96 Eugene Roshal (as@hq.icb.chel.su) v2.01beta Shareware DOS,OS/2,UNIX Yes,with source RJCRUSH Nov '95 RJS Software (rjs@leclub.co.za) v1.0 Shareware DOS No SAR Mar '93 Streamline Design v1.0 Shareware DOS No SARJ Nov '95 Frederic Taes (fta@info.fundp.ac.be) v1.20 Freeware DOS Yes SPLINT Apr '89 Kenji Rikitake (Kenji@dctwcs.das.net) v2.1 Freeware DOS,UNIX Yes,with source SQWEZ Nov '94 Jim Miller (74131.1704@compuserve.com) v2.2 Shareware DOS No SQZ Jan '93 Jonas Hammarberg (100417.2002@compuserve.com) v1.08.3 Shareware DOS No TAR Jan '95 Tim V. Shaporev (tim@shaporev.msk.su) v3.20+ Shareware DOS,Unix,Amiga No TINYPROG Mar '94 Tranzoa, Co. v3.9 Shareware DOS N/A TSCOMP 1991 The Stirling Group v1.3.21 Shareware DOS No UC2 Jun '95 Ad Infinitum Products (desk@aip.nl) v3.0 Shareware(Free for non-commercial use) DOS Yes UCEXE Jun '95 Ad Infinitum Products (desk@aip.nl) v2.3 Shareware DOS Yes WINZIP Aug '95 Nico Mak (support@winzip.com) v6.0 Shareware Windows,Win95,Win NT No WWPACK Jan '96 Piotr Warezak (awarezak@krysia.uni.lodz.pl) v3.04 Shareware DOS No X1 Aug '95 Stig Valentini (sv@id.dtu.dk) v0.94c Freeware DOS,OS/2 Yes XPACK Jan '96 JauMing Tseng (s8203143@simon.pu.edu.tw) v1.0m Freeware DOS No YAC Sep '95 Aleksandras Surna (as@ashurna.msk.ru) v1.02 Freeware DOS Yes ZOO Jul '91 Rahul Dhesi (dhesi@bsu-cu.bsu.edu) v2.10 Shareware DOS,Unix,Amiga No ------------------------------------------------------------------------- The information above may not be 100% accurate so if anyone notices any errors or finds something I left out, please let me know. ** ERROR IN LAST ACT ** - In the last A.C.T. I said that as far as I knew, ARJ was the only archiver that could create SFX multi-disk archives. I was WRONG! RAR has been able to do this for some time now as well as the latest versions of UC2. Thanks to the MANY people who e-mailed me to inform me of this error. HAP 4.01 alpha - The next generation of HAP has been released. This version like the previous is commercial software and includes a number of algorithm enhancements for multi-media type files. It is also faster than previous versions and much better compression on the BMP and 669 multi-media files. For more info e-mail: feldmann@xs4all.nl LHARK 0.3o - No performance increase in this version but it does create smaller SFX archives, it can now store directory information and there are several bug fixes. Two versions of LHARK are now included in the release, one with the LHA style commands and one with the new LHARK style commands. For more info e-mail: kerwin@digi.co.jp To get a copy: ftp.elf.stuba.sk /pub/pc/pack/lhark03o.exe QUANTUM 0.96 - I retested Quantum yet again on -c7 mode using a larger table size (-t20). Although there was a small improvment in compression, it takes MUCH longer than the standard table size of 18. So let Quantum run overnight. :-) RAR 2.0 beta1 - Major changes in this new release of RAR. Currently DOS and OS/2 versions available with UNIX and Win95 versions coming soon. RAR has also enhanced it's mutli-media compressing ability. No major difference on the BMP file but a HUGE improvement on the 669 music file. The general algorithm also compresses better on regular files and RAR seems to be faster as well. Other new features in RAR 2.0 is improved password encryption and data recovery facilities. Auto-detecting 32bit 386/486 instructions have been added for those with 386+ CPU's. For more info e-mail: as@hq.icb.chel.su To get a copy: ftp.elf.stuba.sk /pub/pc/pack/rar200b.exe RJCRUSH 1.0 - The author claims that this EXE compressor can compress executables and their inner contained or external overlay files. Compression is not bad and if you need something to also compress overlays, this may be the software for you. For more info e-mail: rjs@leclub.co.za To get a copy: ftp.elf.stuba.sk /pub/pc/pack/rjcru100.zip SPLINT 2.1 - Splint is similar to GZIP in the sense that it takes your file to compress and replaces it with the compressed version. It also only compresses one file in an archive so for multiple file you will need to TAR the files first. For more info e-mail: Kenji@dctwcs.das.net To get a copy: ftp.elf.stuba.sk /pub/pc/pack/splint.zip XPACK 1.0m - This EXE compressor has some kind of bug with the way it times itself. That is why I could only get an approximate compression time for both packing modes. For some reason in DOS 6.22 when I run XPACK, my timing programs do not work because XPACK resets the DOS time to the beginning of the current hour. So if it was 10:23am and I ran XPACK, when it was finished, it would change the time to 10:00am. My timing software would take the start time and finish time and try and calculate a number but would get confused since the finish time was before the start time. Use this version at your own risk. Hopefully a bug fixed version will be out soon. For more info e-mail: s8203143@simon.pu.edu.tw To get a copy: ftp.elf.stuba.sk /pub/pc/pack/xpack10m.zip WWPACK 3.04 - This version adds encryption to the executable to try and prevent it from being extracted and tampered with. It also has slightly improved speed and compression. For more info e-mail: awarezak@krysia.uni.lodz.pl To get a copy: ftp.elf.stuba.sk /pub/pc/pack/wwp304.zip ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Anyone wishing to send me updated versions of archivers or email may use PGP (Pretty Good Privacy) v2.6 or above to encrypt the info. Listed below is my PGP public key which you can use to encrypt a binary file or ascii file into RADIX-64 ascii format. After you have encrypted the file, you can then send it to me via email at my Internet address listed below. When you use my public key to encrypt something with PGP, only I can decrypt the file so you can be certain that whatever you send will only be seen by me. -----BEGIN PGP PUBLIC KEY BLOCK----- Version: 2.6.3i mQCNAy53etMAAAEEAM9FrKHl4ZSsNl15zzbtYZoC48e4WT83AsdH5vHr7P0npRIM unbDNUdBbQ0ZGppG4a0ccYpLs8EAkGJLGL28JCZzk4LDCLxCn14VoeVZSV25S0mj 1ApwoTUrzqWsrdbaeGdeJ1IBxG2zc9SMMDq3htPcGzb/KQvAbbgiZykcOlgBAAUR tB1KZWZmIEdpbGNocmlzdCA8amVmZmdAbWkubmV0Pg== =HI+u -----END PGP PUBLIC KEY BLOCK----- If you have any comments or suggestions please feel free to send me some EMAIL and I will try and reply as soon as I can. INTERNET: jeffg@mi.net *** INFORMATION REQUESTED *** If anyone knows the encryption methods that are (???) unknown in the archiver Option List, please email and let me know. Thanks! +--------------------------------------------------------------+ | HOW TO GET THE LATEST COPY OF THE ARCHIVE COMPARISON TEST | +--------------------------------------------------------------+ ** Official Distribution Sites ** Via BBS ------- DANGER UNLiMiTED at +1-403-280-3778 (300bps - 28,800bps) Login ID: DISTRO No password required. Via FIDONET File-Request (FREQ) ------------------------------- LineLife M/F (Germany) SysOp: Horst Hackenbruch FREQable under the magic name: ACT Most archivers also available on this site. 2:2433/940 (300 - 128,000bps Zyxel/v.34/v.110/v.120/x.75/DMS100) Phone: +49-2173-967910 2:2433/941 (ISDN: ELINK EL310, x.75 ESDD-1) Phone: +49-2173-967911 Via Internet ------------ WWW: http://www.mi.net/act/act.html FTP: ftp.coast.net /SimTel/msdos/archiver/actest??.zip FTP: ftp.elf.stuba.sk /pub/pc/pack/actest??.zip FINGER: s0b8@jupiter.sun.csd.unb.ca ** If you are not listed above, you are NOT an official ** ** distribution site. ** -- -= JEFF GILCHRIST =- (New Brunswick, Canada) - Author Of A.C.T. - Internet: jeffg@mi.net