Which compression format does a better job?

Cowboyofdeath · **Posted:** March 3rd, 2007, 12:25 pm

Should I use .zip, .rar, or .7z most often?

MOTV remarks that 7-Zip is best for extracting RARs, but cannot compress files into a RAR.

WinRAR can, but is only a trial.

And WinZIP is used by most people and doesn't require extra software for use with latest versions of Windows. Therefore, the recipient of the file is not required to install other software.

Which to use?

Adbot · **Posted:** March 3rd, 2007, 12:25 pm

MattVortex · **Posted:** March 3rd, 2007, 1:41 pm

I actually didnt say 7-zip is best for uncompressing RAR.

I said that .7z, the 7-zip compression format, is better than .rar.

As you said, Zip is built into Windows, as well as Mac and Linux, so anyone can recieve a Zip; although the built-in compresser in Windows sucks somewhat.

Get 7-zip. If you want garaunteed interoperability, you can use 7-zip to make a .zip, and it will make that zip better than the windows built-in compressor. If you want the absolute best compression, use .7z with 7-zip.

Jeff · **Posted:** March 3rd, 2007, 2:17 pm

Definitely, 7z. 7z is the best compressing format of all three.

Cowboyofdeath · **Posted:** March 4th, 2007, 4:17 pm

Thanks guys!

I almost installed WinRAR.

Good thing I didn't.

Installing 7ZIP now!

Thanks again.

Chief Snake · **Posted:** March 4th, 2007, 10:54 pm

WinRAR is still a good program to have handy for extracting RARs.

Cowboyofdeath · **Posted:** March 5th, 2007, 5:24 pm

7Zip is very confusing...

I don't get half of what I'm doing while I am compressing...Thanks anyway though.

Adbot · **Posted:** March 5th, 2007, 5:24 pm

Jeff · **Posted:** March 5th, 2007, 5:54 pm

Cowboyofdeath wrote:

7Zip is very confusing...

I don't get half of what I'm doing while I am compressing...Thanks anyway though.

I agree. They give too many options when you are trying to compress things. They should just have a basic and an advance menu.

Anyways, that's usually a problem with open source projects.

MattVortex · **Posted:** March 6th, 2007, 2:57 am

If you want to use 7zip to make a .7z, use these options:

Change the dictionary size to fit the amount of RAM you have. Dont use all of it, though; take the amount of RAM you have, take about 400mb off it, and use that much. For example 1GB - 400MB = 600MB, so i'll use the option that uses 551MB of RAM. To see how much RAM is going to be used, just look at the 'Memory Use for Compressing' thing.

If you want to use 7zip to make a .zip, use these options:

Mushroom Queen · **Posted:** March 6th, 2007, 5:50 pm

MOTV taught me how to use 7z and it worked really well in compressing.

Andy · **Posted:** March 6th, 2007, 6:38 pm

as seen in MOTV's screenies; you can easily select the compression level from the drop down menu.

If your doing >50MB you usually can select ultra, if it's just a collection of videos then this will NOT help you. Pictures do compress, .doc files go so much friggin smaller ( I took 55Mb .doc's and made into 250Kb *on the ultra extra max settings* )
if <50MB regular is usualy best

MattVortex · **Posted:** March 7th, 2007, 4:22 am

Some things are already compressed, for example music, movies, and PNG or Jpeg images; and things that are already compressed are often hard or impossible to compress any more.

BMP Images, word, html and text documents, and other uncompressed formats, however, can often be compressed a significant amount. Programs can also often be compressed, as well as program settings and things.