[AccessD] OT RE: Rar vs winzip

Jim,

Actually the focus wasn't how it uses a quad core specifically but rather
that RAR seems to make better use of multi-core (multi-thread) in general,
how that effects the speed of getting a file zipped up, and how that effects
processor usage.  Since I work from a home office, I have used Winzip a LOT
to ship Access files back and forth from my clients.  Often times the time
to zip up the files gets excessive, I have a client with total data BEs
approaching a gig.  I just thought it might be useful information to those
of us who face this problem.  I will certainly be using RAR from this point
on when I need to get a big file zipped in a hurry.  OTOH it pretty much
consumes the processor so I will NOT use it if I need to be working on other
things simultaneously.

I just found it an interesting comparison between the two products and how
they effect what I do.  In fact I happened (at the time) to be zipping huge
SQL Server databases for archiving, but as you pointed out, the file type is
indeed irrelevant.

John W. Colby
Colby Consulting
www.ColbyConsulting.com 
-----Original Message-----
From: accessd-bounces at databaseadvisors.com
[mailto:accessd-bounces at databaseadvisors.com] On Behalf Of Jim Dettman
Sent: Sunday, February 10, 2008 5:41 PM
To: 'Access Developers discussion and problem solving'
Subject: [AccessD] OT RE: Rar vs winzip

Bobby,

  The focus though wasn't in working with databases per say, but how WinZip
and RAR works with a quad core processor.  The file type really is a moot
point.

Jim,

-----Original Message-----
From: accessd-bounces at databaseadvisors.com
[mailto:accessd-bounces at databaseadvisors.com] On Behalf Of Bobby Heid
Sent: Sunday, February 10, 2008 5:11 PM
To: 'Access Developers discussion and problem solving'
Subject: Re: [AccessD] Rar vs winzip

I don't think this is really too off topic as I do not know anyone who uses
Access does not have to zip up a database every now and then.

Bobby

-----Original Message-----
From: accessd-bounces at databaseadvisors.com
[mailto:accessd-bounces at databaseadvisors.com] On Behalf Of Jim Dettman
Sent: Saturday, February 09, 2008 8:17 AM
To: 'Access Developers discussion and problem solving'; 'Discussion of
Hardware and Software issues'
Subject: Re: [AccessD] Rar vs winzip

John,

  Doesn't this really belong on the tech list?  Or at the very least tag it
as OT.

Jim. 

-----Original Message-----
From: accessd-bounces at databaseadvisors.com
[mailto:accessd-bounces at databaseadvisors.com] On Behalf Of jwcolby
Sent: Friday, February 08, 2008 9:05 PM
To: 'Access Developers discussion and problem solving'; 'Discussion of
Hardware and Software issues'
Subject: [AccessD] Rar vs winzip

I am zipping up some of my big databases in order to get a backup without
the size.  I have always used Winzip but also have RAR installed so I
decided to try both.  I have a quad core on the SQL Server, and it turns out
that Winzip uses a bit of each core but mostly one.  RAR OTOH seems to use
LOTS of all 4 cores, and compresses about 4 times faster than Winzip, I
assume as a result of more efficient usage of the additional processing
power in the additional cores.

OTOH you can winzip and do other things.  RAR tends to suck about 80% of all
4 cores so it is pretty slow doing anything else.  But if you need to zip
something up as quickly as possible then RAR seems to be the one to use.

John W. Colby
Colby Consulting
www.ColbyConsulting.com