Guide Achieving maximum possible compression in WinRAR...

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In today's age of the internet, file transfer is a common practice. However, to speed up the transfer, we compress the files since smaller files get transferred faster. The most common format used is the ZIP file. Later, when WinRAR came out, it attracted many web users because of its better compression ratio than the former WinZIP. As a result, although ZIP files are still widely used, RAR files have a higher priority.

After searching for about an hour on Google, I still couldn't find a better way to compress files to the max in WinRAR. So, I assume that until someone corrects me or gives me a better suggestion, I would use the following settings for WinRAR to attain the maximum possible compression. Here's how to go about it :

1. Start WinRAR.

2. Press Ctrl+S to open the Settings dialog box.

3. Go to Compression tab & click on ' Create default... ' to create a compression profile.

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The settings made hereafter apply to all RAR files created using the ' Add to filename.rar ' option.

4. Select archive format as RAR, compression method as Best and tick the 'Create solid archive' checkbox.

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5. Go to Advanced tab & click on ' Compression... '

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6. Apply the settings as highlighted in the image below :

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7. Click OK on all windows till you reach the main window to apply the settings. You're done... :hap2:
 
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ROCKFELLA said:
OR simply buy a Quaddy and OC it.
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You still have a bit to learn, rocky :) . As Lord Nemesis already mentioned the quad will only speed up the compression not improve the compression ratio.
Compression depends upon the algorithm.
 
Hmm , the quality by any chance isn;t affected right ? :P I mean if you choose the audio compression option ? I knew of teh solid , best modes , but not of the forced modes.

Whatever , repped :D
 
^^doesnt make much change except the solid archieve n best compression ratio checks...which i already knew:P....use 7zip for better compression or even KGB:cool2:

Many of you use WinZip or WinRar to compress your files. Currently, Winzip & Winrar don’t grab the highest compression software. KGB Archiver comes with AES-256 encryption, it said the strongest encryptions for now “One of the advantages of KGB Archiver is also AES-256 encryption which is used to encrypt the archives. This is one of the strongest encryptions known for humanâ€
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KGB Archiver - Best Compression Software - ZePy

KGB is resource dependent...and very slow but compression ratio is insane.;)
 
try nanozip if only compression ratio is the criteria. if time required is not important, one can also try the paq8o or the paq8p archivers by using the peazip as a frontend. peazip also has a lot of different compression options available.

edit:
nice tips in the guide. especially the solid archive option which is very valuable when compressing multiple files and/or folders in a single archive.
 
PhOeNiX said:
Hmm , the quality by any chance isn;t affected right ? I mean if you choose the audio compression option ? I knew of teh solid , best modes , but not of the forced modes.
Whatever , repped
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This doesn't affect the quality.. you don't change the settings of the audio compression option since it lowers the ratio.... I've tried that.. ;)

WingZero said:
^^doesnt make much change except the solid archieve n best compression ratio checks...which i already knew....use 7zip for better compression or even KGB
KGB Archiver - Best Compression Software - ZePy

KGB is resource dependent...and very slow but compression ratio is insane.
Click to expand...

pr0ing said:
try nanozip if only compression ratio is the criteria. if time required is not important, one can also try the paq8o or the paq8p archivers by using the peazip as a frontend. peazip also has a lot of different compression options available.
Click to expand...

I know that, KGB gives insane compression, I completely agree with that... but also consider the amount of resources & time it hogs. Also, WinRAR is widely used and it also has a simpler interface. I wrote this guide keeping ratio, time AND resource usage in mind. If you have a lot of patience to compress your data, I would surely advise using KGB.
 
I had read some time ago that for getting best compression in WinRAR command line switch(parameters) should be used. They provide maximum control of the settings and provide maximum compression ratio. But I never took the pain of finding out the actual commands.

The best compression program is not KGB Archiver, it is WinRK(i forgot the actual name. It is something like that). It has been developed by a single person, not a team. He is a Kiwi. The program is not free, it is Shareware.

KGB is the best free compression program.
 
Do not even go near KGB it takes a hell of a long time to compress and decompress.

And why use winrar when you can use 7zip which is free and gives better compression at around the same speed as winrar?
 
there is this thing called UHarc...was common 2-3 years back to compress games...was able to compress a dvd game into a ~700mb
 
yeah UHarc was pretty insane. i still remember extracting a 4gb fps game from a 125mb uharc file..
 
last time i checked UHarc only had a DOS interface and commands...maybe there is a GUI version now...
 
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