LZMA(2) compression for backups

[P4!N|DK999]

I'm using the Backup function of Steam very often because my connection isn't that great. But the size of game folder and backup folder doesn't really differ from each other. I think you use a fast compression algorithm such as deflate? Maybe bring up the option to use a slow but much more effective compression method such as the LZMA or LZMA2 algorithms?

[wuddih]

many games come with game files that are already compressed with such methods, it would be a lot of wasted resources to run such compression alogs over them again.

my recommendation is to don't use the Steam backup function at all and just backup the library directories 1:1 uncompressed. storage space is dirt cheap with $30-40 per TB.

[Charlie]

Don't use the Steam's built-in backup, it's slow, use 7Zip or WinRar, add them to an archive - From here you can choose to store them or compress when. I recently created a backup for BAK, 47GB... Was going to take an hour with Steam's built-in backup... Took 12 minutes on 7Zip. Both of them would have been roughly the exact same size.

7Zip (get the 15.10 beta)
http://www.7-zip.org/

WinRar
http://www.rarlab.com/download.htm

Compression rates will vary, with some games you can see a huge reduction on size and others you will save a few GBs if not MBs

[P4!N|DK999]

But how do I restore it with 7zip? Steam doesn't recognise the folder and overwrites it with the download

[Charlie]

Początkowo opublikowane przez P4!N|DK999:

But how do I restore it with 7zip? Steam doesn't recognise the folder and overwrites it with the download

You extract from the 7Zip Archive to the SteamApps/Common folder.