However, CD-based games often contain massive amounts of dummy data (padding) used to push game assets to the outer edges of the disc for faster reading speeds, or simply redundant video and audio files. A .7z archive can compress this total size down drastically—often to under 1 GB or sometimes even less, depending on the specific "rip" method used (such as removing the need for the massive FMV cutscenes in certain minimalist rips, though full preservation rips remain larger).
| Feature | 7z | |----------------|-----------------------------| | Compression | LZMA / LZMA2 – higher ratio | | Encryption | AES-256 | | Splitting | Multi-volume support | | Open format | Yes (LGPL) | Ff9 7z
However, the 7z will remain popular because it is a universal standard. You can store it on a NAS, burn it to a Blu-ray, or mount it as a virtual drive. It is the "vinyl record" of game preservation—archaic, bulky, but utterly reliable. However, CD-based games often contain massive amounts of