August 7th, 2008
VIPRE performance shoot-out - Does it really not slow down your PC?
Results
The results here are quite staggering. While the effect that VIPRE had on system performance was indeed minimal (in the region of 1.5% to 2.0% for the 32-bit system, and around 0.5% for the 64-bit system), Kaspersky AntiVirus 2007 had a much larger effect (in the region of 15% for the 32-bit system, and around 8% for the 64-bit system), while Norton AntiVirus 2008 hit the system even harder (about 19% for the 32-bit system, and 12% for the 64-bit system).
Even without benchmarking the effect that Kaspersky AntiVirus 2007 and Norton AntiVirus 2008 had on the system could be felt while using the system. For applications which are designed to run in the background continuously, that’s unacceptable.
I also tested how long it took each product to scan roughly 4.2GB of files on the 32-bit Vista Home Premium system fitted with 2GB of RAM. Here are the results:
In this test Norton AntiVirus 2008 doesn’t come that far behind VIPRE, but Kaspersky AntiVirus 2007 is left trailing far behind.
The bottom line …
Security software can have a shocking effect on performance, and can take a new system and make it feel like one that’s a few years old. I’m pleased to see that Sunbelt Software’s claim that VIPRE doesn’t hog system resources and doesn’t slow down a PC isn’t just marketing hyperbole but is actually true. I hope that this move encourages other security software vendors to take a look at how well (or badly) their products affect system performance and take steps to reduce the effect that the software has on the user experience.
Attention Second Lifers: If you’re an inhabitant of Second Life you can enter yourself into a daily draw to win a copy of VIPRE by going to the Sunbelt Software island and clicking on the appropriate displays situated around the main building (if you’re into Second Life this should make sense to you, if not, it won’t make a shred of sense!).
Thoughts?
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Adrian is a technology journalist and author who has devoted over a decade to helping users get the most from technology. He also runs a popular blog called The PC Doctor. See his full profile and disclosure of his industry affiliations
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| 08/07/08
