A file compressor is one of the essential programs that we must always have available. These programs allow us to compress files to share them more easily or to decompress the files that we download from the Internet. Windows, as standard, allows to compress and decompress ZIP files, however, it is not compatible with many of the other compressed file formats that we can find. Therefore, we often have to resort to other alternative file compressors, such as WinRAR.
WinRAR is one of the best known programs to compress and decompress files that we can find. Although most compressors can read RAR and RAR5 files, WinRAR is the only one that can compress this format, as it is the property of RARLAB.
Its developers are constantly updating the program to correct failures and errors in the compressor and, in addition, include news and features that help us to better use this program. Thus comes the new version WinRAR 5.90, a maintenance update focused especially on improving the overall performance of the compressor.
What’s New in WinRAR 5.90
One of the problems with many file compressors is that they have a performance that leaves a lot to be desired when using very old algorithms and functions. WinRAR wants to end this, and for this, it has included a series of changes in its new version 5.90, especially focused on improving the performance of all file compression and decompression tasks:
- Improved speed when using processors with 16 or more cores.
- The maximum number of processor threads has been increased from 32 to 64 for more powerful computers.
- The “Multithreading” parameter of the WinRAR options has now been changed to “Threads”, and allows us to specify the number of threads we want the program to use, from 1 to 64.
Several improvements directly related to the new RAR5 archive format have also been introduced , such as the following:
- The “faster” method now generates more compression when creating RAR5 files.
- The function of repairing RAR5 files has been improved after the previous version, 5.80, had been broken.
- Password is not asked when trying to check and repair RAR5 files.
Other changes and new features have also been introduced in WinRAR 5.90 to improve the overall operation of the file compressor:
- The main window now shows the size of the compressed and uncompressed folders.
- The compressor information command now shows the total folders from the browser.
- When opening very large files, a progress bar and a “Cancel” button now appear to finish the task. Very useful to control the opening of TAR files.
- The compression and decompression window can now be resized.
- If you try to convert any file into a folder that does not exist, the program tries to create it automatically.
- Added support for GZIP.
Download WinRAR
This new version of the popular file compressor is now available to all users. If we want to test it, we only have to access the following link and download the new version to our computer.
We remember that WinRAR is a paid program with a 40-day trial version. After this period of time we will have to buy a license, valued at 36.24 euros, to be able to use this program legally and indefinitely.
If you don’t like WinRAR and are looking for another free file compressor, we recommend trying PeaZip, 7Zip or Bandizip .