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Adrian Kingsley-Hughes
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VIPRE performance shoot-out - Does it really not slow down your PC?

By | August 7, 2008, 8:19am PDT

Summary: The other day when I blogged about Sunbelt Software’s latest VIPRE antivirus solution I took the claims that it doesn’t slow down your PC pretty much at face value. Time to see if there’s any validity to these claims.

Results

Results - System #1

Results - System #2

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:

av_shootout_system03_sm.png 

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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Topics

32-bit, 32-bit system, performance, pc, norton co., antivirus, symantec norton antivirus, ram, 64-bit, viruses and worms, security, processors, semiconductors, hardware, components, adrian kingsley-hughes

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes is an internationally published technology author who has devoted over a decade to helping users get the most from technology.

Disclosure

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes

All opinions expressed on Hardware 2.0 are those of Adrian Kingsley-Hughes. Every effort is made to ensure that the information posted is accurate. If you have any comments, queries or corrections, please contact Adrian via the email link here. Any possible conflicts of interest will be posted below. [Updated: February 23, 2010] - Adrian Kingsley-Hughes has no business relationships, affiliations, investments, or other actual/potential conflicts of interest relating to the content posted so far on this blog.

Biography

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes is an internationally published technology author who has devoted over a decade to helping users get the most from technology -- whether that be by learning to program, building a PC from a pile of parts, or helping them get the most from their new MP3 player or digital camera.

Adrian has authored/co-authored technical books on a variety of topics, ranging from programming to building and maintaining PCs. His most recent books include "Build the Ultimate Custom PC", "Beginning Programming" and "The PC Doctor's Fix It Yourself Guide". He has also written training manuals that have been used by a number of Fortune 500 companies.

Adrian also runs a popular blog under the name The PC Doctor, where he covers a range of computer-related topics -- from security to repairing and upgrading.

Talkback Most Recent of 98 Talkback(s)

  • How about the corporate version
    I've been using Symantec Anti-Virus corporate for years and subjectively it seems a lot less "in your face" i.e. much less of an impact compared to its consumer cousin Norton Anti-Virus. I actually steer well clear of the consumer products.
    ZDNet Gravatar
    cornpie
    7th Aug 2008
  • it has the same engine
    it has the same engine, so it has the same performances.
    ZDNet Gravatar
    qmlscycrajg
    7th Aug 2008
  • I disagree
    There is a huge performance difference between Norton Corporate and Consumer verion. The consumer version will slow down even the fastest machine. The corporate version runs without much issue even on oldish machines.
    ZDNet Gravatar
    Stuka
    7th Aug 2008
  • Corporate is significantly different (better)
    While I don't have any figures on corporate speed, I can tell you that corporate and consumer are completely seperate in almost every way. I'm very happy with Symantec corporate and assumed this would translate to the consumer market. I even made the mistake of recommending Norton's consumer products to home users and those who controlled their own laptop security. I was appaled to find that Norton Internet Security doesn't even recognize Symantec Corporate as antivirus! The corporate version is far better in every way.
    ZDNet Gravatar
    IMGoldfinger
    8th Aug 2008
  • I agree, but...
    you apparently haven't used Symantec Endpoint Protection 11. Corporate was good, I used it for years. SEP11 is the reason why I recently replaced Corporate Ed. with NOD32 Antivirus Business Ed. for some of our clients when their subscriptions came up for renewal.
    ZDNet Gravatar
    Tony Paletti
    8th Aug 2008
  • And SEP 11
    Is lighter than corporate edition and you should compare VIPRE with it ,not with Norton 2008
    ZDNet Gravatar
    gel@...
    11th Aug 2008
  • RE: VIPRE performance shoot-out - Does it really not slow down your PC?
    Interesting, and timely. I am testing Vipre right now on one of my laptops. But given that Vipre is internet security suite and not just antivirus, would not it be more of a comparison to benchmark it against Kaspersky Internet Security (KIS) and the corresponding Symantec product. I don't know how much of a performance hit a systems takes by running the more comprehensive suite, and I would think the numbers would show an even higher difference.
    ZDNet Gravatar
    tperkins@...
    7th Aug 2008

  • ZDNet Blogger

    Well ...
    ... I didn't because VIPRE doesn't have a firewall or anti-spam, so the comparison wouldn't really be valid.
    ZDNet Gravatar
    Adrian Kingsley-Hughes
    7th Aug 2008
  • Firewall & Antispam
    Use onlymyemail.com for anti-spam. It's a beautiful system... but use MX integration. There you have it, zero overhead comprehensive spam filtering on the server-end.

    As for Firewall, Sunbelt makes a really nice one that is also super-low impact. Great interface, loads of control.

    I only wish they made a version of their firewall product for servers!
    ZDNet Gravatar
    ianarmstrong
    7th Aug 2008
  • Why not use Agnitum Security Suite Pro?
    I ditched Norton and MCaffee 10 yrs ago. Hogs!
    Used to use AVG until 8.0 came out. Now I use nothing but Agnitum's Security Suite Pro for firewall, anti-spam, anti-ads, virus and scumware protection. Two things are best of all:
    Top ratings in anti-leak firewall and all of the rest as listed; and best performance in daily updating. Where can you get better protection... it only takes a maximum of 2 minutes to download (on dialup) all virus and scumware signatures. Granted that its a paid program but for peace of mind there is nothing better! Try it... you'll never go back to Norton's anything.
    ZDNet Gravatar
    kimo99@...
    8th Aug 2008
  • Adrian:
    How about some free stuff like AVG?

    I have a reason for asking:
    My husband's machine is a real piece of crap, and is slower than mollasses in January. The last thing he needs is another performance hit. Then I find out last week that he hasn't used security software in YEARS (on Windows, mind you). I nearly sh*t and fell over. Sure enough, I get on his machine, and it's like the machine has morphed into one big virus.


    So, I'm going to work on it this weekend, but the reason that he hasn't used any AV software is precisely because it slows him down (I suppose it never dawned on him that all that malware and spyware he's allowing on his machine is doing that and worse...). I'd much rather get something free if possible, but if it's the same, worse, or only marginally better than Norton, I'd rather spend the $30 to keep him using it.
    ZDNet Gravatar
    laura.b
    7th Aug 2008
  • I second that
    yea i would love to see AVG added to the comparison

    Also NOD32 could be an interesting comparison as well; small and fast is one of their marketing angles (and the reason i bought their product) "lightweight design; Requires less memory and CPU power, allowing your computer to run fast, making more room for games, web browsing, and emailing" - from the website: http://www.eset.com/products/nod32.php
    ZDNet Gravatar
    Jaips
    7th Aug 2008
  • Avast!
    I gave Vipre a trial run and ended up not keeping it (for more reasons than I care to list).

    I went back to Avast! Home Edition and am very pleased.

    I used to use AVG, but I found Avast! H/E to be a superior product. It's also free.

    So, Adrian, if you do decide to benchmark the free stuff, please include Avast! H/E. happy
    ZDNet Gravatar
    slimmac1
    8th Aug 2008
  • Second avast!
    AVG 7.5 was good. Small free AV, including e-mail. With v8, it has become terribly slow, worse than NAV, McAfee, etc. Switched to avast! and could not be happier.
    ZDNet Gravatar
    Sandeep108
    8th Aug 2008
  • RE: VIPRE performance shoot-out - Does it really not slow down your PC?
    @slimmac1
    Check VB100. You will find Avast isn't a great solution. Avira free did far better.
    ZDNet Gravatar
    Laurentian Enterprises
    31st Oct
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