Location: Options > Advanced > Performance
Compression level
You can choose the compression level for a backup:
The optimal data compression level depends on the type of files stored in the backup. For example, even maximum compression will not significantly reduce the backup size, if the backup contains essentially compressed files, like .jpg, .pdf or .mp3.
You cannot set or change the compression level for a pre-existing backup.
Operation priority
Changing the priority of a backup or recovery process can make it run faster or slower (depending on whether you raise or lower the priority), but it can also adversely affect the performance of other running programs. The priority of any process running in a system, determines the amount of CPU usage and system resources allocated to that process. Decreasing the operation priority will free more resources for other CPU tasks. Increasing backup or recovery priority may speed up the process by taking resources from the other currently running processes. The effect will depend on total CPU usage and other factors.
You can set up the operation priority:
Network connection transfer rate
When you back up data to Acronis Cloud, network drives, or FTP, you can change the connection speed used by Acronis True Image 2018. Set the connection speed that will allow you to use Internet and network resources without annoying slowdowns.
To set up the connection speed, select one of the following options:
The data transfer rate is not changed by Acronis True Image 2018.
This option significantly speeds up the upload process, but at the same time the Internet connection speed decreases for other applications. The optimization mechanism splits the data into small portions, and then uploads these portions via multiple network connections. In the target Acronis data center, the split data is assembled back to the initial state, and then stored in the cloud storage.
You can specify a maximum value for data upload speed.
Snapshot for backup
This option is for advanced users only. Do not change the default setting if you are not sure which option to choose.
During a disk or partition backup process, which often takes a long time, some of the backed-up files may be in use, locked, or being modified in one way or another. For example, you may work on a document and save it from time to time. If Acronis True Image 2018 backed up files one by one, your open file would likely be changed since the backup start, and then saved in the backup to a different point in time. Therefore, the data in the backup would be inconsistent. To eliminate it, Acronis True Image 2018 creates a so-called snapshot that fixes the data to back up to a particular point in time. This is done before the backup starts and guarantees that the data is in consistent state.
Select a backup snapshot type from the list:
A snapshot will not be created. The files will be backed up one by one as an ordinary copy operation.
Warning! This is the only recommended option for backing up your system. Your computer may not start after recovery from a backup created with a different snapshot type.
This option is default for disk-level and the Entire PC backups, and guarantees data consistency in the backup.
A snapshot will be created with the Acronis driver used in previous versions of Acronis True Image.
This option is default for file-level backups.
VSS writers are special VSS components for notifying applications that a snapshot is going to be created, so that the applications prepare their data for the snapshot. The writers are needed for applications that perform large number of file operations and require data consistency, for example databases. Because such applications are not installed on home computers, there is no need to use writers. In addition, this reduces the time required for file-level backups.