The purpose of this review is to compare the performance of file copy operations using the Windows built-in command line file copy utilities Robocopy and XCopy. The performance test was performed on a quad-core machine with 16 GB of system memory running the Windows Server 2012 operating system. The file copy operations were performed between two identical Crucial MX300 1TB SSD drives using the same data set containing 30,000 small and medium-sized files.
| Performance Counter | Robocopy | XCopy |
|---|---|---|
| Disk Transfer Rate |  128.48 MB/Sec |  121.06 MB/Sec |
| Disk Read Transfer | 75.28 MB/Sec | 76.15 MB/Sec |
| Disk Write Transfer | 50.30 MB/Sec | 43.76 MB/Sec |
| Disk Transfer IOPS | 3701.72 IOPS | 2860.24 IOPS |
| Disk Read IOPS | 2208.20 IOPS | 1922.44 IOPS |
| Disk Write IOPS | 973.50 IOPS | 927.73 IOPS |
| Disk Average Request Size | 43.47 KB | 55.52 KB |
| Disk Average Read Request Size | 44.61 KB | 49.08 KB |
| Disk Average Write Request Size | 81.40 KB | 67.74 KB |
| Disk Average Request Time | 0.59 ms. | 0.32 ms. |
| Disk Average Read Request Time | 0.36 ms. | 0.21 ms. |
| Disk Average Write Request Time | 0.51 ms. | 0.52 ms. |
| CPU Usage | 14.82 % | 16.76 % |
| CPU Usage System | 13.65 % | 14.12 % |
| Process CPU Usage | 51.31 % | 56.75 % |
| Process Memory Used | 5.41 MB | 3.93 MB |
| Process Data Rate | 151.02 MB/Sec | 160.40 MB/Sec |
| Process Data IOPS | 5026.04 IOPS | 5331.92 IOPS |
According to the performance results, Robocopy achieves better results in 10 out of 18 tests including: Disk Transfer Rate, Disk Write Transfer, Disk Transfer IOPS, Disk Read IOPS, Disk Write IOPS, Disk Average Write Request Size, Disk Average Write Request Time, CPU Usage, CPU Usage System and Process CPU Usage. On the other hand, XCopy achieves better results in 8 out of 18 tests including: Disk Read Transfer, Disk Average Request Size, Disk Average Read Request Size, Disk Average Request Time, Disk Average Read Request Time, Process Memory Used, Process Data Rate and Process Data IOPS.
Robocopy vs. XCopy - Disk Transfer Rate
| Robocopy | 128.48 MB/Sec | |
| XCopy | 121.06 MB/Sec |
| More is Better | Average: 124.77 MB/Sec | Min: 0.00 MB/Sec | Max: 312.22 MB/Sec |
The average Disk Transfer Rate is better for Robocopy (128.48 MB/Sec vs. 121.06 MB/Sec), the minimum Disk Transfer Rate is better for Robocopy (23.52 MB/Sec vs. 0.00 MB/Sec) and the maximum Disk Transfer Rate is better for Robocopy (312.22 MB/Sec vs. 283.57 MB/Sec).
Robocopy vs. XCopy - Disk Read Transfer
| Robocopy | 75.28 MB/Sec | |
| XCopy | 76.15 MB/Sec |
| More is Better | Average: 75.72 MB/Sec | Min: 0.00 MB/Sec | Max: 218.24 MB/Sec |
The average Disk Read Transfer is better for XCopy (76.15 MB/Sec vs. 75.28 MB/Sec), the minimum Disk Read Transfer is better for Robocopy (4.74 MB/Sec vs. 0.00 MB/Sec) and the maximum Disk Read Transfer is better for XCopy (218.24 MB/Sec vs. 213.22 MB/Sec).
Robocopy vs. XCopy - Disk Write Transfer
| Robocopy | 50.30 MB/Sec | |
| XCopy | 43.76 MB/Sec |
| More is Better | Average: 47.03 MB/Sec | Min: 0.00 MB/Sec | Max: 133.27 MB/Sec |
The average Disk Write Transfer is better for Robocopy (50.30 MB/Sec vs. 43.76 MB/Sec), the minimum Disk Write Transfer is better for Robocopy (0.39 MB/Sec vs. 0.00 MB/Sec) and the maximum Disk Write Transfer is better for XCopy (133.27 MB/Sec vs. 113.15 MB/Sec).
Robocopy vs. XCopy - Disk Transfer IOPS
| Robocopy | 3701.72 IOPS | |
| XCopy | 2860.24 IOPS |
| More is Better | Average: 3280.98 IOPS | Min: 0.00 IOPS | Max: 8389.53 IOPS |
The average Disk Transfer IOPS is better for Robocopy (3701.72 IOPS vs. 2860.24 IOPS), the minimum Disk Transfer IOPS is better for Robocopy (1166.57 IOPS vs. 0.00 IOPS) and the maximum Disk Transfer IOPS is better for XCopy (8389.53 IOPS vs. 7124.81 IOPS).
Robocopy vs. XCopy - Disk Read IOPS
| Robocopy | 2208.20 IOPS | |
| XCopy | 1922.44 IOPS |
| More is Better | Average: 2065.32 IOPS | Min: 0.00 IOPS | Max: 3074.95 IOPS |
The average Disk Read IOPS is better for Robocopy (2208.20 IOPS vs. 1922.44 IOPS), the minimum Disk Read IOPS is better for Robocopy (429.46 IOPS vs. 0.00 IOPS) and the maximum Disk Read IOPS is better for Robocopy (3074.95 IOPS vs. 2762.62 IOPS).
Robocopy vs. XCopy - Disk Write IOPS
| Robocopy | 973.50 IOPS | |
| XCopy | 927.73 IOPS |
| More is Better | Average: 950.62 IOPS | Min: 0.00 IOPS | Max: 7899.08 IOPS |
The average Disk Write IOPS is better for Robocopy (973.50 IOPS vs. 927.73 IOPS), the minimum Disk Write IOPS is better for Robocopy (29.51 IOPS vs. 0.00 IOPS) and the maximum Disk Write IOPS is better for XCopy (7899.08 IOPS vs. 5245.99 IOPS).
Robocopy vs. XCopy - Disk Average Request Size
| Robocopy | 43.47 KB | |
| XCopy | 55.52 KB |
| More is Better | Average: 49.50 KB | Min: 0.00 KB | Max: 202.50 KB |
The average Disk Average Request Size is better for XCopy (55.52 KB vs. 43.47 KB), the minimum Disk Average Request Size is better for Robocopy (6.04 KB vs. 0.00 KB) and the maximum Disk Average Request Size is better for XCopy (202.50 KB vs. 107.99 KB).
Robocopy vs. XCopy - Disk Average Read Request Size
| Robocopy | 44.61 KB | |
| XCopy | 49.08 KB |
| More is Better | Average: 46.84 KB | Min: 0.00 KB | Max: 229.89 KB |
The average Disk Average Read Request Size is better for XCopy (49.08 KB vs. 44.61 KB), the minimum Disk Average Read Request Size is better for Robocopy (6.47 KB vs. 0.00 KB) and the maximum Disk Average Read Request Size is better for XCopy (229.89 KB vs. 157.34 KB).
Robocopy vs. XCopy - Disk Average Write Request Size
| Robocopy | 81.40 KB | |
| XCopy | 67.74 KB |
| More is Better | Average: 74.57 KB | Min: 0.00 KB | Max: 250.56 KB |
The average Disk Average Write Request Size is better for Robocopy (81.40 KB vs. 67.74 KB), the minimum Disk Average Write Request Size is better for Robocopy (4.00 KB vs. 0.00 KB) and the maximum Disk Average Write Request Size is better for Robocopy (250.56 KB vs. 203.68 KB).
Robocopy vs. XCopy - Disk Average Request Time
| Robocopy | 0.59 ms. | |
| XCopy | 0.32 ms. |
| Less is Better | Average: 0.45 ms. | Min: 0.00 ms. | Max: 2.62 ms. |
The average Disk Average Request Time is better for XCopy (0.32 ms. vs. 0.59 ms.), the minimum Disk Average Request Time is better for XCopy (0.00 ms. vs. 0.10 ms.) and the maximum Disk Average Request Time is better for XCopy (1.36 ms. vs. 2.62 ms.).
Robocopy vs. XCopy - Disk Average Read Request Time
| Robocopy | 0.36 ms. | |
| XCopy | 0.21 ms. |
| Less is Better | Average: 0.28 ms. | Min: 0.00 ms. | Max: 3.05 ms. |
The average Disk Average Read Request Time is better for XCopy (0.21 ms. vs. 0.36 ms.), the minimum Disk Average Read Request Time is better for XCopy (0.00 ms. vs. 0.11 ms.) and the maximum Disk Average Read Request Time is better for XCopy (0.69 ms. vs. 3.05 ms.).
Robocopy vs. XCopy - Disk Average Write Request Time
| Robocopy | 0.51 ms. | |
| XCopy | 0.52 ms. |
| Less is Better | Average: 0.52 ms. | Min: 0.00 ms. | Max: 1.69 ms. |
The average Disk Average Write Request Time is better for Robocopy (0.51 ms. vs. 0.52 ms.), the minimum Disk Average Write Request Time is better for XCopy (0.00 ms. vs. 0.03 ms.) and the maximum Disk Average Write Request Time is better for Robocopy (1.54 ms. vs. 1.69 ms.).
Robocopy vs. XCopy - CPU Usage
| Robocopy | 14.82 % | |
| XCopy | 16.76 % |
| Less is Better | Average: 15.79 % | Min: 0.00 % | Max: 23.00 % |
The average CPU Usage is better for Robocopy (14.82 % vs. 16.76 %), the minimum CPU Usage is better for XCopy (0.00 % vs. 7.00 %) and the maximum CPU Usage is better for Robocopy (21.00 % vs. 23.00 %).
Robocopy vs. XCopy - CPU Usage System
| Robocopy | 13.65 % | |
| XCopy | 14.12 % |
| Less is Better | Average: 13.88 % | Min: 0.00 % | Max: 21.00 % |
The average CPU Usage System is better for Robocopy (13.65 % vs. 14.12 %), the minimum CPU Usage System is better for XCopy (0.00 % vs. 7.00 %) and the maximum CPU Usage System is better for XCopy (19.00 % vs. 21.00 %).
Robocopy vs. XCopy - Process CPU Usage
| Robocopy | 51.31 % | |
| XCopy | 56.75 % |
| Less is Better | Average: 54.03 % | Min: 28.57 % | Max: 77.77 % |
The average Process CPU Usage is better for Robocopy (51.31 % vs. 56.75 %), the minimum Process CPU Usage is better for Robocopy (28.57 % vs. 38.09 %) and the maximum Process CPU Usage is better for Robocopy (65.07 % vs. 77.77 %).
Robocopy vs. XCopy - Process Memory Used
| Robocopy | 5.41 MB | |
| XCopy | 3.93 MB |
| Less is Better | Average: 4.67 MB | Min: 3.66 MB | Max: 6.25 MB |
The average Process Memory Used is better for XCopy (3.93 MB vs. 5.41 MB), the minimum Process Memory Used is better for XCopy (3.66 MB vs. 5.30 MB) and the maximum Process Memory Used is better for XCopy (4.18 MB vs. 6.25 MB).
Robocopy vs. XCopy - Process Data Rate
| Robocopy | 151.02 MB/Sec | |
| XCopy | 160.40 MB/Sec |
| More is Better | Average: 155.71 MB/Sec | Min: 28.07 MB/Sec | Max: 433.76 MB/Sec |
The average Process Data Rate is better for XCopy (160.40 MB/Sec vs. 151.02 MB/Sec), the minimum Process Data Rate is better for XCopy (28.24 MB/Sec vs. 28.07 MB/Sec) and the maximum Process Data Rate is better for XCopy (433.76 MB/Sec vs. 423.57 MB/Sec).
Robocopy vs. XCopy - Process Data IOPS
| Robocopy | 5026.04 IOPS | |
| XCopy | 5331.92 IOPS |
| More is Better | Average: 5178.98 IOPS | Min: 4057.79 IOPS | Max: 6063.62 IOPS |
The average Process Data IOPS is better for XCopy (5331.92 IOPS vs. 5026.04 IOPS), the minimum Process Data IOPS is better for XCopy (4523.74 IOPS vs. 4057.79 IOPS) and the maximum Process Data IOPS is better for XCopy (6063.62 IOPS vs. 5862.42 IOPS).
