Robocopy vs. XCopy File Copy Performance

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 CounterRobocopyXCopy
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
Robocopy128.48 MB/Sec
XCopy121.06 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
Robocopy75.28 MB/Sec
XCopy76.15 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
Robocopy50.30 MB/Sec
XCopy43.76 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
Robocopy3701.72 IOPS
XCopy2860.24 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
Robocopy2208.20 IOPS
XCopy1922.44 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
Robocopy973.50 IOPS
XCopy927.73 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
Robocopy43.47 KB
XCopy55.52 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
Robocopy44.61 KB
XCopy49.08 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
Robocopy81.40 KB
XCopy67.74 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
Robocopy0.59 ms.
XCopy0.32 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
Robocopy0.36 ms.
XCopy0.21 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
Robocopy0.51 ms.
XCopy0.52 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
Robocopy14.82 %
XCopy16.76 %
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
Robocopy13.65 %
XCopy14.12 %
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
Robocopy51.31 %
XCopy56.75 %
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
Robocopy5.41 MB
XCopy3.93 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
Robocopy151.02 MB/Sec
XCopy160.40 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
Robocopy5026.04 IOPS
XCopy5331.92 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).