Because emulators can read "hunks" of data, loading times are often faster and system RAM usage is lower.
If you have MAME installed, find chdman.exe in your MAME folder. To convert a single file, you would use a command like this: chdman createcd -i "YourGame.zip" -o "YourGame.chd"
Converting is one of the easiest ways to optimize your digital game collection. By reducing file sizes and improving emulator performance, you’re not just saving hard drive space—you’re building a more efficient, professional-grade emulation setup.
The Ultimate Guide: How to Convert ZIP to CHD for Retrogaming
However, manual entry is tedious if you have hundreds of games. Method 2: The "Batch" Method (Recommended)