TempDB operations faster?

  • QA testing script below.

    /*

    Caution, CREATES TABLE Test64KInsertTemp in current db

    Seems to me working on tables in TempDB is always faster.

    Try this test script while TempDB is the current DB.

    Then try while other than TempDB current.

    My Results:

    TempDB current

    Insert 64K recs into #Temp in 216ms

    Insert 64K recs into local Test64KInsertTemp in 220ms

    Insert 64K recs into #Temp2 from #Temp in 186ms

    Insert 64K recs into local Test64KInsertTemp from #Temp in 173ms

    Pubs current

    Insert 64K recs into #Temp in 233ms

    Insert 64K recs into local Test64KInsertTemp in 296ms

    Insert 64K recs into #Temp2 from #Temp in 186ms

    Insert 64K recs into local Test64KInsertTemp from #Temp in 233ms

    Master current

    Insert 64K recs into #Temp in 216ms

    Insert 64K recs into local Test64KInsertTemp in 330ms

    Insert 64K recs into #Temp2 from #Temp in 186ms

    Insert 64K recs into local Test64KInsertTemp from #Temp in 233ms

    1. Why are operations like this so much faster (~30-60%) in TempDB?

    2. Do others see same results?

    3. Can the answer to above be used in other databases to better thier performance?

    */

    Declare @Start DateTime

    Set NoCount ON

    if Object_ID('Test64KInsertTemp') Is Not NULL Begin

    Print 'You already have a table named Test64KInsertTemp.'

    Print 'This test script will not run'

    Return

    end

    -- Timed insert into #temp

    if Object_ID('TempDB..#Temp') Is Not NULL Drop Table #Temp

    Select @Start = GetDate()

    Select HB.Number * 256 + LB.Number as Number

    Into #Temp

    From Master.dbo.spt_Values HB

    Cross Join Master.dbo.spt_Values LB

    Where HB.Type = 'P' and LB.Type = 'P'

    and HB.Number Between 0 and 256

    Print 'Insert 64K recs into #Temp in ' + Cast(DateDiff(ms, @Start, GetDate()) as Varchar(5)) + 'ms'

    -- Timed insert into local Test64KInsertTemp

    if Object_ID('dbo.Test64KInsertTemp') Is Not NULL Drop Table dbo.Test64KInsertTemp

    Select @Start = GetDate()

    Select HB.Number * 256 + LB.Number as Number

    Into dbo.Test64KInsertTemp

    From Master.dbo.spt_Values HB

    Cross Join Master.dbo.spt_Values LB

    Where HB.Type = 'P' and LB.Type = 'P'

    and HB.Number Between 0 and 256

    Print 'Insert 64K recs into local Test64KInsertTemp in ' + Cast(DateDiff(ms, @Start, GetDate()) as Varchar(5)) + 'ms'

    -- Timed insert into Test64KInsertTemp from #Temp

    if Object_ID('TempDB..#Temp2') Is Not NULL Drop Table #Temp2

    Select @Start = GetDate()

    Select Number Into #Temp2 From #Temp

    Print 'Insert 64K recs into #Temp2 from #Temp in ' + Cast(DateDiff(ms, @Start, GetDate()) as Varchar(5)) + 'ms'

    -- Timed insert into local Test64KInsertTemp from #Temp

    if Object_ID('dbo.Test64KInsertTemp') Is Not NULL Drop Table dbo.Test64KInsertTemp

    Select @Start = GetDate()

    Select Number Into dbo.Test64KInsertTemp From #Temp

    Print 'Insert 64K recs into local Test64KInsertTemp from #Temp in ' + Cast(DateDiff(ms, @Start, GetDate()) as Varchar(5)) + 'ms'

    -- cleanup

    if Object_ID('TempDB..#Temp') Is Not NULL Drop Table #Temp

    if Object_ID('TempDB..#Temp2') Is Not NULL Drop Table #Temp2

    if Object_ID('dbo.Test64KInsertTemp') Is Not NULL Drop Table dbo.Test64KInsertTemp



    Once you understand the BITs, all the pieces come together

  • Could your TEMPDB be in the fast I/O RAID disks than your user databases?

  • No, TempDB, Pubs, Master, all in same dir. Just a "stock" SQL install.

    What are your results when running the script?



    Once you understand the BITs, all the pieces come together

  • Interesting issue.

    My values are:

    TempDB current

    Insert 64K recs into #Temp in 220ms

    Insert 64K recs into local Test64KInsertTemp in 216ms

    Insert 64K recs into #Temp2 from #Temp in 173ms

    Insert 64K recs into local Test64KInsertTemp from #Temp in 173ms

    user DB current

    Insert 64K recs into #Temp in 220ms

    Insert 64K recs into local Test64KInsertTemp in 296ms

    Insert 64K recs into #Temp2 from #Temp in 170ms

    Insert 64K recs into local Test64KInsertTemp from #Temp in 203ms

    I do not see the reason for this difference

    Bye

    Gabor



    Bye
    Gabor

  • SQL doesn't has to recovery tempdb when restarted, so it doesn't need to log everything in the log file as much as in a user db.

    So write operations should be faster.

  • Is there a way to create a single user, non logging database that can be used for "temp" operations?

    Something like...

    Declare @sql varchar(1000)

    SET @sql = 'Create Database MyTempDB' + convert(Varchar(10), @@spid)

    EXEC (@SQL)

    ..... then "do faster work with the new database"



    Once you understand the BITs, all the pieces come together

  • There are some possible answers...

    It is possible that the #temp insert did not require and file growth for either the .mdf or .ldf files, but the insert into the local database did. All activity against a database is suspened while SQL Server gets more space from NT and formats it as database pages. This could give a large performance penalty, depending on the number of filegrowth operations performed.

    It is also possible that the inserts into #temp went into consecutive pages in TempDB, while the inserts into the local database went into non-consecutive pages spread over many more extents. This will give a small performance penalty.

    Likewise, inserts into the Test64KInsertTemp table in TempDB may have been into contiguous pages and without filegrowth, while the inserts into a local database may have have been affected by both issues.

    The copy of data from TableA to TableB may have go through a longer code path when the tables are in different databases than when they are in the same DB.

    Databases that have their files physically located near the disk edge will get faster performance than databases that have their files located near the disk centre. The performance differential can be over 15%, but this is unlikely to apply to your specific tests.

    All information provided is a personal opinion that may not match reality.

    Original author: https://github.com/SQL-FineBuild/Common/wiki/ 1-click install and best practice configuration of SQL Server 2019, 2017 2016, 2014, 2012, 2008 R2, 2008 and 2005.

    When I give food to the poor they call me a saint. When I ask why they are poor they call me a communist - Archbishop Hélder Câmara

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