Compared MS SQL 2000 to Postgresql 9.0 on Windows

From: Tom Polak <tom(at)rockfordarearealtors(dot)org>
To: pgsql-performance(at)postgresql(dot)org
Subject: Compared MS SQL 2000 to Postgresql 9.0 on Windows
Date: 2010-12-07 17:34:25
Message-ID: 378e24d1e3af88a49fbbb7c4d26f441a@mail.gmail.com
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We are in the process of deciding on how to proceed on a database upgrade.
We currently have MS SQL 2000 running on Windows 2003 (on my test server).
I was shocked at the cost for MS SQL 2008 R2 for a new server (2 CPU
license). I started comparing DB’s and came across postgresql. It seemed
to be exactly what I was after. All of our programming is in ASP.net.
Since I am running MSSQL 2000 I have no benefit for .Net integration, so it
is not a concern.

I ran a head to head test of MS SQL 2000 and Postgresql 9.0. Both are
running on Windows 2003. What I found was quite surprising and I am
wondering if anyone can point out what is going on here.
Here is the test I ran.
I created 2 tables, the main table had 5 fields with a serial ID field. The
second table linked to table 1 for a state field.

I had ASP.net via MSSQL create 1,000 records in the main table. Took 9.85
seconds to complete.
Next I had ASP.net via Postgresql create 1,000 records. Took .65625
seconds.
Postgresql smoked MS SQL server on that test.

Next test is to use ASP.net and join all 1,000 rows with table 2 and then
display the text out.

MS SQL took 0.76 seconds to display
select name,address,city,state,statename,stateid,other from pgtemp1 left
join pgtemp2 on state=stateid

Then I did the same test via Postgresql and it took 8.85 seconds! I tried
it again as I thought I did something wrong. I did a few tweaks such as
increasing the shared buffers. Still the best I could get it to was 7.5
seconds. This is insanely slow compared to MSSQL 2000. What am I missing.
Here is my SQL statement for postgresql:
select name,address,city,state,statename,stateid,other from pgtemp1 left
join pgtemp2 on state=stateid

Any ideas on why the Postgres server is soooo much slower on the joins? I
am trying to understand what is going on here so please don’t flame me. Any
advice is appreciated.

*Thanks,
Tom Polak
Rockford Area Association of Realtors
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