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performancet-sqlfloating-pointdecimalreal-datatype

TSQL: Which real number type results in faster comparisons

Among TSQL types (MSSQL): real, float and decimal; which type would result in faster comparisons?

Would decimal use hardaware FPU computation or is it purely in software?

Solution

  • Decimals cannot use the FPU. You get best performance with float or real which map to a standard IEEE floating point number which is supported by the FPU.

    float = double real = single

    Of course, single is faster.